Part 23 (2/2)
”The whole case is yet to be cleared up. I can't see that you detectives have solved any part of the puzzle.”
”I doubt it can be solved in parts. I think we must ferret about here and there and at last we will strike the truth all at once.”
”Well, can't you go and strike it somewhere else?” spoke up the pert voice of Eliza Gurney. ”We have much to attend to, with funeral arrangements and business matters.”
”As to business matters, you are sole heir, I understand, Mr Bates?”
”Yes, I am so informed by the lawyer who has my uncle's will in his keeping,” answered Richard, with an air of cold politeness.
”And you will take up the Bun business?”
”He will not,” Miss Prall replied for him. ”He will devote himself to his great work of inventing--Mr Bates is a genius and now he will have the means and the opportunity to carry on his life work.”
”Just so. And you will be getting married?”
”Of course he will,” Miss Prall still gave the responses; ”not at present, of course, but as soon as he finds the right young lady----”
”He won't have to look far afield for that!”
”Leave me out of the conversation,” Richard growled. ”These private affairs of mine in no way affect your detective work.”
”But, you must pardon me if I seem intrusive, I am a.s.suming that we are at one in this matter of investigation?” Corson spoke sharply.
”Of course,” agreed Bates.
”Then I must ask if you are engaged to Miss Everett.”
”He is not!” Miss Prall almost shrieked the words. ”He is not and never will be. The death of his uncle, deplorable as are the circ.u.mstances, leaves Mr Bates free to pursue his occupation with all his time and attention. He will not think of other matters for a year at least, and then the lady in the case will _not_ be Miss Everett!”
The Grenadier sat stiffly upright, and her black beady eyes, darted from her nephew's face to that of the detective as if challenging contradiction from either of them.
Bates replied only by a shrug of his shoulders, but Corson said, ”I a.s.sume then, Miss Prall, that outside the natural shock of the tragedy you feel a certain relief that your nephew is now the heir to great wealth and can pursue his career? But I understand his uncle wished him to a.s.sociate himself with the Bun business.”
”Quite so,” Let.i.tia snapped. ”The late Sir Herbert was deeply interested in my nephew, but he did not understand or appreciate his achievements and possibilities in his own chosen line. Wherefore, I am rejoiced that now my nephew can proceed unhindered.”
”But, I believe the late Sir Herbert favored the match between Mr Bates and Miss Everett?”
”Drop that!” Richard blazed forth. ”Leave that lady's name out of this conversation!”
”Yes, indeed!” Let.i.tia cried; ”I forbid the mention of the name of Everett in my presence!”
”Yet it may be necessary,” Corson went on, calmly. ”You know, Miss Prall, the ends of justice may call for the mention of a name----”
”What in the world can the mention of that name have to do with justice?” Eliza broke in. ”You don't connect the Everetts with the murder, do you?”
”I don't connect any one with the murder, as yet,” Corson replied, ”but it is my great desire to find some connection, and so I have to make inquiries.”
”If that's your motive, I still must request that you omit the name of Everett from your conversation,” said Bates. ”Look here, Corson, are you getting anywhere, or aren't you?”
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