"That has nothing to do with it. When the old lady dies, the money will go to her next-of-kin. You don't come into it at all."
"But, Hugh, she hasn't got any next-of-kin now that Wally's dead! I know Wally told me she was an only child, and she certainly never got married."
"My dear girl, it doesn't make the least difference to you. You're out of it altogether. Sorry, but there it is!"
"Is that the law?" said Vicky incredulously.
"That, my fair one, is the law," replied Hugh.
"Well, I think it's all for the best," said Vicky, "and a complete sell for Alexis, because the Inspector now sees that Mary hadn't got a motive. Don't you, Inspector?"
"No," said Mary. "No, it doesn't clear me, because I didn't know about this next-of-kin business. Oh dear, what a nightmare it's beginning to be! But surely you can't think I'd shoot my cousin!"
"Darling Mary, no one who'd ever seen you with a gun could possibly think you'd fired a shot in your life," said Vicky, with lovely frankness.
"It's a funny thing, but it's not often you'll find a lady who won't behave as though she thought a gun would bite her," remarked the Inspector. "But I understand you're not like that, miss?"
Vicky's seraphic blue eyes surveyed him for a moment. "Did the Prince tell you that?" she asked softly.