“In what manner did you respond, Mr. Porter?”

“I didn’t presume to advise him definitely, but I urged him not to be too hard on the girl, and, at any rate, not to make a new will until he had thought it over more deliberately.”

“What did he then say?”

“Nothing of any definite import.  He began talking of other matters, and the will was not again referred to.  But I can’t help thinking he had not destroyed it.”

At this, Miss Lloyd seemed about to speak, but, glancing at Gregory Hall, she gave a little sigh, and remained silent.

“You know of nothing that can throw any light on the matter of the will, Mr. Hall?” asked Mr. Randolph.

“No, sir.  Of course this whole situation is very embarrassing for me.  I can only say that I have known for a long time the terms of Mr. Crawford’s existing will; I have known of his threats of changing it; I have known of his attitude toward my engagement to his niece.  But I never spoke to him on any of these subjects, nor he to me, though several times I have thought he was on the point of doing so.  I have had access to most of his private papers, but of two or three small boxes he always retained the keys.  I had no curiosity concerning the contents of these boxes, but I naturally assumed his will was in one of them.  I have, however, opened these boxes since Mr. Crawford’s death, in company with Mr. Randolph, and we found no will.  Nor could we discover any in the New York office or in the bank.  That is all I know of the matter.”

Gregory Hall’s demeanor was dignified and calm, his voice even and, indeed, cold.  He was like a bystander, with no vital interest in the subject he talked about.

Knowing, as I did, that his interest was vital, I came to the conclusion that he was a man of unusual self-control, and an ability to mask his real feelings completely.  Feeling that nothing more could be learned at present, I left the group in the library discussing the loss of the will, and went down to the district attorney’s office.

He was, of course, surprised at my news, and agreed with me that it gave us new fields for conjecture.

“Now, we see,” he said eagerly, “that the motive for the murder was the theft of the will.”

“Not necessarily,” I replied.  “Mr. Crawford may have destroyed the will before he met his death.”

“But that would leave no motive.  No, the will supplies the motive.  Now, you see, this frees Miss Lloyd from suspicion.  She would have no reason to kill her uncle and then destroy or suppress a will in her own favor.”

“That reasoning also frees Mr. Hall from suspicion,” said I, reverting to my former theories.

“Yes, it does.  We must look for the one who has benefited by the removal of the will.  That, of course, would be the brother, Mr. Philip Crawford.”

I looked at the attorney a moment, and then burst into laughter.