Poole looked at him quietly for a second or two, as if to give him time to change his mind; then, with some deliberation, made an entry in his note-book. “Now, sir, if I may, I want to ask you about a quite different point. When I first spoke to you—last Friday, I think it was—I asked you whether you thought Sir Garth had any enemies; you rather naturally pooh-poohed the idea, or at any rate the implication, and said that of course the death was accidental. I was not in a position to press you on the point at that time—it was before we had definite information to work on—but now that we know for certain that Sir Garth was murdered I must return to that point. You are, I believe, Sir Garth’s executor, and have sole control of his business affairs—his papers and so on. No doubt you have been through them; can you tell me whether you have found anything to indicate that Sir Garth was threatened, or in danger, or likely to be in danger, or engaged in any work which was bringing him into opposition with dangerous people? I am afraid I am being rather vague, but you probably see what I am trying to get at. We are trying to establish a motive for this crime, and, of course, to find out a possible author of it.” Mr. Hessel answered at once, quietly but firmly. “In the first place, Inspector, I cannot agree with your assumption that murder has been committed—that of course is only my personal view. Leaving that—assuming your view for the moment—you implied just now that Ryland Fratten had killed his father; now you are asking me to provide you with an entirely different type of murderer—if I may say so, a rather melodramatic type. What am I to understand by this sudden change of front?” “I think that you misunderstood me, sir,” said Poole. “I did not imply that Mr. Ryland Fratten _was_ the murderer; I asked you for your opinion as to whether he possibly _might_ be; I am looking into various alternatives. Perhaps you will let me have a reply to my questions.” Hessel frowned; Poole’s remark hinted at a rebuff. “I don’t think I can help you, Inspector—not by direct information, that is. As a matter of fact, I have not been through Sir Garth’s papers, except very cursorily with Mr. Menticle and Sir Garth’s secretary—Mangane. I am afraid I have been rather remiss; Mangane has been pressing me to do it—I have rather shirked a task that is very unwelcome to me—prying into my dead friend’s affairs. Now, if you like, we will go round to the house this evening, and look into them together—then you can get the information you want directly from the source. Let me see, it’s not far off eight o’clock; will you come and have some food with me? In the meantime, we will warn Mangane that we are coming round. Yes? Capital.”