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The superintendent, whose face had assumed various expressions during this narrative, lifted his hands in amazement. "But but we were in and about that cottage most of that night afterwards!" he exclaimed. "We never saw aught of him. I know he was supposed to come down from London the next night, but " "Tell you he was there that night!" insisted Cotherstone. "D'ye think I could mistake him?
"That's the style!" said Cotherstone, pushing the barrister along. "Bring two bring three bottles," he cried to the waiter. "Big 'uns! and the best." An elderly man, one of Cotherstone's fellow-members of the Corporation, came forward and caught him by the arm. "Cotherstone!" he whispered. "Don't be a fool! Think of what's only just over. Go home, like a good fellow go quietly home.
"It's a wonder it didn't strike me and you, too at first," said Cotherstone, with a queer sound that was half a chuckle. "But as long as it's struck somebody, eh? One's as good as another. You can't think of what it is, now?" "I don't know what you're thinking about," replied Bent, half impatiently.
He was an elderly, clean-shaven, grey-haired man, spare of figure, dressed in rusty black; a wisp of white neckcloth at his throat gave him something of a clerical appearance: Cotherstone, who knew next to nothing about him, except that he was able to pay his rent and taxes, had already set him down as a retired verger of some cathedral. "I should think you and Mr.
The firm had no dealings with any firm at Wilchester. Stoner, who dealt with all the Mallalieu & Cotherstone correspondence, knew that during his five and a half years' clerkship, he had never addressed a single letter to any one at Wilchester, never received a single letter bearing the Wilchester post-mark.
And I'll put it straight Bent'll understand. Now, you'd arranged to get married next spring six months hence. I want you to change your minds, and to let it be as soon as you can." He looked with a certain eager wistfulness at Lettie, expecting to see her start with surprise. But fond as he was of her, Cotherstone had so far failed to grasp the later developments of his daughter's character.
I'm a reasonable man and getting an old man." He accompanied the last words with a meaning smile, and Cotherstone took a turn or two about the room, trying to steady himself. And Kitely presently went on again, in the same monotonous tones: "Think it all out by all means," he said. "I don't suppose there's a soul in all England but myself knows your secret and Mallalieu's.
There'd been no robbery." "I suppose you took a look round?" asked Cotherstone. "See anything that suggested a struggle? Or footprints? Or aught of that sort?" The superintendent shook his head. "Naught!" he answered. "I looked carefully at the ground round those broken railings.
Who should want to kill an old chap like that? It's here, give me a drink, one of you that's a bit startling!" Bent seized a tumbler which he himself had just mixed, and Cotherstone gulped off half its contents. He looked round apologetically. "I I think I'm not as strong as I was," he muttered. "Overwork, likely I've been a bit shaky of late. A shock like that "
But all his attention was quickly concentrated on Cotherstone. For despite a strong effort to control himself, Cotherstone swayed a little, and instinctively put out a hand and clutched Bent's arm. He paled, too the sudden spasm of pallor was almost instantly succeeded by a quick flush of colour. He made another effort and tried to laugh. "Nonsense, man!" he said thickly and hoarsely. "Murder?