Page:Bailey - Call Mr Fortune (Dutton, 1921).djvu/154

Rh "He was certainly pressed for money," Lomas said. "Here's his pass-book and a letter from his bank manager complaining that he's overdrawn again. The £20,000 he came in for under his uncle's will—he wanted it badly."

"And yet as soon as he knows of that will he goes and gets drowned. Suggestive, isn't it?" Reggie smiled.

"I'm hanged if I know what it suggests." Lomas stared at him.

"Oh, my dear Lomas! Somebody expected Herbert was going to get more than £20,000 by his uncle's death: going to scoop the whole estate. Only he didn't. So he's found dead. Can you make out from that passbook when Herbert got into difficulties?"

"About nine months ago. He's been living with nothing in the bank ever since."

"About nine months ago. Then for nine months his uncle did nothing to help him. The murdered uncle wouldn't help the impecunious nephew. Well, Lomas, old thing?"

"I suppose you're playing some hand of your own," Lomas frowned.

Superintendent Bell came forward. "Here's a sort of betting-book, sir. He put his luck at cards in it too. He was some gambler."

"Any names?" Lomas said quickly.

"All sorts of names, sir. Nothing instructive, so