The Herapath Property

agains

d away and took a seat in the corner of a lounge opposite his visitor. He gave Barthorpe a peculiarly searching l

pposed to have witnessed a will

e a gesture o

n either knows that he witnessed a will

ing of the sort. I can also imagine it just as possible that a man may have really witnessed a will when he thought he was signing some much less important document. Of

e together with a third man who had been present throughout, what wou

aning," replied Burchill.

answer my question?"

laughed

in another and more direct form. Have you seen my si

eplied B

was my signature?

im nothing. What was more, he was beginning to feel that he was not going to get anything out

ead of asking me a direct question like this that you'd better wait until this will comes before the-is it the Probate Court?-and then let some of the legal gentlemen ask me if that-that!-is my signature? I'm only putting it to you, yo

igarette in the hearth with a

was murdered at his office about-well, somewhere between twelve and three o'clock this morning. Nat

u would," murm

o examine that in his study at Portman Square when Tertius said in the presence of my cousin, myself, and

rmured Burchill. "How deeply interesti

," continued Barthorpe, "p

, "a holograph? Now, I am very

written in the handwriting of the per

by Mr. Jacob Herapath, and wit

've told you all about it. What are you going to tell me? Come-did you witness

ontents of the will?" asked Burchi

lowed an excla

left everything-everything!-to

habitual drawl. "Really, how infernally inconsiderat

an to growl, almost threateningly. And

ous-yes. Most serious-for you, as I said. But reme

nd thrust his hands in his poc

Burchill!" he said. "Is that you

eming innocence. "Let's postpone matters until then. By

horpe. "Why, of course, he said th

we must postpone matters until this will is-what do you call it?-presented, propounded-what is it?-for probate.

t down again

hill!" he said. "By Jove, you are! Y

miled depr

pointed a question at present, suppose we go bac

the case. He affected to re-read it

"what was it that you wanted my u

Burchill suavely, "you can call it a-well, say a

" said Barthorpe drily. "I should say, from the to

we'll say donation. The fact is, I want to start a newspaper-weekly-devoted to the arts. I th

orpe. "The amount isn't

ious letters," replied Burchil

r silence, eh?" s

p!" answer

He helped himself to another cigarette and lighted it be

he secret?

d assumed an air o

. "That's against all the

u beat about the bush so much for? Hang it, I've a pretty good notio

unds," said Burchill. "Therefore I should want quite as mu

" asked Barthorpe.

swering that question," re

usand pounds for it?"

ll quietly. "There is an old saying that circumstances alter cases. It's true-they do. I would have t

te declaration for a minute or two.

ly like-blackma

blackmail at all-in my view. I happen to po

nterrupted

are you and I going to beat about the bush? Are you g

I've seen it," answe

u tell m

tirely d

-wh

umsta

ces got anything to

More than a

w-w

ly. "Take my counsel. Leave this for the moment and come to see me-now, when? Tonight. Come tonight. I've

after a moment's consideration.

got up too, and for a moment both men gl

idea who murdered y

t!" exclaimed Bar

se-the police

of co

aid Burchill.

hair which Barthorpe had vacated and for half an hour sat immobile, thinking. At the end of that half-hour he ro

of C