Parker replied without a pause.

 

“It had burned very low, sir. It was almost out.”

 

“Ah!” said Poirot. The exclamation sounded almost triumphant. He went on:—

 

“Look round you, my good Parker. Is this room exactly as it was then?”

 

The butler’s eye swept round. It came to rest on the windows.

 

“The curtains were drawn, sir, and the electric light was on.”

 

Poirot nodded approval.

 

“Anything else?”

 

“Yes, sir, this chair was drawn out a little more.”

 

He indicated a big grandfather chair to the left of the door between it and the

window. I append a plan of the room with the chair in question marked with an X.

 

“Just show me,” said Poirot.

 

[Illustration: