A tall well-built man stepped from the shadows of the porch to greet us. This was Rogers the butler who attended to our luggage and led us into the grand hallway.
‘Rogers will show you to your quarters,’ said Sinclair.
Holmes shook his head. ‘To begin with I would like to see the room in which the murder took place.’
Alan Cameron’s study was a small oppressive chamber, panelled in dark wood. The walls were adorned with pictures of highland scenes and a stag’s head glowered at us above a small fireplace. The desk at which he had been sitting when he was assaulted was splattered with blood. The room was now cold and dank and even when Rogers turned up the gas, it was gloomy. Holmes threw off his Ulster and like an eager bloodhound began patrolling the room, examining carefully each square
