“He locked it away in some hiding place of his own. It appeared that for some superstitious reason, which I don’t pretend to understand, he was unwilling to destroy it, though he refused to tell me what it was.”
“Had he ever discussed the affair with his wife, do you know? Taxed her with it?”
“Never. I asked the same question. Never.”
“No. No, I suppose he wouldn’t. Well, it’s a strange story.”
“Is it a significant story?”
“It fits into the pattern, I think.”
“Ah,” said Mr. Rattisbon who knew Alleyn. “The pattern. Your pet theory, Chief Inspector.”
“Yes, sir, my pet theory. I hope you may provide me with another lozenge in the pattern. Did he leave any large sums to his servants?”
“He made the customary bequests of a man in his position. One hundred pounds to each servant who had been in his employment for five years or more. In the cases of old family servants the legacies were in some cases considerable.”
“What about the two servants who were with them yesterday? William Giggle and Grace Tinkerton.”