Thorndyke took up the pack somewhat with the air of a whist player, and, as he ran through them, I noticed that the number had increased from twenty-three to twenty-four.
"The additional one," Thorndyke explained, "is the signature to the first will, which was in Marchmont's possession.

I have added it to the collection as it carries us back to an earlier date.

The signature of the second will presumably resembles those of the cheques drawn about the same date.

But that is not material, or, if it should become so, we could claim to examine the second will." He laid the cards out on the table in the order of their dates and slowly ran his eye down the series.

I watched him closely and ventured presently to ask: "Do you agree with Mr.Britton as to the general identity of character in the whole set of signatures ?" "Yes," he replied.