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 rare taking. Shall she come in, she wants to know?”