esent much
altered circumstances," said Burchill quietly. "There is an old saying
that circumstances alter cases. It's true--they do. I would have taken
ten thousand pounds from your uncle to hold my tongue--true. But--the
case is altered by his death."

Barthorpe pondered over this definite declaration for a minute or two.
Then, lowering his voice, he said:

"Looks uncommonly like--blackmail! And that----"

"Pardon me again," interrupted Burchill. "No blackmail at all--in my
view. I happen to possess information of a certain nature, and----"

Barthorpe interrupted in his turn.

"The thing is," he said, "the only thing is--how long are you and I
going to beat about the bush? Are you going to tell me if you signed
that will I told you of?"

"Certainly not before I've seen it," answered Burchill promptly.

"Will you tell me then?"

"That entirely depends."

"On--what?"

"Circumstances!"

"Have the circumstances got anything to do with this secret?"

"Everything! More than anything--now."

"Now--what?"

"Now that Jacob Herapath is dead. Look here!" continued Burchill,
leaning forward and speaking impressively. "Take my counsel. Leave this
for the moment and come to see me--now, when? Tonight. Come tonight.
I've nothing to do. Come at ten o'clock. Then--I'll be in a position to
say a good deal more. How will that do?"

"That'll do," answered Barthorpe after a moment's consideration.
"Tonight, here, at ten o 'clock."

He got up and made for the door. Burchill got up too, and for a moment
both men glanced at each other. Then Burchill spoke.

"I suppose you've no idea who murdered your uncle?" he said.

"Not the slightest!" exclaimed Barthorpe. "Have you?"

"None! Of course--the police are on the go?"

"Oh, of course!"

"All right," said Burchill. "Tonight, then."

He opened the door for his visitor, nodded to him, as he passed out, and
when he had gone sat down in the easy chair which Barthorpe had vacated
and for half an hour sat immobile, thinking. At the end of that
half-hour he rose, went into his bedroom, made an elaborate toilet, went
out, found a taxi-cab, and drove off to Portman Square.

CHAPTER X

MR. BENJAMIN HALFPENNY

When Barthorpe Herapath left his cousin, Mr. Tertius, and Selwood in
company with the newly discovered will, and walked swiftly out of the
house and away from Portman Square, he passed without seeing it a quiet,
yet smartly appointed coupe brougham which cam