“Certainly. As I have said, no fresh facts have been brought to my notice which might cause me to alter it.”
“Possibly, Sir Horace, the course of this inquiry may cause you to reconsider the correctness of your action. That is all, thank you; you may stand down.”
Sir Horace glared at his tormentor, but, finding nothing to say, stood down.
Ryland Fratten was now called. After identifying the body and answering a few formal questions about himself and his father he was, at a sign from the Coroner, about to stand down when Chief Inspector Barrod rose to his feet.
“May I ask this witness some questions, sir, please?”
The Coroner looked rather surprised, but signified his consent. He had been given to understand that the police did not intend to press the inquiry beyond preliminaries at the present hearing—certainly not as regards their suspect. Still, presumably Chief Inspector Barrod knew what he was about.
The fact was that Barrod, after watching Ryland Fratten give evidence, had formed the opinion that this was just the type of young and attractive gentleman whom his rather inexperienced colleague—of a similar type himself—might find it difficult to tackle successfully. It will be remembered that the Chief Inspector, while appreciating Poole’s education and qualifications, did not set great store by them—even thought them rather dangerous. He decided, therefore, to take this opportunity to examine Fratten himself.
“You are your late father’s heir, Mr. Fratten?”
“I was one of his heirs.”
“Quite so. You and your sister—your half-sister, that is—Miss Inez Fratten, are joint residuary legatees?”