human
I know nothing about the rifle, and did not even know you possessed one, she said.
gpt
But please answer all their questions, father. I am as anxious as you are to get to the bottom of this dreadful tragedy. Have you told my father about the letters which were discovered?
human
I have not seen your father until he arrived this moment,
gpt
Letters? Mr. Briggerland looked at his daughter.
human
Did poor Lydia leave a letter?
gpt
I think Mr. Glover will tell you, father, she said.
human
Poor Lydia had an attachment for Mordon. It is very clear what happened. They went out to-day, never intending to return----
gpt
Mrs. Meredith had no intention of going to the Lovers' Chair until you suggested the trip to her, said Jack quietly.
human
Mrs. Cole-Mortimer is very emphatic on that point.
gpt
Has the body been found?
human
Nothing has been found but the chauffeur,
gpt
It looks very much to me as though it were one of those crimes of passion which are so frequent in this country, he said.
human
Mordon was a Frenchman and I have been able to identify him by tattoo marks on his arm, as a man who has been in the hands of the police many times.
gpt
You think there is no hope?
human
We are dragging the pool. There is very deep water under the rock, but the chances are that the body has been washed out to sea. There is clearly no evidence against these people, except yours. The letters might, of course, have been forged, but you say you are certain that the writing is Mrs. Meredith's.
gpt
May I see that letter again?
human
Yes, it is her writing,
gpt
Do you see that?
human
Dear friend.
gpt
Quotation marks, said the detective, puzzled.
human
Why did she write that?
gpt
I've got it, said Jack.
human
The story! Mademoiselle Briggerland told me she was writing a story, and I remember she said she had writer's cramp. Suppose she dictated a portion of the story to Mrs. Meredith, and suppose in that story there occurred this letter: Lydia would have put the quotation marks mechanically.
gpt
It is possible, he said.
human
The writing is very even--it shows no sign of agitation, and of course the character's initials might be 'L.M.' It is an ingenious hypothesis, and not wholly improbable, but if this were a part of the story, there would be other sheets. Would you like me to search the house?
gpt
She's much too clever to have them in the house, he said.
human
More likely she's put them in the fire.
gpt
What fire? asked the detective dryly.
human
These houses have no fires, they're central heated--unless she went to the kitchen.
gpt
Which she wouldn't do, said Jack thoughtfully.
human
No, she'd burn them in the garden.