A classic crime novel by one of the most highly regarded exponents of the genre The murder of old Mr Fransham while washing his hands in his niece's cloakroom was one of the most astounding problems that ever confronted Scotland Yard Not only was there a policeman in the house at the time but there was an ugly wound in the victim's forehead & nothing in the locked room that could have inflicted it The combined efforts of Superintendent Hanslet & Inspector Waghorn brought no answer & the case was dropped It was only after another equally baffling murder had been committed that Dr Lancelot Priestley's orderly & imaginative deductions began to make the connections that would solve this extraordinary case