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Updated: May 5, 2025
She twiddled the gold ring on her hand absent-mindedly and she was married ... and a widow! She had an uncomfortable feeling that, in spite of her riches, she had not yet found her niche. She was an odd quantity, as yet. The Cole-Mortimers and the Briggerlands did not belong to her ideal world, and she could find no place where she fitted.
"We have made thorough inquiries about you, too thorough in fact, because the Briggerlands have smelt a rat, and have been on our trail for a week. We know that you are not engaged to be married, we know that you have a fairly heavy burden of debts, and we know, too, that you are unencumbered by relations or friends.
She could only stare at him open-mouthed, and he went on. "The Briggerlands know he has escaped; they probably thought he was here, because we have had a police visitation this afternoon, and the interior of the house and grounds have been searched. They know, of course, that Mr. Rennett and I were his legal advisers, and we expected them to come.
"Facts!" said the other scornfully. "What facts have you given us?" "The fact of the Briggerlands' history," said Jack desperately. "Briggerland was broke when he married Miss Meredith under the impression that he would get a fortune with his wife. He has lived by his wits all his life, and until this girl was about fifteen, they were existing in a state of poverty.
"From Bulford's body to the drawing-room window was exactly nine feet. It was possible to pitch the pistol so that it fell near him. Bulford was waiting there by the instructions of Jean Briggerland. We have traced the telephone call that came through to him from the club it came from the Briggerlands' house in Berkeley Street, and the attendant at the club was sure it was a woman's voice.
"It will be more gruesome for you if you don't," he said significantly. "The Briggerlands are your heirs at law." She looked at him quickly. "So that is what you are aiming at? You think that all these plots are designed to put me out of the way so that they can enjoy my money?" He nodded, and she looked at him wonderingly.
"Where is your father?" she asked the girl. "He went into the bushes." Mr. Stepney volunteered the information. "I suppose he's looking for the Paul Pry." Mr. Stepney had been unusually glum and silent, for he was piqued by the tactless appearance of the Briggerlands.
"To his wife absolutely," replied the other. "The poor old chap was so frantically keen on keeping the money out of the Briggerland exchequer, that he was prepared to entrust the whole of his money to a girl he had not seen." Jack was serious now. "And the Briggerlands are her heirs? Do you realise that, Rennett there's going to be hell!" Mr. Rennett nodded. "I thought that too," he said quietly.
"Surely you told her we were great friends?" "Of course I did, my dear. Knowing your dear cousin and his dear father, it was not remarkable that I should know the whole of the family," and she smiled wisely from one to the other. Of course! How absurd she was, thought Lydia. She had almost forgotten, and probably Jack Glover had forgotten too, that the Briggerlands and the Merediths were related.
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