"James Bisset gets a legacy of three hundred pounds. There are a few smaller legacies to servants, but the only two that might have affected this case do not actually do so. One is John Robertson, Sir Reginald's chauffeur, but on the night of the crime he was away from home and an alibi can be established till two in the morning. The other is Donald Mackay, the gardener, but he is an old man and was in bed with rheumatism that night." "I see," observed Ned, "you are giving everybody mentioned in the will credit for perhaps having committed the murder, supposing it was physically possible?" "I am answering the question--who that could conceivably have committed it, had a motive for doing so? And also, what was that motive?" "Is that the whole list of them?" Mr. Rattar glanced at the will again. "Sir Reginald has cancelled your own debt of twelve hundred pounds, Mr. Cromarty." "What!" exclaimed Ned, and for a moment could say no more. Then he said in a low voice: "It's up to me more than ever!" "That is the full list of persons within the vicinity two nights ago who gained by Sir Reginald's death," said Simon in a dry voice, as he put away the will. "Including me?" said Ned. "Well, all I've got to say is this, Mr. Rattar, that my plain common sense tells me that those are no motives at all. For who knew what they stood to gain by this will? Or that they stood to gain any blessed thing at all? I hadn't the foggiest notion Sir Reginald meant to cancel that debt!" "You may not have known," said Simon still very drily, "and it is quite possible that Bisset may not have known of his legacy. Though, on the other hand, it is likely enough that Sir Reginald mentioned the fact that he would be remembered. But Lady Cromarty presumably knew his arrangements. And it is most unlikely that he should have said nothing to his heir about his intention to make him an adequate allowance if he came into the title and Lady Cromarty was still alive and life rented in the place. Also, it is highly probable that either Sir Reginald or Lady Cromarty told Miss Farmond that some provision would be made for her." Ned Cromarty said nothing for a few moments, but he seemed to be thinking very hard. Then he rose from his chair and remarked: "Well, I guess this has all got to be thought over." He moved slowly to the door, while Simon gazed silently into space. His hand was on the handle when the lawyer turned in his chair and asked: "Why was nothing said about Sir Malcolm's engagement to Miss Farmond?" "Well," said Ned, "the whole thing is no business of mine, but Sir Reginald had pretty big ideas in some ways and probably one of them was connected with his heir's marriage." "A clandestine engagement then?" Ned Cromarty seemed to dislike the term. "It's none of my business," he said shortly. "There was no blame on anyone, anyhow; and mind you, this is absolutely confidential." The door closed behind him and Simon was left still apparently thinking. XV