United States or Vietnam ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
But at last, when the maid had cleared away the dinner things, and he was alone in his sitting-room, and had lighted his pipe, and mixed himself a drop of whisky-and-water the only indulgence in such things that he allowed himself within the twenty-four hours he drew John Mallathorpe's will from his pocket, and read it carefully three times. And then he began to think, closely and steadily.
"You want to see her?" inquired Esther. "Of course! I've some papers for her to sign," replied Pratt. "How do things stand? Coast clear?" "Miss Mallathorpe's going into Barford after lunch," answered Esther. "She'll be driving in about half-past two. I can manage it then. How long shall you want to be with her?" "Oh, a quarter of an hour'll do," said Pratt. "Ten minutes, if it comes to that."
"Not ours. There was an advertisement in Saturday's papers which set out that a steward was wanted for the Normandale estate, and Pratt mentioned it to me in the morning that he thought of applying for the job if we'd give him a good testimonial. I suppose he'd gone out there to see about the preliminaries. Anyway, he was walking through the park when he found young Mallathorpe's body.
"That we must consider later," said Eldrick. "Now for the present, Miss Mallathorpe, you are, I suppose, going back home?" "Yes, at once," answered Nesta. "I have my car at the Crown Hotel." "I should just like to know something," continued Eldrick again, looking at Collingwood as if for approval. "That is Mrs. Mallathorpe's present disposition towards affairs in general and Pratt in particular.
I give and devise all my estate and effects real and personal of which I may die possessed or entitled to unto the said Martin William Charlesworth and Arthur James Wyatt upon trust for the following purposes to be carried out by them under the following instructions, namely: As soon after my death as is conveniently possible they will sell all my real estate, either by private treaty or by public auction; they shall sell all my personal property of any nature whatsoever; they shall sell my business at Mallathorpe's mill in Barford as a going concern to any private purchaser or to any company already in existence or formed for the purpose of acquiring it; and they shall collect all debts and moneys due to me.
Immediately afterwards Mr. Bartle goes to your office. Nobody is there but Pratt as far as Pratt knows. Bartle dies suddenly after telling Pratt that the paper is John Mallathorpe's will. Pratt steals the will. And the probability is that Parrawhite, unknown to Pratt, was in that office, and saw him steal it. Why is that probable? Because
What have you done with John Mallathorpe's will?" Collingwood, anxious for Nesta, was watching her closely, and now he saw her turn a startled and inquiring look on her mother, who, in her turn, dashed a surprised glance at Eldrick. But if Mrs. Mallathorpe was surprised, she was also indignant, or she simulated indignation, and she replied to the solicitor's question with a sharp retort.
Of course, that Normandale stewardship dropped out when young Harper died, and I don't suppose the notion 'll be revived now that his sister's come in. But I've got one good job to go on with -Mrs. Mallathorpe's given me her affairs to look after." Eldrick took one of the cigarettes and lighted it as a sign of his peaceable and amicable intentions. "Pratt!" he said.
But for purposes of his own he determined to have a talk with Cobcroft, and the next evening, seeing him in his garden again, he went out to him and got into conversation, and eventually led up to the subject of Mallathorpe's Mill, the new chimney of which could be seen from a corner of the garden.
And the expression of her face as she came close to his side was so curious that the solicitor involuntarily folded up the will and hastily put it behind his back he had not only seen that expression but had caught sight of Mrs. Mallathorpe's twitching fingers. "Is that that another will?" she whispered. "John Mallathorpe's?"
Word Of The Day