Mr. Entwhistle intervened to ask:

"You came back to London after the funeral, didn't you ?"

"Yes, we came by the same train as you did."

"Of course.., of course. I ask because I tried to get hold of you," he shot a quick glance at the telephone--" on the following day--several times in fact, and couldn't get an answer."

"Oh dear--I'm so sorry. What were we doing that day ?

The day before yesterday. We were here until about twelve, weren't we ? And then you went round to try and get hold of Rosenheim and you went on to lunch with Oscar and I went out to see if I could get some nylons and round the shops.

I was to meet Janet but we missed each other. Yes, I had a lovely afternoon shopping--and then we dined at the Castile.

We got back here about ten o'clock, I suppose."

"About that," said Michael. He was looking thoughtfully at Mr. Entwhistle. "What did you want to get hold of us for, sir ?"

"Ohl Just some points that had arisen about Richard Abernethie's estate--papers to sign--all that."

Rosamund asked: "Do we get the money now, or not for ages ?"

"I'm afraid," said Mr. Entwhistle, "that the law is p.r.o.ne to delays."

"But we can get an advance, can't we ? "Rosamund looked

alarmed. "Michael said we could.

Actually it's terribly important. Because of the play."

Michael said pleasantly:

"Oh, there's no real hurry. It's just a question of deciding

whether or not to take up the option."

"It will be quite easy to advance you some money," said

Mr. Entwhistle. "As much as you need."

42

"Then that's all right." Rosarnund gave a sigh of relief.

She added as an afterthought: "Did Aunt Cora leave any

money ?"

"A little. She left it to your Cousin Susan."

"Why Susan, I should like to know I Is it much ?"

"A few hundred pounds and some furniture."

"Nice furniture ?"

"No," said Mr. Entwhistle.

Rosamund lost interest. "It's all very odd, isn't it ?" she

said. "There was Cora, after the funeral, suddenly coming

out with ' He uas murdered I ' and then, the very next day,

sh goes and gets herself murdered ? I mean, it is odd, isn't

it ?"

There was a moment's rather uncomfortable silence before

Mr. Entwhistle said quietly: "Yes, it is indeed very odd "

4

Mr.

Entwhistle studied Susan Banks as she leant forward across the table talking in her animated manner. None of the loveliness of Rosamund here. But it was an attractive face and its attraction lay, Mr. Entwhistle decided, in its vitality. The curves of the mouth were rich and full. It was a woman's mouth and her body was very decidedly a woman's---emphatically so. Yet in many ways Susan reminded him of her uncle, Richard Abernethie. The shape of her head, the line of her jaw, the deep-set reflective eyes. She had the same kind of dominant personality that Richard had had, the same driving energy, the same foresightedness and forthright judgment. Of the three members of the younger generation she alone seemed to be made of the metal that had raised up the vast Abernethie fortunes. Had Richard recognised in this niece a kindred spirit to his own ? Mr.

Entwhistle thought he must have done. Richard had always had a keen appreciation of character. Here, surely, were .exactly the qualities of which he was in search. And yet, n his will, Richard Abernethie had made no distinction in her favour. Distrustful, as Mr. Entwhistle believed, of George, pa.s.sing over that lovely dimwit, Rosamund--could he not have found in Susan what he was seeking--an heir of his own mettle ?

If not, the cause must be--yes, it followed logically--the husband ....

43

Mr. Entwhistle's eyes slid gently over Susan's shoulder to where Gregory Has stood absently whittling at a pencil.

A thin, pale, ncadescript your},g man with reddish sandy hair. So overshadowed by Susan s colourful personality that it was difficult to realise what he himself was really like.

Nothing to take h01d of in the fellow---quite pleasant, ready to be agreeablea "yes" man, as the modern term went.

And yet that did not seem to describe him satisfactorily.

There was something vaguely disquieting about the un.o.btrusiveness of Gregory Banks. He had been an unsuitable match--yet Susa had insisted on marrying him--had overborne all opposition--why ? What had she seen in him ?

And now, six ronths after the marriage--" She's crazy about the fellow," Iix. Entwhistle said to himself. He knew the signs. A large umber of Wives with matrimonial troubles had pa.s.sed through the office of Bollard, Entwhistle, Entwhistle and Bollard. Wives madly devoted to unsatisfactory and often what appeared quite unprepossessing husbands, wives contemptuous of, and bored by, apparently attractive and impeccable husbands. What any woman saw in some particular man was beyond the comprehension of the average intelligent male. It just was so. A woman who could be intelligent about everything else in the world could be a complete fool when it came to some particular man. Susan, thought Mr. Entwhistle, was oe of those women. For her the world revolved around Grog. And that had its dangers in more ways than one.

Susan was talking with emphasis and indignation.

"--because it is disgraceful. You remember that woman who was murdered in Yorkshire last year ? n.o.body was ever arrested. And the old woman in the sweet skop who was killed with a crowbar. They detained some man, and then th,e., let hi go.

There has to be evidence, my dear," said Mr. Entwhistle.

Susan paid no attention.

"And that other case---a retired nurse--that was a hatchet or an axe--just like Aunt Cora."

"Dear me, you appear to have made quite a study of these crimes, Susan," said Mr. Entwhistle mildly.

"Naturally one remembers these things--and when someone in one's own family is killed--and in very much the same way --well, it shows that there must be a lot of these sort of people going round the countryside, breaking into places and attacking lonely women--and that the police just don't bother I"

Mr. Entwhistle shook his head.

"Don't belittle the pohce, Susan. They are a very shrewd and patient body of men--persistent, too. Just because it isn't still mentioned in the newspapers doesn't mean that a case is closed. Far from it."

"And yet there are hundreds of unsolved crimes every year.

"Hundreds ?" Mr. Entwhistle looked dubious. "A certain number, yes. But there are many occasions when the

olice know who has committed a crime but where the evidence insufficient for a prosecution."

"I don't believe it," said Susan. "I believe if you knew definitely who committed a crime you could always get the evidence."

"I wonder now." Mr. Entwhistle sounded thoughtful. "I ve,,ry, much wonder..."