ut somehow he began to believe that Burchill was not acting.
And he was presently sure of it when Burchill laughed--contemptuously.

"Oh!" said Burchill. "Ah! So Mr. Jacob Herapath employs legal
assistance--your assistance--in answering me? Foolish--foolish! Or,
since that is, perhaps, too strong a word--indiscreet. Indiscreet--and
unnecessary. Say so, pray, to Mr. Jacob Herapath."

Barthorpe remained silent a moment; then he put the letter back in the
case and gave Burchill a sharp steady look.

"Good gracious, man!" he said quietly. "Are you pretending? Or--haven't
you heard? Say--that--to Jacob Herapath? Jacob Herapath is dead!"

Burchill certainly started at that. What was more he dropped his
cigarette, and when he straightened himself from picking it up his face
was flushed a little.

"Upon my honour!" he exclaimed. "I didn't know. Dead! When? It must have
been sudden."

"Sudden!" said Barthorpe. "Sudden? He was murdered!"

There was no doubt that this surprised Burchill. At any rate, he showed
all the genuine signs of surprise. He stood staring at Barthorpe for a
full minute of silence, and when he spoke his voice had lost something
of its usual affectation.

"Murdered?" he said. "Murdered! Are you sure of that? You are? Good
heavens!--no, I've heard nothing. But I've not been out since two
o'clock this morning, so how could I hear? Murdered----" he broke off
sharply and stared at his visitor. "And you came to me--why?"

"I came to ask you if you remember witnessing my uncle's will," replied
Barthorpe promptly. "Give me a plain answer. Do you remember?"

CHAPTER IX

GREEK AGAINST GREEK

At this direct question, Burchill, who had been standing on the
hearthrug since Barthorpe entered the room, turned away and took a seat
in the corner of a lounge opposite his visitor. He gave Barthorpe a
peculiarly searching look before he spoke, and as soon as he replied
Barthorpe knew that here was a man who was not readily to be drawn.

"Oh," said Burchill, "so I am supposed to have witnessed a will made by
Mr. Jacob Herapath, am I?"

Barthorpe made a gesture of impatience.

"Don't talk rot!" he said testily. "A man either knows that he witnessed
a will or knows that he didn't witness a will."

"Excuse me," returned Burchill, "I don't agree with that proposition. I
can imagine it quite possible that a man may think he has witnessed a
will when he has done nothing of the sort. I can also imagine it just