Henry said – and I daresay he was right – that he is a complete rotter.
Gladys had actually lent him some of her savings and Henry was very annoyed about it."
Japp said sharply:
"Did your brother try to persuade her to break her engagement?"
"Yes, he did, I know."
"Then this Frank Carter would, quite possibly; have a grudge against your brother."
The grenadier said robustly: "Nonsense – that is if you are suggesting that Frank Carter shot Henry.
Henry advised the girl against young Carter, certainly; but she didn't take his advice – she is foolishly devoted to Frank."
"Is there anyone else you can think of who had a grudge against your brother?"
Miss Morley shook her head.
"Did he get on well with his partner, Mr. Reilly?"
Miss Morley replied acidly: "As well as you can ever hope to get on with an Irishman!"
"What do you mean by that, Miss Morley?"
"Well, Irishmen have hot tempers and they thoroughly enjoy a row of any kind.
Mr. Reilly liked arguing about politics."
"That was all?"
"That was all.
Mr. Reilly is unsatisfactory in many ways, but he was very skilled in his profession – or so my brother said."
Japp persisted: "How is he unsatisfactory?"
Miss Morley hesitated, then said acidly:
"He drinks too much – but please don't let that go any further." "Was there any trouble between him and your brother on that subject?"
"Henry gave him one or two hints.
In dentistry," continued Miss Morley didactically, "a steady hand is needed, and an alcoholic breath does not inspire confidence."
Japp bowed his head in agreement.
Then he said: "Can you tell us anything of your brother's financial position?"
"Henry was making a good income and he had a certain amount put by.
We each had a small private income of our own left to us by our father."
Japp murmured with a slight cough:
"You don't know, I suppose, if your brother left a will?"
"He did – and I can tell you its contents.
He left a hundred pounds to Gladys Nevill, otherwise everything comes to me."
"I see.
Now -"
There was a fierce thump on the door.
Alfred's face then appeared round it.
His goggling eyes took in each detail of the two visitors as he ejaculated:
"It's Miss Nevill.
She's back – and in a bad state. Shall she come in, she wants to know?"
Japp nodded and Miss Morley said:
"Tell her to come here, Alfred." "O.K.," said Alfred, and disappeared.
Miss Morley said with a sigh and in obvious capital letters: "That Boy is a Sad Trial."
IV Gladys Nevill was a tall, fair, somewhat anaemic girl of about twenty-eight.
Though obviously very upset, she at once showed that she was capable and intelligent.
Under the pretext of looking through Mr. Morley's papers, Japp got her away from Miss Morley down to the little office next door to the surgery.
She repeated more than once: "I simply cannot believe it! It seems quite incredible that Mr. Morley should do such a thing!"
She was emphatic that he had not seemed troubled or worried in any way.
Then Japp began: "You were called away today, Miss Nevill -" She interrupted him.
"Yes, and the whole thing was a wicked practical joke!
I do think it's awful of people to do things like that.
I really do."