"How soon did they get a doctor?"

"It must have been some time. They gave up telephoning, and the
governess went out, finally, and found one."

"Then, while she was out--?"

"Possibly," Sperry said. "If we start with the hypothesis that
she was lying."

"If she cleaned up here for any reason," I began, and commenced
a desultory examination of the room. Just why I looked behind
the bathtub forces me to an explanation I am somewhat loath to
make, but which will explain a rather unusual proceeding. For
some time my wife has felt that I smoked too heavily, and out of
her solicitude for me has limited me to one cigar after dinner.
But as I have been a heavy smoker for years I have found this a
great hardship, and have therefore kept a reserve store, by
arrangement with the housemaid, behind my tub. In self-defence
I must also state that I seldom have recourse to such stealthy
measures.

Believing then that something might possibly be hidden there, I
made an investigation, and could see some small objects lying
there. Sperry brought me a stick from the dressing-room, and
with its aid succeeded in bringing out the two articles which were
instrumental in starting us on our brief but adventurous careers
as private investigators. One was a leather razor strop, old and
stiff from disuse, and the other a wet bath sponge, now stained
with blood to a yellowish brown.