just in time. Well, he ran me down here to the doctor's, giving me full
particulars about the case all the way. I was pretty well au fait by the time
we arrived. I suppose the manager of a place like this has some sort of a pull
with the doctor. Anyhow, he made no difficulties, nor did the constable on
duty, though he was careful to insist on my not giving him away in the paper.'

'I saw the body before it was removed,' remarked Mr. Cupples. 'I should not
have said there was anything remarkable about it, except that the shot in the
eye had scarcely disfigured the face at all, and caused scarcely any effusion
of blood, apparently. The wrists were scratched and bruised. I expect that,
with your trained faculties, you were able to remark other details of a
suggestive nature.'

'Other details, certainly; but I don't know that they suggest anything. They
are merely odd. Take the wrists, for instance. How was it you could see
bruises and scratches on them? I dare say you saw something of Manderson down
here before the murder.' 'Certainly,' Mr. Cupples said.

'Well, did you ever see his wrists?'

Mr. Cupples reflected. 'No. Now you raise the point, I am reminded that when I
interviewed Manderson here he was wearing stiff cuffs, coming well down over
his hands.'

'He always did,' said Trent. 'My friend the manager says so. I pointed out to
him the fact you didn't observe, that there were no cuffs visible, and that
they had, indeed, been dragged up inside the coat-sleeves, as yours would be
if you hurried into a coat without pulling your cuffs down. That was why you
saw his wrists.'