Another thing, which at first puzzled me, was the marked absence of blood-stains.

There was a small pool of blood underneath the head, a slight stain on the carpet in the adjoining room, but none on the clothing or elsewhere.

The solution to this I found on further investigation.

The wound had been firmly and skillfully bandaged by an expert hand, the imprint of the bandage being plainly visible in the hair on the temples.

Here is the proof that I was correct," and Merrick held up to the attorney's astonished view the stained and knotted handkerchief.