"Yes," she said. "We had a good deal in common; I was much interested in all his plans, and so on. He was a very clever man, a deeply interesting man, and I have felt—this—more than I'm going to say. And—but I think I'd better tell you why I sent for you."
"Yes," assented Brent.
"I gathered from what was said at the inquest this morning that you are your cousin's sole executor?" she asked.
"I am," replied Brent. "Sole everything."
"Then, of course, you have entire charge and custody of his papers?" she suggested.
"That's so," answered Brent. "Everything's in my possession."
Mrs. Saumarez sighed gently; it seemed to Brent that there was something of relief in the sigh.
"Last autumn and winter," she continued presently, "I was away from home a long time; I was in the South of France. Mr. Wallingford and I kept up a regular, and frequent, correspondence: it was just then, you know, that he became Mayor, and began to formulate his schemes for the regeneration of this rotten little town——"
"You think it's that, eh?" interrupted Brent, emphasizing the personal pronoun. "That's your conviction?"