“I would prefer to have it expressed in this way.”
“I am sure,” continued Trimble, annoyed, “that Mr. Coleman will consider it unnecessary.”
“I see no objections to it,” said the lawyer. “Of course, the son being dead, it won’t count.”
“Mr. Coleman,” explained Mrs. Trimble, “I have no reason to doubt my poor son’s death, but I didn’t see him die, and there may have been a mistake.”
“How can there be?” demanded Trimble, impatiently. “Didn’t my friend Floyd see him drowned?”
“He may have been mistaken. Besides, he only says he did not see him after the boat upset. He may have been picked up by some other boat.”
For the first time Trimble and Floyd saw the flaw in the story, which had been invented by Trimble himself.
“Was there any boat near, Floyd?” asked Trimble, winking significantly.
“No, sir; not within a quarter of a mile.”
“Edward could swim. He may have reached one by swimming.”