Quite so," interrupted Malcolm Sage, desirous of saving the old
servitor the humiliation of explaining that he had been threatened
with dismissal.

"So you are confident in your own mind that no amount of knocking at
the door would have caused your master to open it?"

"Quite certain, sir," the butler said with deep conviction. "If he
had heard me murdering Mrs. Graham he wouldn't have come out," he
added gravely. "He used to say that man is for the moment; but
research is for all time. He was a very wonderful man, sir," he
added earnestly.

"So that to get into the laboratory someone must have had a
duplicate key?"

"No, sir, the professor always bolted the door on the inside."

"Then he must have opened it himself?"

"He wouldn't, sir. I'm sure he wouldn't."

"But how did Sir Jasper get in?"

"He was expected, sir, and when he went to the laboratory, the
master always ordered extra food. He was very absent-minded, sir;
but he always remembered that. He was very considerate, sir, too. He
never forgot my birthday," and he broke down completely, his frail
body shaken by sobs.

Rising, Malcolm Sage placed his hand upon the old man's shoulder. As
if conscious of the unspoken message of sympathy inspired by the
touch, the butler clasped the hand in both his own.

Inspector Carfon looked surprised.

"He was so kind, sir, so kind and thoughtful," he quavered. "I don't
know what I shall do without him." There was in his voice something
of the querulous appeal of a little child.

"Were letters ever taken to the laboratory?" enquired Malcolm Sage,
walking over to the window and gazing out.

"Never, sir," was the reply. "Everything was kept until the
professor returned to the house, even telegrams."

"Then he was absolutely cut off?" said Malcolm Sage, returning to
his seat.

"That was what he used to say, sir, that he wanted to feel cut off
from everybody and everything."

"You have seen the body?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did you notice anything remarkable about it?"

"He was more like he was some thirty years ago, sir."

"Rejuvenated in fact."

"I beg pardon, sir?"

"He seemed to have become suddenly a much younger man?" explained
Malcolm Sage.

"Yes, sir. I've been with him over thirty years, and he looked very
much as he did then, except, of course, that his hair remained
grey."

"Apart from the food not being taken in, you noticed nothing else
that struck you as strange?" queried Malcolm Sage.

Th