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Page 88
"Yes. Mark hoped to marry Miss Norbury. Now, if Robert really
was a blot upon the family honour, Mark would want to do one of
two things. Either keep it from the Norburys altogether, or
else, if it had to come out, tell them himself before the news
came to them indirectly. Well, he told them. But the funny
thing is that he told them the day before Robert's letter came.
Robert came, and was killed, the day before yesterday--Tuesday.
Mark told Mrs. Norbury about him on Monday. What do you make of
that?"
"Coincidence," said Bill, after careful thought. "He'd always
meant to tell her; his suit was prospering, and just before it
was finally settled, he told her. That happened to be Monday.
On Tuesday he got Robert's letter, and felt jolly glad that he'd
told her in time."
"Well, it might be that, but it's rather a curious coincidence.
And here is something which makes it very curious indeed. It
only occurred to me in the bath this morning. Inspiring place, a
bathroom. Well, it's this--he told her on Monday morning, on his
way to Middleston in the car."
"Well?"
"Well."
"Sorry, Tony; I'm dense this morning."
"In the car, Bill. And how near can the car get to Jallands?"
"About six hundred yards."
"Yes. And on his way to Middleston, on some business or other,
Mark stops the car, walks six hundred yards down the hill to
Jallands, says, 'Oh, by the way, Mrs. Norbury, I don't think I
ever told you that I have a shady brother called Robert,' walks
six hundred yards up the hill again, gets into the car, and goes
off to Middleston. Is that likely?"
Bill frowned heavily.
"Yes, but I don't see what you're getting at. Likely or not
likely, we know he did do it."
"Of course he did. All I mean is that he must have had some
strong reason for telling Mrs. Norbury at once. And the reason I
suggest is that he knew on that morning--Monday morning, not
Tuesday--that Robert was coming to see him, and had to be in
first with the news.
"But--but--"
"And that would explain the other point--his instantaneous
decision at breakfast to tell you all about his brother. It
wasn't instantaneous. He knew on Monday that Robert was coming,
and decided then that you would all have to know."
"Then how do you explain the letter?"
"Well, let's have a look at it."
Antony took the letter from his pocket and spread it out on the
grass between them.
"Mark, your loving brother is coming to see you to-morrow, all
the way from Australia. I give you warning, so that you will be
able to conceal your surprise but not I hope your pleasure.
Expect him at three or thereabouts."
"No date mentioned, you see," said Antony. "Just to-morrow."
"But he got this on Tuesday."
"Did he?"
"Well, he read it out to us on Tuesday."
"Oh, yes! he read it out to you."
Bill read the letter again, and then turned it over and looked at
the back of it. The back of it had nothing to say to him.
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