“Of course not,” I interjected, with patent sarcasm—which was, however, wasted

on Caroline.

 

“But I simply couldn’t help overhearing. The girl said something—I didn’t quite

catch what it was, and Ralph answered. He sounded very angry. ‘My dear girl,’ he

said. ‘Don’t you realize that it is quite on the cards the old man will cut me

off with a shilling? He’s been pretty fed up with me for the last few years. A

little more would do it. And we need the dibs, my dear. I shall be a very rich

man when the old fellow pops off. He’s mean as they make ’em, but he’s rolling

in money really. I don’t want him to go altering his will. You leave it to me,

and don’t worry.’ Those were his exact words. I remember them perfectly.

Unfortunately, just then I stepped on a dry twig or something, and they lowered

their voices and moved away. I couldn’t, of course, go rushing after them, so

wasn’t able to see who the girl was.”

 

“That must have been most vexing,” I said. “I suppose, though, you hurried on to

the Three Boars, felt faint, and went into the bar for a glass of brandy, and so

were able to see if both the barmaids were on duty?”

 

“It wasn’t a barmaid,” said Caroline unhesitatingly. “In fact, I’m almost sure

that it was Flora Ackroyd, only——”

 

“Only it doesn’t seem to make sense,” I agreed.

 

“But if it wasn’t Flora, who could it have been?”