"Yes, it was a nice clue, wasn't it, sir?" said the sergeant bitterly. "There might have been half a hundred people that didn't know that."
"But Collins did know," said Mr. Amberley.
"Yes, sir, and I don't mind telling you now that that's why I ruled him out," said the sergeant, fixing him with what he hoped was a hypnotic stare.
"Ananias," said Amberley. "You take my breath away." He put his pipe down on the mantelpiece and pushed his hands in to the front of his trousers. "Then," he proceeded "Uncle Humphrey took a turn."
" What?" said Sir Humphrey.
Amberley glanced down at him in some amusement.
" You did, sir. You went to talk to Fountain about poachers, and you walked off with the missing half of the will."
"What the devil are you talking about, Frank?"
"Which," continued Amberley imperturbably, "Collies had concealed in the back of the book you borrowed. I should like to know whether Collins saw you take that book away."
"Yes!" Felicity said. "He did, and now I come to think of it he tried hard to get it out of Daddy's hands. He offered to dust it, and to wrap it up, but Daddy refused."