“I think you’d better listen to this man, Letitia,” advised Eliza. “He’s got a right to be heard, and I, for one, want to know how matters stand.”
Whereupon Letitia sat down and Bates came and stood behind her chair.
“First, Mr Corson,” Richard said, “let me understand just how far your authority goes——”
“All the way,” returned Corson, promptly. “I’m the police detective on this case. I shall have a helper,—a colleague, undoubtedly, but for the moment I’m working alone. However, I’ve all the authority in the world. I represent law and justice, I represent the government, I represent the United States!”
“The United States is honored, I’m sure,” said Miss Prall with unconcealed sarcasm.
Such things never ruffled Corson, and he went calmly on.
“This man’s relation to you?” he said, interrogatively, looking at Letitia.
“He was no kin of mine,” she snapped; “he was the uncle of my nephew, Mr Bates, and Mr Bates is the sole heir.”
“Indeed; he is to be congratulated. Now, this man,—Sir Binney——”
“Don’t call him that!” put in Eliza. “It does annoy me so! Say Sir Herbert Binney or Sir Herbert. Have you never known a knight?”