"No. I remember the case though. The woman was murdered at Ajax Villa, Troy, and there was a great deal of fuss made over the matter, owing to the strangeness of the affair. It's queer that the similarity of the rooms should prove to be the means of identification." "You think there can be no doubt about the woman?" "Oh, it must be Mrs. Brand. You see, the detective--or is he an inspector?--identified her by the photograph. There's something behind all this which I can't understand." "You mean about the murder?" "Well--yes," said the son. "And about the search made in the house by this man--what's his name?--Derrick. I wonder he did not find our letters to Mrs. Brand, and come at once to see us." "He has not had time, perhaps." "The police do not usually lose time. An hour makes a great difference to a case of this sort. I wonder who murdered her." "I can't say. I merely read the inquest in a casual manner. Had I known it was Mrs. Brand, I should have come forward," added Merry senior. "The publicity of the case would have done us good." The son reflected. "There's time yet to make a fuss," he said. "We are responsible for the will of Mrs. Brand. I dare say we can get the heir to offer a reward. What about the will, father?" "I must see after it." Merry senior nodded towards a box. "It's in there. Queer she didn't leave her money to her husband, Sammy." "I don't think she and her husband got on well," said Sammy; "he was always away." "Well, as a commercial traveller----" "No, father," interrupted Sammy, with vivacity. "I don't believe he was. Mrs. Brand didn't strike me as a woman who would marry a commercial traveller. Did you ever see Mr. Brand?" "No," replied the lawyer, without raising his eyes. "Did you?" "I never did, although you sent me twice to Mrs. Brand's house on business. I remember the white room. I wonder it didn't strike me when I saw the report of the crime. By the way, father, how did Mrs. Brand come to be our client? It was before I entered the office that she became our client." "Yes." Merry rose and looked out of the window at the blank wall, which was not an alluring prospect. "Her distant cousin, Arthur Brand of Australia, sent home money to support Mrs. Brand's mother. When the mother died, he continued the income to the daughter. What always struck me as strange," added Merry musingly, "was that Mrs. Brand should marry a man of the same name as that of her cousin." "A coincidence merely, father. Then Arthur Brand died and left the money to this woman?" "Yes. A few months ago. I wrote and asked her to call. When informed of her good fortune she almost fainted. Then I suggested that she should bring her husband to me, so that he could attend to the matter on her behalf. But it seemed that Mr. Brand had departed a month previously to Australia, for the purpose of looking up Arthur. Mrs. Brand appeared to think that her husband was some connection, and wished to make sure."