e want your help. Everything points to
young Brand, and there is much reason to think he is still in the
neighbourhood. What assistance can you give us?"

Tatham promised a band of searchers from the estate. The Duddon estate
itself included a great deal of mountain ground, some of the loneliest
and remotest in the district, where a man who knew the fells might very
well take hiding. Marvell brought out a map, and they pored over it.

The superintendent of police departed.

Then Marvell, with a glance at the door to see that it was safely shut,
said abruptly:

"You know, Faversham has done some unlucky things!"

Tatham eyed him interrogatively.

"It has come out that he was in the Brands' cottage about a week ago,
and that he left money with the family. He says he never saw the younger
son, and did not in fact know him by sight. He offered the elder one
some money in order to help him with his Canadian start. The lad refused,
not being willing, so his mother says--I have seen her myself this
morning--to accept anything from Melrose's agent. But she, not knowing
where to look for the expenses of her husband's illness, took five pounds
from Faversham, and never dared tell either of her sons."

"All perfectly straightforward and natural," said Tatham.

Marvell looked worried.

"Yes. But you see how the thing may be twisted by men like those
two--curs!--who have just been here. You saw them? They came, ostensibly,
to answer my questions as to whether they could point us to any one
with a particular grudge against Mr. Melrose."

"They could have named you a hundred!" interrupted Tatham.

"No doubt. But what their information in the end amounted to"--the chief
constable came to stand immediately in front of Tatham, lowering his
voice--"was that the only person with a really serious motive for
destroying Melrose, was"--he jerked his thumb in the direction of
Faversham's sitting-room--"our friend! They claim--both of them--to have
been spectators of the growing friction between the two men. Nash says
that Melrose had spoken to him once or twice of revoking, or altering
his will; and both of them declare that Faversham was quite aware of the
possibility. Of course these things were brought out apologetically--you
understand!--with a view of 'giving Mr. Faversham the opportunity
of meeting the reports in circulation,' and so on--'calming public
opinion'--and the rest of it. But I see how they will work it up! Then,
o