"It seems to me that it is my presence which is entirely superfluous," said Stephen. "If you expect me to be able to throw any light on obscurities I can tell you now that I shan't be able to."
"No, no, Stephen; of course you must be present!" oseph said, taking his arm.
Valerie said, as soon as they were out of earshot: "Well! I never expected a Scotland Yard person to be so decent!"
"Too decent by half," said Paula scornfully.
"Yes," agreed Roydon. "You want to be very much on your guard with those smooth-spoken chaps. They're simply trying to trap you."
Mrs. Dean laughed in a very robust way, and said that there were no traps for her girlie to fall into, she thanked God. This had the effect of making everyone recall duties that would remove them to widely distant parts of the house, and the party disintegrated.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel's study, which was situated in the west wing, and approached by a wide corridor, had been unlocked, and entered. Stephen switched on the electric stove, and began to fill his pipe. Joseph permitted himself a slight shudder at the sight of Nathaniel's sanctum, and pulled himself together with an obvious effort. He turned to Blyth, and said: "I think you know why my nephew sent for you. There is one very important matter -"
"I had better tell you at once that no will was ever drawn up by my firm for your brother, Mr. Herriard," interrupted the solicitor.
"So that's that," said Stephen.
"In the absence of any will -" "But there is a will!" Joseph said.