“I'm not sure, Tony. Your father didn't visualize the deaths of all three sons when he made his Will. You may be.”
“What of it?” said Kenneth blandly.
Antonia said, with feeling: “You beast, Kenneth!”
“If you are serious in wanting police protection no doubt you will get it, upon application to the proper quarter,” said Hannasyde. “Meanwhile, I should like to see your maid - Murgatroyd —- please.”
“That ought to be good value,” observed Kenneth, and lounged over to the door, and called to Murgatroyd.
She came at once, and, upon being told that the Superintendent wanted to speak to her, confronted him with undisguised hostility in her eyes. “Well?” she said. “No need to tell me something's happened: I can see that.”
“You'd never guess what, though,” said Kenneth. “Roper's dead.”
She looked quickly from one to the other of them. “Dead?” she repeated. “You're not making game of me, are you, Master Kenneth?”
“Ask my friend-the-Superintendent,” he shrugged.
She drew in her breath in a hissing sound through her teeth. “Well, that's a surprise, I will say. Dead! And drunk at the time, I'll be bound. And no loss, either - though I'm sure I didn't wish him as much harm as that.” She glanced at Hannasyde. “What is it you want to ask me? I don't know how it happened, if that's what you're after.”