"Did it contain anything but the notes? Any letter that you can produce?"
Francis inhaled a long breath of smoke before he answered. "Just a slip of paper telling me he had paid my debts for the last time. What an insight you must be getting into our family!"
"Did you keep this note?"
"I'm afraid I didn't. Thoughtless of me, but then I hadn't visualised the possibility of someone murdering the old man."
"By what post did you receive the notes?"
"By the first post. I imagine my uncle must have sent them off from Ralton when he went in to cash his cheque."
"In which case," said Harding, "it is rather surprising that the letter didn't reach you by the last post on Monday, isn't it?"
"Oh, is it?" replied Francis, mildly interested. "I expect you're right, but I've always found the post from Ralton wonderfully irregular."
"You are probably more familiar with it than I am," said Harding. "When were you first aware of your uncle's death?"
"Last night, when Tremlowe rang me up."