Lennox shook his head. “No. The tissue shrinks and wrinkles, of course, but it is normally possible to get fingerprints for quite some time. This man has no fingerprints for one of two reasons: either he worked with acids, in a profession such as a printer, etcher, photography developer, and his prints were burned away over time, or”—and he paused, looking at each of us in turn—“or his prints were deliberately removed. Filed smooth, or even replaced with a skin graft. We’re inclined to suspect the latter. We suspect he has had some quite sophisticated surgery done to his face. There is a slight scar along his left cheek and another at his hairline. So either he is a Germanic type who was involved in duels or an attempt was made to change his appearance.”

“Golly,” I said, swallowing back the word too late. I really didn’t want Princess Alexandra to think that I used such childish expressions. “Can they really do that?”

“It would take a highly skilled doctor, but yes, it can be done and we know it has been done.”

“Then that must have been the doctor who came to see him,” I exclaimed. I turned to Lennox. “Lord Kilhenny overheard a conversation between Roach and an American doctor. It was implied that he might have to undergo another operation and Roach seemed unwilling. But the doctor told him it might be necessary.”

“Meaning that someone had found out where he was and who he was,” Lennox said. “I wonder if Lord Kilhenny can describe this doctor for us. We know of a couple of medical men who have made a good living altering the facial features of criminals.”

“So if this man has no fingerprints and his facial features have been altered it will be impossible to know who he was, won’t it?” I asked.

Lennox nodded. “It will certainly make it tough.”

“So our photographs and fingerprints of the manservant might be crucial,” Zou Zou said with a grin of satisfaction. “How super if you and I solved the case, Georgie.”

“You did the interviewing and got the fingerprints. I just took the pictures, and I hope they came out all right,” I replied.

“I’m sure they could be helpful,” Mr. Lennox said. “But if the prints don’t show up on any of the FBI’s lists of wanted criminals, it might take a while as our operatives show them to local law enforcement. In the meantime . . .” He left the rest of the sentence hanging.

“So you’ve already sent the dead man’s picture to Washington, have you?” Darcy asked.