"What did you say to her, sir?"
"Really, I can't recall my exact words! It was nothing you could possibly construe into - in fact, I told her my lips were sealed. And I shouldn't have said that, only that - oh dear, oh dear, one tries to act for the best, never imagining that the most innocent motives may lead to all sorts of hideous complications! You'll think me a sentimental old fool, I expect, but my one idea was to smooth out a few wrinkles, if I could."
"Between Mr. Stephen and the deceased?"
"Well, yes," admitted Joseph. "It's no use trying to conceal from you that my poor brother was in a very bad humour, for I'm sure you've already been told that. His lumbago was troubling him, and there was this business of Mottisfont's, besides the rather unfortunate affair of young Roydon's play. I did my best to pour oil, and I will readily admit that I was on tenterhooks lest Stephen should upset all his chances by - by irritating his uncle. That's why I spoke to Miss Dean."
"So that unless Miss Dean told him, you don't think he had any knowledge of his uncle's having made this will?"
"Not from me! I don't know what my brother may have told him, but I can assure you I never said anything about it."
The Inspector's excellent memory again proved disconcerting. "But when Mr. Herriard and his nephew had words after the reading of Mr. Roydon's play, didn't Mr. Herriard speak of making a few changes?"
"Really, I don't think I heard him! In any case, it was the sort of thing he might say if he was in a temper."
"But it would imply, wouldn't it, that he had reason to believe that Mr. Stephen knew of the provisions of this will?"
"I suppose it would," agreed Joseph unhappily. "But you can't mean to suggest that Stephen - Oh no, no! I won't believe such a horrible thing!"