"
At that, although consumed with impatience, I quickly outlined my
movements from the time of my arrival at Upper Crossleys, the
Inspector following me closely. The tale concluded:
"Now, Gatton!" I cried--"for heaven's sake tell me what it all means!"
"I will tell you all I know," he replied slowly. "In the first place I
had two reasons for suggesting the visit to Friar's Park. I had formed
an opinion that the 'cat-woman' was interested in _you_. Whether
because she regarded you as dangerous or from some other cause I could
not determine. And I thought of a plan for finding out if she was by
any chance associated with Friar's Park. It was to send you down here
(a) to make straightforward inquiries, and (b) to 'draw the cat'!"
"Very good of you!" I murmured.
"I warned you it was dangerous!" said Gatton grimly. "But I am pleased
to say the plan worked to perfection. Your own inquiries have been
highly satisfactory and you have also 'drawn the cat'! Now just to
show you how dramatic your discoveries really were I will explain my
second and more important reason and the one which primarily had
prompted me to turn my attention to Friar's Park. A few hours before
you came to the Yard the other morning--to see the bag dropped in the
water by Eric Coverly--I had been in touch with the solicitors who had
acted for the late Sir Burnham."
"Ah!" I exclaimed--"what had they to say?"
"I was seeking information of course respecting the entail; in short,
trying to fathom the mystery of what Eric Coverly would have had to
gain by getting his cousin out of the way.
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