Sylvester answered. “Yes,” he said, “that’s all right, as far as it goes.”
“Humph! Well, I cal’late I could make it go to the end of the route; and then have enough left for a return ticket. Say!” with another look at the solemn faces of the three, “what is the row? If the estate is wuth ha’f a million, what’s the matter with it?”
“That is what we are here this morning to discuss, Captain. A month ago, as I said, we considered our report practically ready. Then we suddenly happened on the trail of something which, upon investigation, upset all our calculations. If true, it threatened, not to mention its effect upon the estate, to prove so distressing and painful to us, Rodgers Warren’s friends and legal advisers, that we decided not to alarm you, his brother, by disclosing our suspicions until we were sure there was no mistake. I did drop you a hint, you will remember—”
“I remember. Now we’re comin’ to the rock!”
“Yes. Captain Warren, I think perhaps I ought to warn you that what my partners and I are about to say will shock and hurt you. I, personally, knew your brother well and respected him as an honorable business man. A lawyer learns not to put too much trust in human nature, but, I confess, this—this—”
He was evidently greatly disturbed. Captain Elisha, regarding him intently, nodded.
“I judge it’s sort of hard for you to go on, Mr. Sylvester,” he said. “I’ll help you all I can. You and Mr. Kuhn and Mr. Graves here have found out somethin’ that ain’t exactly straight in ’Bije’s doin’s? Am I right?”
“Yes, Captain Warren, you are.”
“Somethin’ that don’t help his character, hey?”
“Yes.”