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Cost what it might, he must be attached to the Mallalieu-Cotherstone interest. And what Cotherstone was concentrating on just then, as he ate and drank, was how to make that attachment in such a fashion that Kitely would have no option but to keep silence. If only he and Mallalieu could get a hold on Kitely, such as that which he had on them
Five hundred pounds! what was it in comparison with what he might get by a little skilful playing of his cards? He knew Mallalieu and he knew Cotherstone knew much more about both of them than they had any idea of. He knew that they were rich men very rich men.
"And you know how very ready to say nasty things these Highmarket people are. I'm not a Highmarket man myself, any more than you are, and I've always regarded 'em as very bitter-tongued folk, and so " "Out with it!" said Cotherstone. "Let's know the truth never mind what tongues it comes from. What are they saying?"
"Strangled!" exclaimed Bent. "Aye, without doubt," replied Garthwaite. "There's a bit of rope round his neck that tight that I couldn't put my little finger between it and him! But you'll see for yourselves it's not far up the Shawl. You never heard anything, Mr. Cotherstone?" "No, we heard naught," answered Cotherstone. "If it's as you say, there'd be naught to hear."
At the foot of this hill, certain plots of building land had been sold, and Mallalieu had bought one and Cotherstone another, and on these they had erected two solid stone houses, fitted up with all the latest improvements known to the building trade.
"If you know it, get it out and be done with it. We've had enough trouble already. If you can clear things up " "Listen!" interrupted Cotherstone. "I'll tell you all I know privately. If you think good, it can be put into proper form. Very well, then! You remember the night of Kitely's murder?" "Aye, I should think so!" said the superintendent. "Good reason to!"
"Doesn't it say here that he was treasurer?" retorted Cotherstone, laying his hand on the open scrap-book. "He was he'd full control of the money. He drew me into things drew me into 'em in such a clever way that when the smash came I couldn't help myself. I had to go through with it. And I never knew until until the two years was over that Mallalieu had that money safely put away."
And looking round still further he became aware of an open door the door into which Miss Pett had withdrawn and of a bed within on which Kitely now lay, with Dr. Rockcliffe and the police-sergeant bending over him. The other policemen stood by the table in the living-room, and one of them the man who had picked up the pocket-book whispered audibly to Cotherstone as he and his companions entered.
Bent had come with uneasy feelings and apprehensions; one of the men who had been at the Highmarket Arms had chanced to be in the station when he and Lettie arrived, and had drawn him aside and told him of what had occurred, and that Cotherstone was evidently going on the drink. But there were no signs of anything unusual about Cotherstone when Bent found him.
Look here!" exclaimed Cotherstone, again bringing his hand down heavily on the desk. "I went up there by Hobwick Quarry on Sunday afternoon to do a bit of thinking. As I got to that spinney at the edge of the quarry, I saw Mallalieu and our clerk. They were fratching quarrelling I could hear 'em as well as see 'em. And I slipped behind a big bush and waited and watched.
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