“Well, you prove that it belonged to me and you'll be cleverer than I take you for,” retorted Roger. “You won't do it, because it didn't belong to me. Then where are you? Back at the beginning again. You'd much better give it up now.”
“Thank you,” said Hannasyde. “If you don't mind, I'll stick to it a little longer. I should take your cousin's advice, if I were you. What did you do when you reached London?”
“This and that,” said Roger airily.
“For one who is so convinced that nothing will land him in trouble you are singularly reluctant to admit that you went to call on your brother, Mr Vereker.”
“Ah, you did know that, did you?” nodded Roger. “Oh, well, that makes it easier, I must say. I was getting very tired of hedging. Yes, I went to call on Arnold.”
“A very natural thing to do,” agreed Hannasyde.
“Of course it was a natural thing to do. I hadn't any money left.”
“I see. Am I to understand that you shared your half-brother's and sister's dislike of him?”
“No, I didn't dislike him,” said Roger, reflecting. “Not that I've really considered the matter.”
“You were, in fact, indifferent?”