“But there were some people you know of with whom he was not on the best of terms?” he asked.
“I think I may say ‘yes’ to that. He had a temper, and there had been violent disputes on several occasions with Mr. Walter Brooklyn—Sir Vernon’s brother.”
“One moment. Was he on good terms with Mr. George Brooklyn?”
Again a pause. “No, I can’t say he was—but they were not enemies. George thought he had behaved badly to Charis Lang, and said so. Also, George was strongly against Prinsep’s marrying Miss Joan Cowper, which Sir Vernon had set his heart on.”
And then, in question and answer, the whole episode at the dinner, the announcement of Sir Vernon’s will, and Joan’s dramatic refusal to marry Prinsep, gradually came out. The inspector felt that now at last he was learning things.
“Did Miss Cowper know about Miss Lang?”
“Not that I am aware of. But I can’t be sure. Mrs. George may have told her.”
“And what would you say were the relations between Miss Cowper and Mr. Prinsep?”
“He was half in love with her—in a sort of a way. At any rate he certainly wanted to marry her. She was most certainly not in love with him. I don’t think she had any strong feeling against him; but it is impossible to be sure. She would have done almost anything rather than marry him, I am certain.”
“Had Miss Cowper, so far as you know, any other attachment?”