he began to confide in you all. That is to say, in about one second
he thought out the whole business and came to a decision--to two
decisions. He considered the possibility of getting Robert out of
the way before you came back, and decided that it was impossible. He
considered the possibility of Robert's behaving like an ordinary decent
person in public, and decided that it was very unlikely. He came to
those two decisions instantaneously, as he was reading the letter. Isn't
that rather quick work?"

"Well, what's the explanation?"

Antony waited until he had refilled and lighted his pipe before
answering.

"What's the explanation? Well, let's leave it for a moment and take
another look at the two brothers. In conjunction, this time, with Mrs.
Norbury."

"Mrs. Norbury?" said Bill, surprised.

"Yes. Mark hoped to marry Miss Norbury. Now, if Robert really was a blot
upon the family honour, Mark would want to do one of two things. Either
keep it from the Norburys altogether, or else, if it had to come out,
tell them himself before the news came to them indirectly. Well, he told
them. But the funny thing is that he told them the day before
Robert's letter came. Robert came, and was killed, the day before
yesterday--Tuesday. Mark told Mrs. Norbury about him on Monday. What do
you make of that?"

"Coincidence," said Bill, after careful thought. "He'd always meant
to tell her; his suit was prospering, and just before it was finally
settled, he told her. That happened to be Monday. On Tuesday he got
Robert's letter, and felt jolly glad that he'd told her in time."

"Well, it might be that, but it's rather a curious coincidence. And here
is something which makes it very curious indeed. It only occurred to
me in the bath this morning. Inspiring place, a bathroom. Well, it's
this--he told her on Monday morning, on his way to Middleston in the
car."

"Well?"

"Well."

"Sorry, Tony; I'm dense this morning."

"In the car, Bill. And how near can the car get to Jallands?"

"About six hundred yards."

"Yes. And on his way to Middleston, on some business or other, Mark
stops the car, walks six hundred yards down the hill to Jallands, says,
'Oh, by the way, Mrs. Norbury, I don't think I ever told you that I
have a shady brother called Robert,' walks six hundred yards up the hill
again, gets into the car, and goes off to Middleston. Is that likely?"

Bill frowned heavily.

"Yes, but I don't see what you're getting at