[The Mystery of 31 New Inn by R. Austin Freeman]@TWC D-Link book
The Mystery of 31 New Inn

CHAPTER IX
18/37

The German police can do the rest if necessary." He handed me back my probe, pocketed his lamp, released the catch of the lock on the door, and turned away along the dark, musty-smelling hall.
"Do you happen to know the name of Johann Schnitzler ?" he asked.
I replied that I had no recollection of ever having heard the name before.
"Neither have I," said he; "but I think we may form a pretty shrewd guess as to his avocation.

As you saw, the words 'Herrn Dr.' were printed on the envelope, leaving the rest of the address to be written by hand.

The plain inference is that he is a person who habitually addresses letters to medical men, and as the style of the envelope and the lettering--which is printed, not embossed--is commercial, we may assume that he is engaged in some sort of trade.

Now, what is a likely trade ?" "He might be an instrument maker or a drug manufacturer; more probably the latter, as there is an extensive drug and chemical industry in Germany, and as Mr.Weiss seemed to have more use for drugs than instruments." "Yes, I think you are right; but we will look him up when we get home.
And now we had better take a glance at the bedroom; that is, if you can remember which room it was." "It was on the first floor," said I, "and the door by which I entered was just at the head of the stairs." We ascended the two flights, and, as we reached the landing, I halted.
"This was the door," I said, and was about to turn the handle when Thorndyke caught me by the arm.
"One moment, Jervis," said he.

"What do you make of this ?" He pointed to a spot near the bottom of the door where, on close inspection, four good-sized screw-holes were distinguishable.


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