“Might I have a word with you?”
Robin followed the detective across the room to the window.
Mr. Manderton seemed a trifle embarrassed.
“Er—- Mr. Greve,” he said, clearing his throat rather nervously, “I should like to—er,—offer you my congratulations on the remarkably accurate view you took of this case. I should have been able to prove to you, I believe, but for this curious interruption, that your view and mine practically coincided. It has been a pleasure to work with you, sir!”
He cast a hasty glance over his shoulder at the other occupants of the room, who were gathered round the desk.
“I’m not a society man, Mr. Greve,” he added, “and I have a lot of work on my hands regarding the case. So I think I’ll run off now ...”
He broke off, gave Robin a large hand, and, looking neither to right nor to left, made a hurried exit from the room, taking Inspector Humphries with him.
“Now that we are just among ourselves”—the solicitor was speaking—“I think I may seize the opportunity of saying a word about Mr. Parrish’s will. Miss Trevert, as you know, is made principal legatee, but I understand from her that she does not propose to accept the inheritance. I will not comment on this decision of hers, which does her moral sense, at any rate, infinite credit, but I should observe that Mr. Parrish has left directions for the payment of an allowance—I may say, a most handsome allowance—to Lady Margaret Trevert during her ladyship’s lifetime. This is a provision over which Miss Trevert’s decision, of course, can have no influence. I would only remark that, according to Mr. Parrish’s instructions, this allowance will be paid from the dividends on a percentage of his holdings in Hornaway’s under the new scheme. I have not yet had an opportunity of looking further into Mr. Parrish’s affairs in the light of the information which Mr. Greve obtained in Rotterdam, but I have reason to believe that he kept his interest in Hornaway’s and his—ahem!—other activities entirely separate. If this can be definitely established to my own satisfaction and to yours, my dear Miss Trevert, I see no reason why you should not modify your decision at least in respect of Mr. Parrish’s interest in Hornaway’s.”
Mary Trevert looked at Robin and then at the solicitor.
“No!” she said; “not a penny as far as I am concerned. With Mother the case is different. I told her last night of my decision in the matter. She disapproves of it. That is why she is not here to-day. But my mind is made up.”