Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 56, No. 2. Whole No. 321, August 1970

His Lordship is locked in the library,

Guests lurk around in the hall;

Inspector McNosey, backed up by Aunt Rosie,

Can\ understand it at all.

Everyone there has a motive—

His Lordship is wealthy as sin.

From Gramp to young Jane, they would all stand to gain

If milord was done (tactfully) in.

And then there’s that odd-looking couple

Who’ve turned up from no one knows where;

And it’s rather peculiar that Harold’s niece, Julia,

Should suddenly choose to be there.

The library windows are fastened;

There isn’t a trap in the floor;

The guests in the hall swear that no one at all

Has passed through the library door.

The mystery deepens, and thickens;

The butler says, “Dinner is served.”

The hero once more tries the library door—

Then hesitates, somewhat unnerved—

For the door has swung silently open—

He staggers back into the hall—

For his Lordship sits there, to the author’s despair—

And nothing has happened at all!