The Man Who Knew · Chapter 11 (2/2)

There was a deep silence. Saul Arthur Mann’s face was eagerly thrust forward, his head turned slightly to one side. Inspector Nash showed an unusual amount of interest. Both men had the same thought⁠—a new will, witnessed by two people, one of whom was dead, and the other a fugitive from justice; what did this will contain?

It was the briefest of documents. To his ward he left the sum of two hundred thousand pounds, “a provision which was also made in the previous will, I might add,” said the lawyer, and to this he added all his shares in the Gwelo Deep.

“To his nephew, Francis Merrill, he left twenty thousand pounds.”

The lawyer paused and looked round the little circle, and then continued:

“The residue of my property, movable and immovable, all my furniture, leases, shares, cash at bankers, and all interests whatsoever, I bequeath to Jasper Cole, so-called, who is at present my secretary and confidential agent.”

The detective and Saul Arthur Mann exchanged glances, and Nash’s lips moved.

“How is that for a ‘motive’?” he whispered.