"Either she did it in a fit of uncontrollable passion," I said, "or the motive was revenge."
"Possible solutions," returned the professor, "but robbed of their weight when we consider the motives which Thomas Jardine and Martha Wakeling had."
"I think——"
"One moment, Wigan; I am not theorizing, I am using facts. By murdering his aunt, Jardine lost her money——"
"He inherited three or four thousand a year," I interrupted.
"Which was mortgaged up to the hilt or over it; he told you so himself. Mrs. Jardine's money would have been very useful to him, and by killing her he would lose all chance of it."
"He did not know the condition," I said.
"So far as we know," Quarles answered. "I don't think we must consider that point as proved. Now take Martha Wakeling's position. By the violent death of her mistress she will come into this money. Was there any provision for her in the will if Mrs. Jardine died a natural death?"
"She got a legacy of a hundred pounds."
"You appreciate the enormous difference," said Quarles with that exasperating smile he had when he thinks he has driven his opponent into a corner.