“One must always proceed with method. I made an error of judgment in asking you

that question. To each man his own knowledge. You could tell me the details of

the patient’s appearance—nothing there would escape you. If I wanted information

about the papers on that desk, Mr. Raymond would have noticed anything there was

to see. To find out about the fire, I must ask the man whose business it is to

observe such things.

 

You permit——”

 

He moved swiftly to the fireplace and rang the bell.

 

After a lapse of a minute or two Parker appeared.

 

“The bell rang, sir,” he said hesitatingly.

 

“Come in, Parker,” said Colonel Melrose. “This gentleman wants to ask you

something.”

 

Parker transferred a respectful attention to Poirot.

 

“Parker,” said the little man, “when you broke down the door with Dr.

 

Sheppard last night, and found your master dead, what was the state of the

fire?”