Jimmy looked his question.
‘He’s just been arrested on the charge’—Lois’s lip quivered in spite of herself—‘of murdering his father.’
Her cousin whistled.
‘Good Lord!’ he cried, ‘you don’t say so? Poor old girl.’
‘It’s terrible. Oh, Jimmy, what are we to do?’
‘It’s damnable. But you musn’t be downhearted. Many and many a man has been arrested for a crime he has known nothing about. Don’t get upset till we’re sure there is something to be upset about. Tell me the details.’
She told him all she knew; of Austin’s visit at eleven on the fatal night, of the hoax that had been played on him, of their learning of Sir William’s disappearance the next day, of the inquest and its adjournment, of Tanner’s visit to her, of the adjourned inquest, and of Austin’s note, and her reply to it. He listened in silence till she had finished.
‘And you have no idea what this new evidence is?’ he asked at last.
‘None whatever.’
‘Our first step will be to find that out. I think I can do that. Then if you give me authority to act for you, I’ll see him and hear what he has to say about it. That would probably be the quickest way to learn our defence.’