“Yes. He’s a clever little animal, and in better surroundings might improve into something useful. Miss Grison intends to give him his chance, and is taking him into her service as a page-boy: She’ll have enough to do to teach him civilized habits,” concluded Dick cynically.
“Why is she acting so philanthropically?”
“Out of regard for the memory of her brother, as she told Inspector Moon.”
“Well,” murmured Fuller thoughtfully, “that is reasonable enough since she appears to have had a strong regard for her brother. Perhaps he commended Jotty to her care.”
“It’s not improbable. The poor wretch may have wished to give the boy a chance, and if so, it shows that there were decent feelings in him. But if you visit this boarding-house I wish you to keep an eye on Jotty.”
“Why?” Alan looked up quickly.
“Because I believe the boy knows much more than he has hitherto admitted.”
“Oh,” said Fuller, after a pause, “so it is probable that Miss Grison’s interest in the lad is not wholly philanthropic. You fancy that she may desire to keep him under her own eye lest he should say too much.”
Latimer shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t say that I quite took that view, Alan, as Miss Grison may really be acting kindly out of regard for her brother’s wishes. All the same I believe that Jotty knows things about the murder which he is keeping quiet, and it will be just as well to watch him more or less closely.”
“But on what grounds——?”