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Updated: June 5, 2025
"I shouldn't wonder," agreed Prydale. "One thing's very certain, as we shall prove before we're through with it Pratt's put that poor devil Murgatroyd up to this passage-to-America business. And a bit clumsily, too fancy Murgatroyd being no better posted up than to tell me that Parrawhite called on him at a certain hour that night!"
"I can give you definite information concerning James Parrawhite if you will send representative to see me personally. "CHARLES ELDRICK, Eldrick & Pascoe, Solicitors, Barford." After Eldrick had sent off a clerk with this message to the nearest telegraph office, he sat thinking for some time.
"It was just about then between his death and his funeral I should say," answered Eldrick, "The two events are associated in my mind. Anyway, I'd like to know what it is that these people want Parrawhite for. If it's money that's come to him, it'll be of no advantage it'll only go where all the rest's gone." Collingwood lost interest in Parrawhite.
It was as if he were the occupant of a strong position, only fortified, who suddenly finds a shell dropped into his outworks from a totally unexpected quarter. Parrawhite! Advertised for by Eldrick! Why? For what reason? For what purpose? With what idea? Parrawhite! of all men in the world Parrawhite, of whom he had never wanted to hear again!
Next night Parrawhite, who is being pressed for money by Pickard, tells Pickard that he can get it out of Pratt, over whom he has a hold. What hold? We can imagine what hold. Anyway Parrawhite leaves Pickard to meet Pratt. He did meet Pratt in Stubbs' Lane. He was seen to go with Pratt into the disused quarry. And there, in my opinion, Pratt killed him and disposed of his body.
Don't forget the last bit of news." "Why that particularly?" asked Eldrick. "Because," answered Byner solemnly, "I want Pratt to know that the search for Parrawhite is going to be a thorough one!" Eldrick went off on his second mission, promising to return in due course.
'I say, Pickard, he says, 'between you an' me, worrn't t' name o' that man 'at used to come in here on a Sunday sometimes, Parrawhite? It runs a' my mind, he says, ''at I've heerd you call him by that name. 'Well, an' what if it wor? I says. 'Nay, nowt much, he says, 'but I see fro' t' Dispatch 'at he's wanted, and I could tell a bit about him, he says.
Shutting himself into Eldrick's private room, and making sure that he was alone that time, he immediately opened the drawer in the senior partner's desk, wherein Eldrick, culpably enough, as Parrawhite had sneeringly remarked, was accustomed to put loose money. Eldrick was strangely careless in that way: he would throw money into that drawer in presence of his clerks notes, gold, silver.
"I say, Eldrick," he drawled, as he removed a newly-lighted cigar from his lips. "There's an advertisement here which seems to refer to that precious protege of yours, who left you with such scant ceremony. Same name, anyhow!" Eldrick snatched up the paper, glanced at it and read a few words aloud. "INFORMATION WANTED about James Parrawhite, at one time in practice as a solicitor."
And a little before three o'clock he walked into the smoking-room at the Central Hotel and discovered Byner in a comfortable corner. "I've seen Murgatroyd," he whispered, as he took an adjacent chair. "Decent honest enough man very poor, I should say. He tells a plain enough story. Parrawhite, whom he knew as one of our clerks, told him, last November 23rd "
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