He considered the possibility of
Robert's behaving like an ordinary decent person in public, and
decided that it was very unlikely. He came to those two
decisions instantaneously, as he was reading the letter. Isn't
that rather quick work?"
"Well, what's the explanation?"
Antony waited until he had refilled and lighted his pipe before
answering.
"What's the explanation? Well, let's leave it for a moment and
take another look at the two brothers. In conjunction, this
time, with Mrs. Norbury."
"Mrs. Norbury?" said Bill, surprised.
"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.
Pages:
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258