Page 99 (1/1)

It was sos after -roo round, Adolphus appeared at the door to announce two gentle them in, and a moment later Thorndyke entered, accoe in the little apartment, especially Thorndyke, but I had no time to consider this phenomenon, for the latter, when he had shaken my hand, proceeded at once to explain the object of their visit

"We have come to ask a favour, Berkeley," he said; "to ask you to do us a very great service in the interests of your friends, the Bellinghahted," I said warmly "What is it?"

"I will explain You know--or perhaps you don't--that the police have collected all the bones that have been discovered and deposited them in the mortuary at Woodford, where they are to be viewed by the coroner's jury Now, it has become imperative that I should have et froo down and examine them myself, but there are circumstances that make it very desirable that my connection with the case should not leak out Consequently, I can't go myself, and, for the same reason, I can't send Jervis On the other hand, as it is now stated pretty openly that the police consider the bones to be alham, it would seehao down to view theive anything to go; but how is it to bethe practice to take care of itself"

"I think that could be arranged," said Thorndyke; "and the matter is really important for two reasons One is that the inquest opens to-ht to be there to watch the proceedings on Godfrey's behalf; and the other is that our client has received notice from Hurst's solicitors that the application would be heard in the Probate Court in a few days"

"Isn't that rather sudden?" I asked

"It certainly suggests that there has been a good deal iven to understand But you see the importance of the affair The inquest will be a sort of dress rehearsal for the Probate Court, and it is quite essential that we should have a chance of estiement"