Mr Slimm continued: ‘He died, as you are aware, after a curious illness, and rather suddenly at the last. If I am correct, there was no inquest.’
It was not fancy, then! Mr Slimm’s keen eyes detected a sudden shiver agitate her frame, and his ear caught a quick painful respiration. Why did no one think of this? he said to himself.
‘However, for the present we will pass that over. Mr Morton was known to have been a rich man. All he had was left, I understand, to you?’
‘In that, sir, you are perfectly right. Pray, continue.’
‘Now, at one time, I understand, poor Morton intended to leave everything to his niece. Was that so?’
Miss Wakefield inclined her head coldly.
‘And since his death, not the slightest trace of the bulk of the money has been discovered. Is that not so?’
Miss Wakefield inclined her head once more.
‘Well, we have now discovered where the money is.’
‘Discovered where the money is! where my money is!’ the woman cried with a grating laugh. ‘And I presume you came to bring it to me. After all this long while, fancy getting my own at last!’