After The Funeral Part 2

wa to succeed to that fortune and to the control of those interests ?

That this had worried Richard deeply, Entwhistle knew. Itis only surviving brother was ver., much.of, a, ,invali.d.

There remained the younger generation, tt naa oeen m ....... :-d the lawver thought, though his friend had not actually said so, to choose one definite successor, though minor legacies would probably have beetnmade. Anyway, as Entwhistle knew, within the last six m nths Richard Aber nethie had invited to stay with him, in succession, his nephew

George, his niece Susan and her husband, his niece Rosamund

and her husband, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Leo Abernethie.

It was amongst the first three, so the lawyer thought, that

Abernethie had looked for his successor. Helen Abernethie,

he thought, had been asked out of personal affection and even

possibly as someone to consult, for Richard had always held

a high opinion of her good sense and practica[ judgment.

Mr. Entwhistle also remembered that sometime during that

six months period Richard had paid a short visit to his brother Timothy.

The net result had been the will which the lawyer now

carried in his brief-case. An equable distribution of property.

The only conclusion that could be drawn, therefore, was that

he had been disappointed both in his nephew, and in his nieces

--or perhaps in his nieces' husbands.

As far as Mr. Entwhistle knew, he had not invited his sister,

Cora Lansquenet, to visit him--and that brought the lawyer

back to that first disturbing phrase that Cora had let slip so

incoherently--" but I did think from what he said-----"

What had Richard Abernethie said ? And when had he

said it ? If Cora had not been to Enderby, then Richard

Abernethie must have visited her at the artistic village in Berks.h.i.+re where she had a cottage. Or was it something that

Richard had said in a letter ?

Mr. Entwhistle frowned. Cora, of course, was a very stupid

woman. She could easily have misinterpreted a phrase, and twisted its meaning.

But he did wonder what the phrase could have been ....

There was enough uneasiness in him to make him consider the possibility or'approaching Mrs. Lansquenet on the subject, Not too soon. Better not make it seem of importance. But he would like to know just what it was that Richard Abernethie had said to her which had led her to pipe up so briskly with that outrageous question: "But he was murdered, wasn't h ?'

I7

In a third-cla.s.s carriage, farther along the train, Gregory Banks said to his wife: "That aunt of yours must be completely bats I"

"Aunt Cora ?" Susan was vague. "Oh, yes, I believe she was always a bit simple or something." George Crossfield, sitting opposite, said sharply: "She really ought to be stopped from going about saying things like that. It might put ideas into people's heads."

Rosamund Shane, intent on outlining the cupid's bow of her mouth with lipstick, murmured vaguely: "I don't suppose anyone would pay any attention to what a frump like that says. The most peculiar clothes and las.h.i.+ngs and las.h.i.+ngs of jet "

"Well, I think it ought to be stopped," said George.

"All right, darling," laughed Rosamund, putting away her

li .pstick and contemplating her image with satisfaction in the

mrror. "You stop it."

I-Ier husband said unexpectedly:

"I think George is right. It's so easy to set pepte talking."

"Well, would it matter ?" Rosamund contemplated the

,uestion. The cupid's bow lifted at the corners in a smile.

It might really be rather fun."

"Fun ?" Four voices spoke. "Having a murder in the family," said Rosamund. "Thril ling, you know I"

It occurred to that nervous and unhappy young man

Gregory Banks that Susan's cousin, setting aside her attractive

exterior, might have some faint points of resemblance to her

Aunt Cora. Her next words rather confirmed his impression.

"If he was murdered," said Rosamund, "who do you

tlxink did it ?"

Her gaze travelled thoughtfully round the carriage.

"His death has been awfully convenient for all of us," she

said thoughtfully., "llichael and I are absolutely on our

beam ends. Mick s had a really good part offered to him in

the Sandborne show if he can afford to wait for it. Now we'll be in clover. We'll be able to back our own show if we want