"Yes, in the male line. Afterwards, by the will of the Kirkstone who bought them, and who lived some hundred and fifty years ago, they pass on through the female line. Now, the male line died out with John Kirkstone, so that the estates passed by the will to the female line, represented by Laura. When she died Ellen Gilmar inherited through her mother, who was Kirkstone's aunt on the paternal side. Now that Miss Gilmar is dead the estates pass to John Alder, a barrister, who inherits through his mother, a distant cousin of the Kirkstones. If he died Edith Wedderburn would inherit." "Who is she? Another cousin?" "Yes. Even more distant than Alder. She is now at Kirkstone Hall, looking after it for Miss Gilmar, who placed her there. So far as the personal estate is concerned Miss Gilmar can leave it by will to whomsoever she pleases." "Have you the will?" "Yes. But I can't open it save in the presence of those likely to inherit: Miss Wedderburn and Alder--in short, the relatives." "Whom do you think the money is left to?" "It's not my place to say," said Prain, with sudden stiffness. Gebb saw that the little solicitor knew the contents of the will, but he was bound by professional etiquette, and could not disclose them. "Well," he said, covering his disappointment with a cough, "we may leave that out of the question. Tell me about Miss Wedderburn." "I have told you," replied Prain, sharply. "She is the caretaker of Kirkstone Hall, and is very poor." "Is she very pretty?" "Extremely pretty." "Ho! ho!" said Gebb, in a jocular tone; "in that case she must have lovers." "She has two," answered Prain, dryly. "One is John Alder." "What! the heir?" "Yes! If she marries him she will still be mistress of Kirkstone Hall. But she won't," said Prain, rubbing his chin with a vexed air, "for the simple reason that she likes her other lover better." "Who is the other lover?" "An artist called Arthur Ferris. He is poor, but handsome." "Good looks won't make the pot boil," said Gebb, sententiously. "Well, I'm not particularly anxious for further information about her love affairs. What I wish to know is, if Miss Wedderburn corresponded with Miss Gilmar." "I can't tell you that: I don't know." "Do you think Miss Wedderburn is aware of her cousin's death?" said Gebb, putting the question in another form. "It's improbable, as she would have written to me on the subject had she known. By the way, is the body buried?" "Of course; it is two weeks since the murder." "True, I forgot," said Prain, thoughtfully. "I wonder if Alder knows about her death." "He can't know, unless he traced her by the Yellow Boudoir." "Oh, Alder doesn't know much about that room and its crime, as he belongs to the younger generation, and the story is almost forgotten. However, I'll write to him on the subject. It is necessary that he should learn his position as speedily as possible, if only on account of the will."