Your brother's business methods, especially of late years, were decidedly unsystematic and slipshod.

It may have been the condition of his health which prevented his attending to them as he should.

Or," he hesitated slightly, "it may have been that he was secretly in great trouble and mental distress.

At all events, the task has been a hard one for us.

But, largely owing to Graves and his patient work, our report was practically ready a month ago." He paused.