Racksole would not have objected to a certain amount of mystery, but he decidedly thought that there was a little too much mystery here for his taste.

He thought that even Felix Babylon would have been surprised at this.
The electric chandelier in the centre of the ceiling was not lighted; only the two lights on either side of the washstand were switched on, and these did not sufficiently illuminate the features of the man on the bed to enable Racksole to see them clearly.

In vain the millionaire strained his eyes; he could only make out that the corpse was probably that of a young man.

Just as he was wondering what would be the best course of action to pursue, he saw Rocco with a square-shaped black box in his hand.

Then the chef switched off the two electric lights, and the State bedroom was in darkness.