‘What have I to do with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of

such nonsense.’


“‘I should certainly speak to the police,’ I said.


“‘And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.’


“‘Then let me do so?’


“‘No, I forbid you. I won’t have a fuss made about such

nonsense.’


“It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate man. I

went about, however, with a heart which was full of forebodings.


“On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went from home

to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is in command of one of the

forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad that he should go, for it seemed to me

that he was farther from danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I

was in error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram from the

major, imploring me to come at once. My father had fallen over one of the deep

chalk-pits which abound in the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a

shattered skull. I hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever

recovered his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Fareham

in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, and the chalk-pit

unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in bringing in a verdict of ‘death

from accidental causes.’ Carefully as I examined every fact connected

with his death, I was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of

murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no robbery, no record of

strangers having been seen upon the roads. And yet I need not tell you that my

mind was far from at ease, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot

had been woven round him.


“In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me why I

did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well convinced that our troubles

were in some way dependent upon an incident in my uncle’s life, and that