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Kitely was murdered by either you or Cotherstone! How's that, Mr. Mallalieu?" Mallalieu again regarded his clerk in silence. He knew by that time that this fellow was in possession of some information, and his characteristic inclination was to fence with him. And he made a great effort to pull himself together, so as to deal better with whatever might be in store. "Either me or Mr.
Neither Bent nor Brereton nor Tallington had any notion of what line was going to be taken by Cotherstone and his advisers, but Tallington and Brereton exchanged glances when Cotherstone, in charge of two warders from Norcaster, was brought in, and when the Norcaster solicitor and the Norcaster barrister whom he had retained, shortly afterwards presented themselves.
But if it's to be patented, you know, we ought to see to it at once, before these carts go into use." "Why, there's nobody in Highmarket like to rob us," observed Mallalieu, good-humouredly. "You might consider about getting what do they call it? provisional protection? for it." "I'll look it up," responded Cotherstone. "It's worth that, anyhow." "Do," said Mallalieu.
"I'll tell you," answered Cotherstone, greatly relieved to find that both seemed inclined to talk matters quietly over. "It's this I've not been feeling as well as I ought to feel, lately. The fact is, Bent, I've done too much in my time. A man can work too hard, you know and it tells on him in the end. So the doctor says, anyhow." "The doctor!" exclaimed Lettie. "You haven't been to him?"
And on a shining brass plate, set into the wall, just within the gateway, were deeply engraven the words: Mallalieu and Cotherstone, Builders and Contractors. Whoever had walked into Mallalieu & Cotherstone's yard one October afternoon a few years ago would have seen Mallalieu and Cotherstone in person.
It was a facer for both of us to be recognized, and to have all that thrown up against us, after thirty years' honest work!" The three listeners looked silently at each other. A moment of suspence passed. Then Tallington put the question which all three were burning with eagerness to have answered. "Mr. Cotherstone! do you know who killed Kitely?" "No!" answered Cotherstone.
For if Windle Bent was going on the game of making out that he was a man of family, he certainly would not relish the prospect of uniting his ancient blood with that of a man who had seen the inside of a prison. Kitely! promptly and definitely and for good! that was the ticket. Cotherstone went off into the shadows of the night and a good hour had passed when he returned to his house.
Brereton was a close observer of men; it was his natural instinct to observe, and he was always giving it a further training and development. He had felt certain as he sat at supper with him, the night before, that Cotherstone had something in his thoughts which was not of his guests, his daughter, or himself.
Cotherstone, who had kept quietly in the background, ventured a suggestion. "Any signs of his having been robbed?" he asked. "No, sir," replied the superintendent promptly. "I've everything that was on him. Not much, either. Watch and chain, half a sovereign, some loose silver and copper, his pipe and tobacco, a pocket-book with a letter or two and such-like in it that's all.
"You're convinced of all this?" he demanded suddenly. "Both of you? It's your conviction?" "It's mine," answered Tallington quietly. "I'd give a good deal for your sake, Bent, if it were not mine," said Brereton. "But it is mine. I'm sure!" Bent jumped from his chair. "Which of them is it, then?" he exclaimed. "Gad! you don't mean to say that Cotherstone is a murderer!
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