s
of the lawyers' office together. Jasper Cole was already there, and to
Mr. Mann's surprise so also was Inspector Nash, who explained his
presence in a few words.

"There may be something in the will which will open a new viewpoint," he
said.

Mr. Power, the solicitor, an elderly man, inclined to rotundity, was
introduced, and, taking his position before the fireplace, opened the
proceedings with an expression of regret as to the circumstances which
had brought them together.

"The will of my late client," he said, "was not drawn up by me. It is
written in Mr. Minute's handwriting, and revokes the only other will,
one which was prepared some four years ago and which made provisions
rather different to those in the present instrument. This will"--he
took a single sheet of paper out of an envelope--"was made last year and
was witnessed by Thomas Wellington Crawley"--he adjusted his pince-nez
and examined the signature--"late trooper of the Matabeleland mounted
police, and by George Warrell, who was Mr. Minute's butler at the time.
Warrell died in the Eastbourne hospital in the spring of this year."

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.

CHAPTER XII

THE TRIAL OF FRANK MERRILL

The trial of Frank Merrill on the charge that he "did on the
twenty-eighth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand nine
hundred--wilfully and wickedly kill and slay by a pistol shot John
Minute" was the sensation o