"Run and tell yer mother, Miss Moze," Inspector Keeble called out in a
carrying whisper. "There's been an accident. He ditched the car near
Ardleigh cross-roads, trying to avoid some fowls."

Mr. Moze, hurrying too fast to meet the Bishop of Colchester, had met a
greater than the Bishop.

Audrey glanced an instant with a sick qualm at the outlines of the shape
beneath the tarpaulin, and ran.

In the dining-room, over the speck of fire, Mrs. Moze and Miss Ingate were
locked in a deep intimate gossip.

"Mother!" cried Audrey, and then sank like a sack.

"Why! The little thing's fainted!" Miss Ingate exclaimed in a voice
suddenly hoarse.



CHAPTER III

THE LEGACY


Audrey and Miss Ingate were in the late Mathew Moze's study, fascinated--as
much unconsciously as consciously--by the thing which since its owner's
death had grown every hour more mysterious and more formidable--the safe.
It was a fine afternoon. The secondary but still grandiose enigma of the
affair, Mr. Cowl, could be heard walking methodically on the gravel in the