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Beneath these precepts appeared the lithographed signature of an eminent philanthropist, but it seemed reasonable to assume that they also formed the guiding maxims of Mr. Simon Rattar. His visitor politely apologised for his question. "I had not noticed this warning," said he. "Smoke if you like. My clients sometimes do. I don't myself," said the lawyer.
"I wish to Heaven I knew what to think!" he murmured; and then he resumed a brisker air and continued, "I am ready to suspect Simon Rattar of any crime in the calendar leaving out petty larceny and probably bigamy.
"What about Keldale House?" the sporting visitor suggested. "That's the place where the murder was committed, isn't it?" and then he laughed. "Your eye betrays you, Mr. Rattar!" said he. The lawyer seemed to start ever so slightly. "Indeed?" he murmured. "Look here," said Carrington with a candid smile, "let's put our cards on the table. You know my business?"
Simon Rattar, and if by the end of it the agreeable visitor was not fully acquainted with the history of that local celebrity, of his erring partner, and of his father before him, it was not the fault of Miss Peterkin and her friends. Nor could it fairly be said to be the visitor's fault either, for his questions were as numerous as they were intelligent.
I got that man down here to clear you just for that purpose and no other!" "But " she exclaimed, "Mr. Rattar said you suspected Malcolm and me and were determined to prove our guilt!" "Simon Rattar said that!" There was something so menacing in his voice that Cicely involuntarily shrank back. "Do you mean to tell me, honour bright, that Simon Rattar told you that lie in so many words?"
"Well, all I've got to say is this, Mr. Rattar, that my plain common sense tells me that those are no motives at all. For who knew what they stood to gain by this will? Or that they stood to gain any blessed thing at all? I hadn't the foggiest notion Sir Reginald meant to cancel that debt!"
For an instant Simon's cold eyes opened very wide, and then he was gazing at her after his usual silent and steadfast manner. "Who you are?" he repeated after a few seconds' pause. "Yes. Indeed, Mr. Rattar, I insist on knowing!" Simon smiled slightly. "And what makes you think I can assist you to er recover your identity, Miss Farmond?" "To discover it, not recover it," she corrected.
Rattar arrived at his office, just as he had arrived every morning since his clerks could remember. He nodded curtly as usual to his head clerk, Mr. Ison, and went into his room. His letters were always laid out on his desk and from twenty minutes to half an hour were generally spent by him in running through them. Then he would ring for Mr. Ison and begin to deal with the business of the day.
"Don't you really know that I am honestly quite ignorant?" Mr. Rattar shook his head cautiously. "It is not for me to hazard an opinion," he answered. "Oh please, Mr. Rattar," she exclaimed, "don't be so dreadfully cautious! Surely you can't have thought that I knew all the time!" Again he was silent for a moment, and then enquired: "Why do you come to me now?" "Because I must know!
Malcolm Cromarty hesitated, "Sir Reginald is so damned narrow! If he wants to drive me to the devil well, let him! But I say, Mr. Rattar, what are you going to do?" For some moments Simon said nothing. At length he answered: "I shall not press for repayment at present." His visitor rose with a sigh of relief and as he said good-bye his condescending manner returned as readily as it had gone.
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