The body in Number 15

I slept well, and when my man Paddock arrived this morning, I made sure to advise him of my house guest lest he wake him. Paddock is a trustworthy soul but I couldn't bring myself to reveal the truth about Mr Scudder's story so I pretended that Scudder was an old friend from the Boer War who was suffering from overwork and his nerves were gone.

"On no account should he be disturbed and should his presence be known in my flat" I instructed him.

I left Scudder with the newspaper and visited the City for lunch. When I returned, the lift man had an important face.

"Nawsty business here this mornin' sir. Gent in number 15 been and shot isself."

I took the lift up to number 15 and found two bobbies and an officer examining the scene. From what I could glean, it seemed that Scudder's contrivance was working and they suspected nothing.

I returned downstairs to my flat where Scudder was relieved to hear the developments. We've just played a game of cards and he has retired to bed.


~Franklin P. Scudder arrives~