He and I were very much
alike, you know, and I have brought from my rooms a few pictures which may
interest you."
He handed to Brett photographs of himself and his two cousins, and of the
older Sir Alan and Lady Hume-Frazer, taken singly and in groups.
The barrister examined them minutely.
"Alan and I," pointed out his client, "were photographed during our last
visit to London. Poor chap! He never saw this picture. The proofs were not
sent until after his death."
Something seemed to puzzle Brett very considerably. He compared the
pictures one with the other, and paid heed to every detail.
"Let me understand," Brett said at last. "I think I have it in my notes
that at the time of the murder you were twenty-seven, Sir Alan
twenty-four, and Mrs. Capella twenty-six?"
"That is so, approximately. We were born respectively in January, October,
and December. My twenty-seventh birthday fell on the 11th."
"Stated exactly, you were two years and nine months older than he?"
"Yes."
"You don't look it."
"I never did. We were always about the same size as boys, but he matured
at an earlier age than I."
"It is odd. How old were you when this group was taken?"
The photograph depicted a family gathering on the lawn at Beechcroft.
There were eight persons in it, three being elderly men.
David reflected.
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