"The only instructions he gave was that I was to lay him out, and to see him put into his coffin if he was buried, and, whatever happened, to see him decently carried out of the house. There was some talk of his being cremated, and I suppose the master didn't know how they would take him away then. No doubt he thought the Bryants would have a woman to lay him out, so he left a letter for me to show them. The master always did hate women." "And you did this for him?" "Gladly, and I helped the undertaker lift him into the coffin. I was there when he was screwed down, so were Mr. George and Mr. Charles. There was nothing but the body buried, nothing." "The Bryants wouldn't have him cremated, I understand," said Quarles. "And quite right, too," said Sims. "It's a heathenish custom, that's what I think." "And you don't believe there was any large sum of money?" "No, I don't. I should have seen some sign of it." "Your master gave you a very valuable pin," said Quarles; "I don't suppose you had seen that before." "It's true, I hadn't." "There may have been other valuables where that came from." "I don't think it," said Sims. "I don't believe the master himself knew it was so valuable." As we walked up the Fulham Road I asked the professor what he thought of Sims. "Simple--and honest, I fancy." "You're not quite sure?" "Not quite, but then I am not sure of anything in this affair yet. I suggest we go and see Mr. George Bryant. I want his permission to go over the house at Norbiton." George Bryant lived at Wimbledon, and we found him at home. Much of our conversation went over old ground, and need not be repeated here; but the professor was evidently not very favorably impressed with Bryant. Nor did Bryant appear to think much of Quarles. He smiled contemptuously at some of his questions, and, when asked for permission to visit the house at Norbiton, he said he must consult his brother and sister. "Except that I am keenly interested in the affair as a puzzle, I don't care one way or the other," said Quarles. "Whether you handle the money or not is immaterial to me, but I have a strong impression that I can find it." "In that case, of course----" "There are conditions," said Quarles, "and one or two more questions." "I am willing to answer any questions." "Did you often visit your uncle?" "Only twice in ten years, and on each occasion he was not very well--a touch of gout, which was what made him so ill-tempered, I imagine. My brother Charles was with me on one occasion; my sister, I believe, never went there." "Yet you all expected to profit by his death?" "His letters certainly gave us to understand that we should, and so far the will was no surprise to us." "Has the clause in the will which forbids the removal of anything from the house been observed?" Quarles asked. "Most certainly." "I mean with regard to trifling things." "Nothing has been taken. Of course the will has been complied with."