“I do not think there will be any necessity of bringing it up,” said Carlos. “It has no bearing on the case. I would prefer that it be not mentioned.”
“Why?”
“First, because it is strictly of a private nature, and, now that the brothers are both dead, is of no concern to any one. My only errand was to convince my uncle that he had no cause for enmity against my father. Whether I succeeded in this I do not know, and probably never shall. Second, my unsupported word would probably go for little against that of Haywood. He would probablymake the old enmity operate against me. If the matter is alluded to at all, the house of the late Colonel Conrad ought to be searched, and the documents found and exhibited in full.”
“You may be right,” said Mr. Royalton. “We will let that point drop, since you desire it. Where is your cousin, Leonard Lester?”
“I do not know. I supposed that he would return from his fishing excursion last evening, but from what some one in the crowd said this morning, I infer that he did not.”
“He ought to be found. His testimony may be wanted.”
“On what point? He knew nothing of the murder.”
“The question might arise as to the character of the interview with your uncle—whether there was any quarrel or misunderstanding.”
“There was no quarrel, unless——”
“Unless what?”