Are there other disappointed swains in the offing ?" "What's that, sir ?" "Has Miss Martin any other suitors ?" "Lots of 'em 'ud be after her like wasps round a plum-tree if she'd give 'em 'alf a chance.

But _you_ put a stopper on 'em." Bates was blunt of speech, though a philosopher withal.
"Elkin is my only serious rival, then ?" laughed Grant, passing off as a joke a thrust which was shrewder than the gardener knew.
"'E 'as plenty of brass, but I reckon nowt on 'im," was the contemptuous answer.
"Well, he is not a likely person to kill a woman he had never before seen.

Miss Martin will marry whom she chooses, no doubt.

The present problem is to find out who murdered Miss Melhuish.

Now, had _I_ been the victim you would be thinking hard, Bates." "I tell 'ee, sir, it wur a loony." Nor was Bates to be moved from that opinion.