Page:The Viaduct Murder (1926).pdf/56

"Well, have you found out anything?" asked Gordon.

"Yes," said Reeves, "I've found a wife for Carmichael. I've found a woman who could give him a stroke a hole at backchat." And he launched into a description of Mrs. Bramston's voluminous utterance and her insignificant contribution to the solving of the mystery.

"Had you any better luck?" he went on.

"Acting upon instructions received, I proceeded first of all to the offices of Messrs. Masterman, Formby and Jarrold, Solicitors. It's one of those jolly old Queen Anne houses facing on the High Street; with a flagged walk up to the front door and blue gates that need painting⁠—or rather, it would spoil them if you did. It's been turned into an office, and the inside is all musty and smells of decaying paper. The mustiest thing there was the old clerk I went up to and asked if I could see Mr. Masterman. And he said, 'I'm afraid not, sir; Mr. Masterman is dead.'"

"Dead? How? When?"

"My very words. And the old gentleman said, 'About twenty-three years ago. Would you like to see Mr. Jarrold?' Well, that did me in rather, because even if old Masterman did bequeath his handkerchiefs to Jarrold, it isn't likely that old Jarrold would be still using them, though they would about match his furniture if he did."

"How did you get out of it? You were rather badly placed."