"We'll start with the dead man," said the Inspector. "Robert
Ablett, didn't you say?" He took out his notebook.
"Yes. Brother of Mark Ablett, who lives here."
"Ah!" He began to sharpen a pencil. "Staying in the house?"
"Oh, no!"
Antony listened attentively while Cayley explained all that he
knew about Robert. This was news to him. "I see. Sent out of
the country in disgrace. What had he done?"
"I hardly know. I was only about twelve at the time. The sort
of age when you're told not to ask questions."
"Inconvenient questions?"
"Exactly."
"So you don't really know whether he had been merely wild or--or
wicked?"
"No. Old Mr. Ablett was a clergyman," added Cayley. "Perhaps
what might seem wicked to a clergyman might seem only wild to a
man of the world."
"I daresay, Mr. Cayley," smiled the Inspector. "Anyhow, it was
more convenient to have him in Australia?"
"Yes."
"Mark Ablett never talked about him?"
"Hardly ever. He was very much ashamed of him, and--well, very
glad he was in Australia."
"Did he write Mark sometimes?"
"Occasionally.
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