His Prey was Man by Arthur Gask — Read

THE inquest upon the death of Broome Mason was resumed a week later and by then interest had risen to a high pitch. All sorts of rumours were flying about. It was an open secret that an assassin was at work in that little corner of Norfolk and the police were hot upon his track! The solicitor had not taken his own life, but had been foully murdered! An audacious attempt had been made to make out it was a case of self-destruction, but the renowned Professor Mummery had exposed the trick! The Cosmopolitan Assurance Company, however, were making out it was a case of deliberate suicide! Mason had a policy with them of £100,000 and they were refusing to pay! They were briefing Clive Grennock the great King's Counsel, to make certain the coroner's jury did not return a verdict of murder when it was a clear case of felo de se! And so on, and so on.

As was to have been expected in these circumstances, the hall where the inquest was being held was packed to suffocation. A great forensic battle might eventuate between Clive Grennock and Harvey Nankivell, the latter again representing the holder of the assurance policy. The Norfolk police were now represented by the senior Norwich Superintendent, Superintendent Brace.