“It sounds very simple,” I said.

 

“Everything is simple, if you arrange the facts methodically. We are concerned

now with the personality of the person who was with him at nine-thirty last

night. Everything goes to show that that was the individual admitted by the

window, and though Mr. Ackroyd was seen alive later by Miss Flora, we cannot

approach a solution of the mystery until we know who that visitor was. The

window may have been left open after his departure and so afforded entrance to

the murderer, or the same person may have returned a second time. Ah! here is

the colonel who returns.”

 

Colonel Melrose entered with an animated manner.

 

“That telephone call has been traced at last,” he said. “It did not come from

here. It was put through to Dr. Sheppard at 10.15 last night from a public call

office at King’s Abbot station. And at 10.23 the night mail leaves for

Liverpool.”

 

CHAPTER VIII

 

INSPECTOR RAGLAN IS CONFIDENT

 

We looked at each other.