PART SIX DECEMBER 27TH
Alfred Lee said with a sigh
That was better than I feared
They had just returned from the inquest.
Mr. Charlton, an old-fashioned type of solicitor with a cautious blue eye, had been present
and had returned with them. He said
Ah—I told you the proceedings would be purely formal—purely formal—there was bound
to be an adjournment—to enable the police to gather up additional evidence.
George Lee said vexedly
It is all most unpleasant—really most unpleasant—a terrible position in which to be placed
I myself am quite convinced that this crime was done by a maniac who somehow or other gained
admittance to the house. That man Sugden is as obstinate as a mule. Colonel Johnson should enlist
the aid of Scotland Yard. These local police are no good. Thickheaded. What about this man
Horbury, for instance? I hear his past is definitely unsatisfactory but the police do nothing
whatever about it.
Mr. Charlton said
Ah—I believe the man Horbury has a satisfactory alibi covering the period of time in
question. The police have accepted it.
Why should they?” George fumed. “If I were they, I should accept such an alibi with reserve
with great reserve. Naturally, a criminal always provides himself with an alibi! It is the duty of
the police to break down the alibi—that is, if they know their job.
Well, well,” said Mr. Charlton. “I don’t think it’s quite our business to teach the police their
jobs, eh? Pretty competent body of men on the whole.
George shook his head darkly.
Scotland Yard should be called in. I’m not at all satisfied with Superintendent Sugden—he
may be painstaking—but he is certainly far from brilliant.
Mr. Charlton said
I don’t agree with you, you know. Sugden’s a good man. Doesn’t throw his weight about
but he gets there.
Lydia said
I’m sure the police are doing their best. Mr. Charlton, will you have a glass of sherry
Mr. Charlton thanked her politely, but declined. Then, clearing his throat, he proceeded to the
reading of the will, all members of the family being assembled.
He read it with a certain relish, lingering over its more obscure phraseology, and savouring its
legal technicalities.
He came to the end, took off his glasses, wiped them, and looked round on the assembled
company inquiringly.
Harry Lee said
All this legal stuff's a bit hard to follow. Give us the bare bones of it, will you
Really,” said Mr. Charlton. “It’s a perfectly simple will.
Harry said
My God, what’s a difficult will like then
Mr. Charlton rebuked him with a cold glance. He said
The main provisions of the will are quite simple. Half Mr. Lee’s property goes to his son
Mr. Alfred Lee, the remainder is divided between his other children.
Harry laughed unpleasantly. He said
As usual, Alfred’s struck lucky! Half my father’s fortune! Lucky dog, aren’t you, Alfred
Alfred flushed. Lydia said sharply
Alfred was a loyal and devoted son to his father. He’s managed the works for years and has
had all the responsibility.
Harry said: “Oh, yes, Alfred was always the good boy.
Alfred said sharply
You may consider yourself lucky, I think, Harry, that my father left you anything at all
Harry laughed, throwing his head back. He said
You’d have liked it better if he’d cut me right out, wouldn’t you? You’ve always disliked
me.
Mr. Charlton coughed. He was used — only too well used — to the painful scenes that
succeeded the reading of a will. He was anxious to get away before the usual family quarrel got
too well under way.
He murmured
I think—er—that that is all that I need—er
Harry said sharply: “What about Pilar
Mr. Charlton coughed again, this time apologetically.
Er—Miss Estravados is not mentioned in the will.
Harry said: Doesn’t she get her mother’s share
Mr. Charlton explained.
Señora Estravados, if she had lived, would of course have received an equal share with the
rest of you, but as she is dead, the portion that would have been hers goes back into the estate to be
shared out between you.
Pilar said slowly in her rich Southern voice
Then—I have—nothing
Lydia said quickly
My dear, the family will see to that, of course.
George Lee said
You will be able to make your home here with Alfred—eh, Alfred? We—er—you are our
niece—it is our duty to look after you.
Hilda said: “We shall always be glad to have Pilar with us.
Harry said
She ought to have her proper share. She ought to have Jennifer’s whack.
Mr. Charlton murmured
Must really—er—be going. Goodbye, Mrs. Lee—anything I can do—er—consult me at any
time. . . .
He escaped quickly. His experience enabled him to predict that all the ingredients for a
family row were present.
As the door shut behind him Lydia said in her clear voice
I agree with Harry. I think Pilar is entitled to a definite share. This will was made many
years before Jennifer’s death.
Nonsense,” said George. “Very slipshod and illegal way of thinking, Lydia. The law’s the
law. We must abide by it.
Magdalene said
It’s hard luck, of course, and we’re all very sorry for Pilar, but George is right. As he says
the law is the law.
Lydia got up. She took Pilar by the hand.
My dear,” she said. “This must be very unpleasant for you. Will you please leave us while
we discuss the question
She led the girl to the door.
Don’t worry, Pilar, dear,” she said. “Leave it to me.
Pilar went slowly out of the room. Lydia shut the door behind her and turned back.
There was a moment’s pause while everyone drew breath and in another moment the battle
was in full swing.
Harry said
You’ve always been a damned skinflint, George.
George retorted
At any rate, I’ve not been a sponge and a rotter
You’ve been just as much of a sponge as I have! You’ve battened on Father all these years.
You seem to forget that I hold a responsible and arduous position which
Harry said
Responsible and arduous my foot! You’re only an inflated gasbag
Magdalene screamed: “How dare you
Hilda’s calm voice, slightly raised, said
Couldn’t we just discuss this quietly
Lydia threw her a grateful glance.
David said with sudden violence
Must we have all this disgraceful fuss over money
Magdalene said venomously to him
It’s all very well to be so high-minded. You’re not going to refuse your legacy, are you? You
want money just as much as the rest of us do! All this unworldliness is just a pose
David said in a strangled voice
You think I ought to refuse it? I wonder
Hilda said sharply
Of course you oughtn’t. Must we all behave like children? Alfred, you’re the head of the
family
Alfred seemed to wake out of a dream. He said
I beg your pardon. All of you shouting at once. It—it confuses me.
Lydia said
As Hilda has just pointed out, why must we behave like greedy children? Let us discuss this
thing quietly and sanely and”—she added this quickly—“one thing at a time. Alfred shall speak
first because he is the eldest. What do you think, Alfred, we should do about Pilar
He said slowly
She must make her home here, certainly. And we should make her an allowance. I do not
see she has any legal claim to the money which would have gone to her mother. She’s not a Lee
remember. She’s a Spanish subject.
No legal claim, no,” said Lydia. “But I think she has a moral claim. As I see it, your father
although his daughter had married a Spaniard against his wishes, recognized her to have an equal
claim upon him. George, Harry, David, and Jennifer were to share equally. Jennifer only died last
year. I am sure that when he sent for Mr. Charlton, he meant to make ample provision for Pilar in
a new will. He would have allotted her at least her mother’s share. It is possible that he might have
done much more than that. She was the only grandchild, remember. I think the least we can do is
to endeavour to remedy any injustice that your father himself was preparing to remedy.
Alfred said warmly
Well put, Lydia! I was wrong. I agree with you that Pilar must be given Jennifer’s share of
my father’s fortune.
Lydia said: “Your turn, Harry.
Harry said
As you know, I agree. I think Lydia has put the case very well, and I’d like to say I admire
her for it.
Lydia said
George
George was red in the face. He spluttered
Certainly not! Whole thing’s preposterous! Give her a home and a decent dress allowance.
Quite enough for her
Then you refuse to cooperate?” asked Alfred.
Yes, I do.
And he’s quite right,” said Magdalene. “It’s disgraceful to suggest he should do anything of
the kind! Considering that George is the only member of the family who has done anything in the
world, I think it’s a shame his father left him so little
Lydia said: “David
David said vaguely
Oh, I think you’re right. It’s a pity there’s got to be so much ugliness and disputing about it
all.
Hilda said
You’re quite right, Lydia. It’s only justice
Harry looked round. He said
Well, that’s clear. Of the family, Alfred, myself and David are in favour of the motion.
George is against it. The ayes have it.
George said sharply
There is no question of ayes and noes. My share of my father’s estate is mine absolutely. I
shall not part with a penny of it.
No, indeed,” said Magdalene.
Lydia said sharply
If you like to stand out, that is your business. The rest of us will make up your share of the
total.
She looked round for assent and the others nodded.
Harry said: “Alfred’s got the lion’s share. He ought to stand most of the racket.
Alfred said: “I see that your original disinterested suggestion will soon break down.
Hilda said firmly
Don’t let’s start again! Lydia shall tell Pilar what we’ve decided. We can settle details later.
She added in the hope of making a diversion, “I wonder where Mr. Farr is, and M. Poirot
Alfred said
We dropped Poirot in the village on our way to the inquest. He said he had an important
purchase to make.
Harry said: “Why didn’t he go to the inquest? Surely he ought to have done
Lydia said
Perhaps he knew it was not going to be important. Who’s that out there in the garden
Superintendent Sugden, or Mr. Farr
The efforts of the two women were successful. The family conclave broke up.
Lydia said to Hilda privately
Thank you, Hilda. It was nice of you to back me up. You know, you really have been a
comfort in all this.
Hilda said thoughtfully: “Queer how money upsets people.
The others had all left the room. The two women were alone.
Lydia said
Yes—even Harry—although it was his suggestion! And my poor Alfred—he is so British
he doesn’t really like Lee money going to a Spanish subject.
Hilda said, smiling
Do you think we women are more unworldly
Lydia said with a shrug of her graceful shoulders
Well, you know, it isn’t really our money—not our own! That may make a difference.
Hilda said thoughtfully
She is a strange child—Pilar, I mean. I wonder what will become of her
Lydia sighed.
I’m glad that she will be independent. To live here, to be given a home and a dress
allowance, would not, I think, be very satisfactory to her. She’s too proud and, I think, too—too
alien.
She added musingly
I once brought some beautiful blue lapis home from Egypt. Out there, against the sun and
the sand, it was a glorious colour—a brilliant warm blue. But when I got it home, the blue of it
hardly showed any more. It was just a dull, darkish string of beads.
Hilda said
Yes, I see. . . .
Lydia said gently
I am so glad to come to know you and David at last. I’m glad you both came here.
Hilda sighed
How often I’ve wished in the last few days that we hadn’t
I know. You must have done . . . But you know, Hilda, the shock hasn’t affected David
nearly as badly as it might have done. I mean, he is so sensitive that it might have upset him
completely. Actually, since the murder, he’s seemed ever so much better
Hilda looked slightly disturbed. She said
So you’ve noticed that? It’s rather dreadful in a way . . . But oh! Lydia, it’s undoubtedly
so
She was silent a minute recollecting words that her husband had spoken only the night
before. He had said to her, eagerly, his fair hair tossed back from his forehead
Hilda, you remember in Tosca—when Scarpia is dead and Tosca lights the candles at his
head and feet? Do you remember what she says: “Now I can forgive him . . .” That is what I feel
about Father. I see now that all these years I couldn’t forgive him, and yet I really wanted to . . .
But no—now there’s no rancour any more. It’s all wiped away. And I feel—oh, I feel as though a
great load had been lifted from my back.
She had said, striving to fight back a sudden fear
Because he’s dead
He had answered quickly, stammering in his eagerness
No, no, you don’t understand. Not because he is dead, but because my childish stupid hate
of him is dead. . . .
Hilda thought of those words now.
She would have liked to repeat them to the woman at her side, but she felt instinctively that it
was wiser not.
She followed Lydia out of the drawing room into the hall.
Magdalene was there, standing by the hall table with a little parcel in her hand. She jumped
when she saw them. She said
Oh, this must be M Poirot’s important purchase. I saw him put it down here just now. I
wonder what it is.
She looked from one to the other of them, giggling a little, but her eyes were sharp and
anxious, belying the affected gaiety of her words.
Lydia’s eyebrows rose. She said
I must go and wash before lunch.
Magdalene said, still with that affectation of childishness, but unable to keep the desperate
note out of her voice
I must just peep
She unrolled the piece of paper and gave a sharp exclamation. She stared at the thing in her
hand.
Lydia stopped and Hilda too. Both women stared.
Magdalene said in a puzzled voice
It’s a false moustache. But—but—why
Hilda said doubtfully
Disguise? But
Lydia finished the sentence for her.
But M. Poirot has a very fine moustache of his own
Magdalene was wrapping the parcel up again. She said
I don’t understand. It’s—it’s mad. Why does M. Poirot buy a false moustache
