“How could you? Hadn’t he a mask on?”
“Yes, but we had discovered his identity early in the evening.”
“Indeed? You will forgive my asking, but what made you take so much interest in this man whom you say you knew only by sight?”
Preston hesitated. Then he said awkwardly:
“Nothing in particular.”
“Oh, come,” the doctor exclaimed, “you must have had a reason. Nobody tries to discover who disguised people are for no reason. You had better tell me.”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Well, as you put it that way, I had better tell you there are one or two curious features surrounding this man’s death. On the face of it he would appear to have died of natural causes, but certain points tend to dispel that theory. For instance, rigor mortis would not have set in so quickly had death been due to natural causes, such as stoppage of the heart’s action. There will have to be an inquest.”
The authorities having been notified of the occurrence, about half an hour later Preston and Blenkiron, accompanied by the doctor, whose name was Johnson, returned to the hall. None of the revelers had as yet left, apparently, for the floor was as thronged with dancers as when they had been there last.
“Point me out the box where he was found, will you?” Johnson said presently.