Part 44 (1/2)
”Not since this visit of sympathy, do you mean?”
”That was the last time.”
”Then all your sympathy expended itself in that single visit?”
”No, not exactly.”
”Why didn't you renew it?”
”Rob and I didn't part good friends.”
”Indeed? And what was the cause of your disagreement?”
”Some thoughtless words of mine.”
”Then you were at fault?”
”Wholly. I have been sorry since.”
”But you have kept your repentance to yourself until now, have you not?”
”Well----”
”And volunteered to testify against your cousin?”
”No, sir; I was subpoenaed.”
”From what quarter do you suppose these rumors of Floyd's disinheritance arose?”
”I don't know.”
”Consider that answer carefully.”
”I have done so. I don't know. I read it in the papers.”
”You knew Floyd was disinherited before your visit to his cell?”
”No, sir.”
”You knew you yourself were disinherited before the fire?”
”No, sir.”
”You knew a will had been made?”
”Yes, sir.”
”From whom?”
”From my mother.”
”Your mother and yourself share most items of family interest between you?”
”Naturally we do. We have no secrets from each other.”
”Wasn't it your mother who first informed Mr. McCausland that Robert had been disinherited?”
”I don't know.”
”Yet you read the papers, you said.”
”I must have skipped that item.”
”How did Mrs. Arnold know this fact?”
”I don't know.”
”You are very rich, Mr. Arnold?”
”Yes, we are considered wealthy.”
”So rich that I presume you were indifferent whether Prof. Arnold added to your fortunes or not by a bequest of his property?”
”He may have thought we didn't need anything more.”
”How large a stud of horses do you keep?”
”In all? Only six.”
”How many servants?”
”Six.”
”For a family of two?”
”My mother and myself. But then, we entertain a good deal.”
”You have a summer residence at Hillsborough?”
”Yes, sir.”
”And a house at Woodlawn?”
”Yes, sir.”
”The supplies for your table are not generally purchased from a common street vender, I presume?”
”I don't know. I don't attend to the commissariat.”
”Shouldn't you suppose they would come from market?”