The butler discovered the body at dawn, lying still among scattered roses in the conservatory's humid, glass-enclosed tropical garden paradise. Blood stained the victim's expensive silk cravat, creating a dark crimson contrast against the pristine white of his dress shirt. Inspector Morrison examined the scene carefully, noting how the broken champagne flute glittered beneath the wrought-iron garden bench seat nearby. A strange smell of bitter almonds lingered in the air, suggesting poison rather than the obvious throat wound indicated otherwise. Someone had moved the heavy marble statue, leaving visible drag marks across the Italian tiles that pointed toward the library. The clock stopped at midnight, confirming that murder occurred precisely when the storm began raging outside the old manor walls.