“Yes, sir.”
Bolam was evidently deeply impressed by the rapidity and sureness of the Colonel’s reasoning. Cyril, however, had listened to his uncle’s exposition with a faintly sardonic expression; and he now broke in.
“You’ll have to extend your search to another class— the people who use paper-knives. That’s just an ordinary steel paper-cutter. You can buy them anywhere. I shouldn’t wonder if it belonged to Hubbard himself and was lying on the table.”
The Colonel looked crestfallen.
“Perhaps you’re right, Cyril. I hadn’t thought of that. We can easily test it by questioning the servants. But where are the servants?”
He stepped across to the bell and rang a prolonged peal which they could hear thrilling through the silent house. There was no response.
“There’s nobody on the premises,
