goes through the evening hoping for the best. But
after the guests are gone? Surely, then is the time
to dispose of the body."
"Perhaps he hoped the valet wouldn't notice
the stain?"
"That, mort ami, is absurd. A stained carpet is
THE MYSTERY OF THE BAGDAD CHEST
the first thing a good servant would be bound to,
notice. And Major Rich, he goes to bed and snores
there comfortably and does nothing at all about
the matter. Very remarkable and interesting,
that."
"Curtiss might have seen the stains when he
was changing the records the night before?" I sug,
gested.
"That is unlikely. The screen would throw
deep shadow just there. No, but I begin to see,
Yes, dimly I begin to see."
"See what?" I asked eagerly.
"The possibilities, shall we say, of an alter,,
native explanation. Our next visit may throw light
on things."
Our next visit was to the doctor who had exam,
ined the body. His evidence was a mere recapitula,
tion of what he had already given at the inquest.
Deceased had been stabbed to the heart with
long thin knife something like a stiletto. The knife
had been left in the wound. Death had been in,
stantaneous. The knife was the property of Major
Rich and usually lay on his writing table. Ther