“Really? Never thought of it before? Well, well. Was her husband on good terms with her?”
“Perfectly. Alfred was devoted to her. I don’t know what can have put this into your head.”
“No? Well, well. Do you know where Alfred was last night?”
“He was in Town. He was dining at his club.”
“Oh, he’d told you that. Yes. And when did his wife leave you?”
“I am not sure of the time. Minnie had only just gone. If she had gone. She always takes so long to get ready.”
“Mrs. Alfred didn’t sit with you long, then?”
“She wanted to go as soon as it grew dark. She never liked the dark, poor thing.”
“Left at dusk,” Reggie repeated. “Half past seven or eight. And Alfred dined at his club. Well, well.” He gave Underwood a long, impressive stare. “That’s all, Mrs. Colson. Thank you.”
He led the way back to the little morning - room, and there turned on the puzzled Underwood. “My dear chap! Oh, my dear chap! Get on. Bring in Alfred, the son.”
Alfred Colson was brought. He also had no likeness to the lean, long Minnie. He took after his mother: a well - made man, rather solid, with neat, small hands and feet, and a regular oval of a face almost as feminine as hers. But he was not so well preserved. His complexion was mottled; he had a loose double chin; his eyes and his hands were unsteady.
“I want to know where you were when your grandfather died,” Reggie snapped.
Alfred’s mouth came open. “I don’t remember. How should I? It’s twenty years ago.”
“You were living here?”
“Of course I was. What’s all this about?”
He fell where your wife fell. How much money did he leave?”
“I don’t know.” Alfred stared sullen fear. “He left everything to my father.”
“You must know. How much?”
“About seventy thousand, I think.”
“And when your father died - gastric influenza that was called - how much did he leave?”
“He left everything to mother.”
“Did he? And much less than grandfather?”
“It was nearly fifty thousand,” Alfred said loudly.
“Good deal less. Someone had spent some money. Not on this house, what?”
“There was the war in between. Everything was down.”
“And when your mother dies, who does the money go to?”
“Under father’s will, it’s divided between Minnie and me.” Alfred licked his lips. “What are you asking all this for?”
“Clearin’ up the case. Where were you when your wife died?”
“I was dining at the club.”
“Sure?” Reggie drawled.
