but Fortescue wouldn’t listen to reason.
Really, he seems to have been a changed
man.”
“But not, I gather, a depressed man,” said
Inspector Neele.
“No, no. Quite the contrary. Flamboyant,
bombastic.”
Inspector Neele nodded. An idea which
had already taken form in his mind was
strengthened. He thought he was beginning
to understand some of the causes of friction
between Percival and his father. Mr.
Billingsley was continuing.
“But it’s no good asking me about the
221
wife’s will. I didn’t make any will for her.”
“No. I know that,” said Neele. “I’m
merely verifying that she had something to
leave. In short, a hundred thousand pounds.”
Mr. Billingsley was shaking his head
violently.
“No, no, my dear sir. You’re wrong there.”
“Do you mean the hundred thousand
pounds was only left to her for her lifetime?”
“No—no—it was left to her outright. But
there was a clause in the will governing that
bequest. That is to say, Fortescue’s wife did
not inherit the sum unless she survived him
for one month. That, I may say, is a clause
fairly common nowadays. It has come into
operation owing to the uncertainties of air
travel. If two people are killed in an air
accident, it becomes exceedingly difficult to
say who was the survivor and a lot of very
curious problems arise.”
Inspector Neele was staring at him.
“Then Adele Fortescue had not got a
hundred thousand pounds to leave. What
happens to that money?”
“It goes back into the firm. Or rather, I
should say, it goes to the residuary legatee.”
“And the residuary legatee is Mr. Percival
Fortescue.”
222
“That’s right,” said Billingsley, “it goes to
Percival Fortescue. And with the state the
firm’s affairs are in,” he added unguardedly,
“I should say that he’ll need it!”
IV
“The things you policemen want to know,”
said Inspector Neele’s doctor friend.
“Come on. Bob, spill it.”
“Well, as we’re alone together you can’t
quote me, fortunately! But I should say, you
know, that your idea’s dead right. G.P.I, by
the sound of it all. The family suspected it
and wanted to get him to see a doctor. He
wouldn’t. It acts just in the way you describe.
Loss of judgment, megalomania, violent fits
of irritation and anger—boastfulness—
delusions of grandeur—of being a great
financial genius. Anyone suffering from that
would soon put a solvent firm on the
rocks—unless he could be restrained—and
that’s not so easy to do—especially if the man
himself has an idea of what you’re after.
Yes—I should say it was a bit of luck for your
friends that he died.”
223
“They’re no friends of mine,” said Neele.
He repeated what he had once said before:
“They’re all very unpleasant people. …”
224
19
IN the drawing-room at Yewtree Lodge,
the whole Fortescue family was assembled.
Percival Fortescue, leaning against the
mantelpiece was addressing the meeting.
“It’s all very well,” said Percival. “But the
whole position is most unsatisfactory. The
police come and go and don’t tell us anything.
One supposes they’re pursuing some
line of research. In the meantime everything’s
at a standstill. One can’t make plans, one
can’t arrange things for the future.”
“It’s all so inconsiderate,” said Jennifer.
“And so stupid.”
“There still seems to be this ban against
anyone leaving the house,” went on Percival.
“Still, I think among ourselves we might
discuss future plans. What about you, Elaine?
I gather you’re going to marry–what’s-hisname–Gerald
Wright? Have you any idea
when?”
“As soon as possible,” said Elaine.
Percival frowned.
“You mean, in about six months’ time?”
225
“No, I don’t. Why should we wait six
months?”
“I think it would be more decent,” said
Percival.
“Rubbish,” said Elaine. “A month. That’s
the longest we’ll wait.”
“Well, it’s for you to say,” said Percival.
“And what are your plans when you are
married, if you have any?”
“We’re thinking of starting a school.”
Percival shook his head.
“That’s a very risky speculation in these
times. What with the shortage of domestic
labour, the difficulty of getting an adequate
teaching staff—really, Elaine, it sounds all
right. But I should think twice about it if I
were you.”
“We have thought. Gerald feels that the