“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.”