THE EVIDENCE REVIEWED "So the game has opened," observed Thorndyke, as he struck a match.

"The play has begun with a cautious lead off by the other side.

Very cautious, and not very confident." "Why do you say 'not very confident' ?" I asked.
"Well, it is evident that Hurst--and, I fancy, Jellicoe too--is anxious to buy off Bellingham's opposition, and at a pretty long price, under the circumstances.

And when we consider how very little Bellingham has to offer against the presumption of his brother's death, it looks as if Hurst hadn't much to say on his side." "No," said Jervis, "he can't hold many trumps or he wouldn't be willing to pay four hundred a year for his opponent's chance; and that is just as well, for it seems to me that our own hand is a pretty poor one." "We must look through our hand and see what we do hold," said Thorndyke.
"Our trump card at present--a rather small one, I am afraid--is the obvious intention of the testator that the bulk of the property should go to his brother." "I suppose you will begin your inquiries now," said I.
"We began them some time ago--the day after you brought us the will, in fact.

Jervis has been through the registers and has ascertained that no interment under the name of John Bellingham has taken place since the disappearance; which was just what we expected.