“No. It was a day or two before, but I think I heard Stratton say Mr Brettison came to see him that day, and that he was going out of town.”
“Humph! That’s strange!”
“Why?” said Guest.
“He was very fond of Malcolm Stratton, wasn’t he—I mean, isn’t he?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Why should he go out, on Stratton’s wedding day, instead of stopping to congratulate him?”
“I don’t know. It was odd, but Mr Brettison is eccentric.”
“It’s more than odd, Percy Guest,” said Miss Jerrold, looking very keen and intent; “the clue lies that way. Mr Brettison must have known something and quarrelled with Malcolm Stratton, it seems to me.”
“You think so?”
“Yes; his conduct suggests it. Out of town? Hasn’t he been to his chambers since?”