“Yes, sir,” replied Ross. “She survived the Colonel for some years but died, I think, about four years ago.”
“Which leaves only Sir Matthew Fullgarney,” soliloquised Anthony. He turned to Inspector Bannister. “Quite a chapter of fatalities, isn’t it?” he suggested. “How did Major Carruthers die, Ross?”
“In a motor accident, sir—somewhere about the early part of last year.”
“H’m,” said Anthony, “nothing to arouse suspicion—eh?”
Ross shook his head. “Nothing that I can remember, sir.”
“Perhaps you can tell me something else, Ross,” remarked Bannister. “Do you know anything about a gentleman living in Westhampton—Alan Warburton by name?”
Ross nodded eagerly. “Know him well, Inspector. He’s the only survivor as far as my knowledge goes, of the famous Warburtons—the big banking family. You remember the celebrated ‘Mutual Bank Frauds’ about two years ago. Sir Felix Warburton was arrested and sentenced and afterwards committed suicide in his cell. He was Alan Warburton’s uncle—Alan being the son of his only brother—Murray Warburton. Alan’s father died when Alan was a boy. It’s rather a coincidence that you should have introduced his name.”
“Why?” snapped Bannister. “Where’s the coincidence?”
Anthony watched Ross’s face carefully and awaited his reply with much more than ordinary interest.
“Well,” proceeded Ross, “what I meant exactly was this. Up to the time of the ‘Mutual Bank’ scandal, local gossip in Westhampton and Tranfield was inclined to couple Alan Warburton’s name with Sheila Delaney’s.”