'Humanly speaking, nothing. He is not dead, but he is so nearly so that he may be said to be already looking through the gates.'
Hancock liked to talk like that. It was supposed that remarks of that kind had made him popular with women. Foster fidgeted.
'Sir Gregory, it is essential that the Marquis should make a will. He was in possession of all his faculties before you entered. Can nothing be done to rouse him?'
Hancock shrugged his shoulders.
'What?'
'Anything. A will we ought to have at any cost. Its absence may be the cause of endless confusion.'
'I can only say, sir, that if the Marquis of Twickenham has not made a will already he never will. Any attempt to rouse him, such as you appear to suggest, might result in his instant death. If we succeeded he would be incapable of doing what you require.'
Foster turned to Reggie.
'I can only say that, from your point of view, your brother might as well have continued an absentee as, under the present circumstances, die intestate.'
I struck in. 'That's absurd. Lord Reginald will succeed.'