Of course, the house party at The Manor had broken up immediately after the inquest.  It would have disintegrated before only that Inspector Darby insisted that every one should remain for examination in connection with the late tragical occurrence.  But in spite of questioning and cross-questioning, nothing had been learned likely to show who had murdered the millionaire.  There was a great deal of talk after the body had been placed in the Lambert vault, and there was more talk in the newspapers when an account was given of the funeral.  But neither by word of mouth, nor in print, was any suggestion made likely to afford the slightest clue to the name or the whereabouts of the assassin.  Having regard to Pine’s romantic career, it was thought by some that the act was one of revenge by a gypsy jealous that the man should attain to such affluence, while others hinted that the motive for the crime was to be found in connection with the millionaire’s career as a Gentile.  Gradually, as all conjecture proved futile, the gossip died away, and other events usurped the interest of the public.  Pine, who was really Hearne, had been murdered and buried; his assassin would never be discovered, since the trail was too well hidden; and Lady Agnes inherited at least two millions on which she would probably marry her cousin and so restore the tarnished splendors of the Lambert family.  In this way the situation was summed up by the gossips, and then they began to talk of something else.  The tragedy was only a nine minutes’ wonder after all.

The gossips both in town and country were certainly right in assuming that the widow inherited the vast property of her deceased husband.  But what they did not know was that a condition attached to such inheritance irritated Agnes and caused Garvington unfeigned alarm.  Pine’s solicitor—­he was called Jarwin and came from a stuffy little office in Chancery Lane—­called Garvington aside, when the mourners returned from the funeral, and asked that the reading of the will might be confined to a few people whom he named.

“There is a condition laid down by the testator which need not be made public,” said Mr. Jarwin blandly.  “A proposition which, if possible, must be kept out of print.”

Garvington, with a sudden recollection of his iniquity in connection with the falsified check, did not dare to ask questions, but hastily summoned the people named by the lawyer.  As these were the widow, Lady Garvington, himself, and his cousin Noel, the little man had no fear of what might be forthcoming, since with relatives there could be no risk of betrayal.  All the same, he waited for the reading of the will with some perturbation, for the suggested secrecy hinted at some posthumous revenge on the part of the dead man.  And, hardened as he was, Garvington did not wish his wife and Lambert to become acquainted with his delinquency.  He was, of course, unaware that the latter knew about it through Agnes, and knew also how it had been used to coerce her—­for the pressure amounted to coercion—­into a loveless marriage.