"What's the explanation? Well, let's leave it for a moment and
take another look at the two brothers. In conjunction, this
time, with Mrs. Norbury."

"Mrs. Norbury?" said Bill, surprised.

"Yes. Mark hoped to marry Miss Norbury. Now, if Robert really
was a blot upon the family honour, Mark would want to do one of
two things. Either keep it from the Norburys altogether, or
else, if it had to come out, tell them himself before the news
came to them indirectly. Well, he told them. But the funny
thing is that he told them the day before Robert's letter came.
Robert came, and was killed, the day before yesterday--Tuesday.
Mark told Mrs. Norbury about him on Monday. What do you make of
that?"

"Coincidence," said Bill, after careful thought. "He'd always
meant to tell her; his suit was prospering, and just before it
was finally settled, he told her. That happened to be Monday.
On Tuesday he got Robert's letter, and felt jolly glad that he'd
told her in time."

"Well, it might be that, but it's rather a curious coincidence.
And here is something which makes it very curious indeed. It
only occurred to me in the bath this morning. Inspiring place, a
bathroom. Well, it's this--he told her on Monday morning, on his
way to Middleston in the car."

"Well?"