He and Melrose had had a violent quarrel immediately before the murder.
Melrose threatened to revoke his will, and Faversham left him,
understanding that all dispositions in his favour would be cancelled. He
came out of the room, spoke to Dixon in the gallery and walked to
his own sitting-room. Melrose apparently sat down at once to write a
codicil revoking the will. He was disturbed, came out into the gallery,
and was shot dead. The few lines he wrote are of course of no validity.
The will holds, and Faversham is the heir--to everything. You see"--he
paused again--"some awkward suggestions might be made."
"But," cried Tatham, "you say Dixon saw the man? And the muddy
footmarks--in the house--and on the terrace!"
* * * * *
"Don't mistake me, for heaven's sake," said Undershaw, quickly. "It is
impossible that Faversham should have fired the shot! But in the present
state of public opinion you will easily imagine what else may be said.
There is a whole tribe of Melrose's hangers-on who hate Faversham like
poison; who have been plotting to pull him down, and will be furious to
find him after all in secure possession of the estate and the money. I
feel tolerably certain they will put up some charge or other."
"What--of procuring the thing?"
Undershaw nodded.
Tatham considered a moment. Then he rang, and when Hurst appeared, all
white and disorganized under the stress of the news just communicated to
him by Undershaw's chauffeur, he ordered his horse for eight o'clock in
the morning.
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