After The Funeral Part 8

the instructions of Richard's will. No, poor Cora had only

a few hundred pounds and the furniture of her cottage to

leave. When outstanding debts are paid and the furniture

sold I doubt if the whole thing will amount to more than at most five hundred pounds." He went on: "There will have

to be an inquest, of course. That is fixed for next Thursday.

If Timothy is agreeable, we'll send down you,n,g Lloyd to

watch the proceedings on behalf of the family. He added

apo. logetically: "I'm afraid it may attract some notoriety

owing to the---er--circ.u.mstances."

"How ve,r unpleasant I Have they caught the wretch

who did it ?

"Not yet."

"One of these dreadful half-baked young men who go about the country roving and murdering, I suppose. The police are so incompetent."

"No, no," said Ivlr. Entwhistle. "The police are by no means incompetent. Don't imagine that, for a moment."

"Well, it all seems to me quite extraordinary. And so bad for Timothy. I suppose you couldn't possibly come down here, Mr. Entwhistle ? I should be most grateful if you

37

could. I think Timothy's mind might be set at rest if you were

here to rea.s.sure him."

Mr. Entwhistle was silent for a moment. The invitation

was not unwelcome.

"There is something in what you say," he admitted. "And

's signature as executor to cer, t, am

I shall need Tmothy doc.u.ments. Yes, I think it might be quite a good thing. '

"That is splendid. I am so relieved. To-morrow ? And

you'll stay the night ? The best train is the IL20 from

St. Pancras."

"It will have to be an afternoon train, I'm afraid. I have,"

sai d Mr. Entwhistle," other business in the morning "

George Crossfield greeted Mr. Entwhistle heartily but with, perhaps, just a shade of surprise.

l lr. Entwhistle said, in an explanatory way, although it really explained nothing: "I've just come up from Lytchett St.

llary."

"Then it really was Aunt Cora ? I read about it in the papers and I just couldn't believe it. I thought it must be someone of the same name."

"Lansquenet is not a common name."

"No, of course it isn't. I suppose there.is a natural aversion to believing that anyone of one's own family can be murdered.

Sounds to me rather like that case last month on Dartmoor."

"Does it ?"

"Yes. Same circ.u.mstances. Cottage in a lonely position.

Two elderly women living together.

Amount of cash taken rea!ly quite pitifully inadequate one would t,h, ink."

' The value of money is always relative, said lr. Ent- whistle. "It is the need that counts."

"Yes--yes, I suppose you re right.

"If you need ten pounds desperately--then fifteen is more than adequate. And inversely also.

If your need is for a hundred r)ounds, fortv-five would be worse than useless. And if it's tho asands you heed, then hundreds are not enough."

George said with a sudden flicker of the eyes: "I'd say any money came in useful these days. Everyone's hard up."

" But not desperate,"

Mr. Entwhistle pointed out. "It's the desperation that counts." "Are you thinking of something in particular ?"

"Oh no, not at all." He paused then went on: "It will 38

be a little time before the estate is settled; would it be

convenient for you to have an advance ?"

"As a matter of fact, I was going to raise the subject.

However, I saw the Bank this morning and referred them to

you and they were quite obliging about an overdraft."

Again there came that flicker in George's eyes, and Mr.

Entwhistle, from the depths of his experience, recognised it.

George, he felt certain, had been, if not desperate, then in very sore straits for money. He knew at that moment, what

he had felt subconsciously all along, that in money matters

he would not trust George. He wondered if old Richard

Abernethie, who also had had great experience in judging

men, had felt that. Mr. Entwhistle was almost sure that

after Mortimer's death, Richard Abernethie had formed the

intention of making George his heir. George was not an

Abernethie, but he was the only male of the younger genera tion. He was the natural successor to Mortimer. Richard