“Yes,” he said gravely, “he is beyond human aid.”
“He is dead?”
“Quite.”
“Can you tell me what caused his death?”
“I cannot be positive,” replied the physician, “but he bears all the outward symptoms of asphyxiation.”
“Asphyxiation?” repeated Peret incredulously.
“Yes.”
Peret’s skepticism was written plainly on his face.
“But that is at variance with the dead man’s last words. I was with M. Berjet when he died and there was certainly nothing in his actions to suggest asphyxiation. However—” He exhibited his card. “I am Jules Peret, a detective. The man that you have just pronounced dead is Max Berjet, the eminent French scientist. If he was murdered—and I have reason to believe that he was—the murderer has not yet had time to escape, as M. Berjet has been dead less than two minutes. It is possible, therefore, that I can apprehend the assassin if I act at once. Can you stay here with the body pending the arrival of the police?”