I was
shocked to see Silas in such company.'
'And did his keys discover anything?' I asked.
'On opening his travelling desk and a small japanned box within it a vast
deal less money was found than was expected--in fact, very little. Your
uncle said that he had won some of it the night before at play, and
that Charke complained to him when tipsy of having had severe losses to
counterbalance his gains on the races. Besides, he had been paid but a
small part of those gains. About his book it appeared that there were
little notes of bets on the backs of letters, and it was said that
he sometimes made no other memorandum of his wagers--but this was
disputed--and among those notes there was not one referring to Silas. But,
then, there was an omission of all allusion to his transactions with two
other well-known gentlemen. So that was not singular.'
'No, certainly; that was quite accounted for,' said I.
'And then came the question,' continued she, 'what motive could Mr. Charke
possibly have had for making away with himself.'
'But is not that very difficult to make out in many cases?' I interposed.
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