‘I really couldn’t say. They didn’t come down here very often – just weekends now and then. Nobody saw much of him.
Mrs Templeton was a very nice lady. But they hadn’t had Tudor Cottage very long – Only about six months – when a very rich gentleman died and left Mrs Templeton all his money and they went to live abroad. They never sold Tudor Cottage, though. I think they sometimes lend it to people for weekends.
But I don’t suppose with all that money they’ll ever come back here and live in it themselves.’ ‘They had a cook called Rose Chudleigh, didn’t they?’ asked Frankie.
But the girl seemed uninterested in cooks. Being left a fortune by a rich gentleman was what really stirred her imagination. In answer to Frankie’s question she replied that she couldn’t say, she was sure, and withdrew carrying an empty toast-rack.
‘That’s all plain sailing,’ said Frankie. ‘The Caymans have given up coming here, but they keep the place on for the convenience of the gang.’ They agreed to divide the labour as Bobby had suggested.
Frankie went off in the Bentley, having smartened herself up by a few local purchases, and Bobby went off in quest of Albeit Mere, the gardener.
They met at lunch time.
‘Well?’ demanded Bobby.
Frankie shook her head.
‘Forgery’s out of the question.’ She spoke in a dispirited voice. ‘I spent a long time with Mr Elford – he’s rather an old dear. He’d got wind of our doings last night and was wild to hear a few details. I don’t suppose they get much excitement down here. Anyway, I soon got him eating out of my hand.
Then I discussed the Savage case – pretended I’d met some of the Savage relations and that they’d hinted at forgery. At that my old dear bristled up – absolutely out of the question! It wasn’t a question of letters or anything like that. He saw Mr Savage himself and Mr Savage insisted on the will being drawn up then and there. Mr Elford wanted to go away and do it properly – you know how they do – sheets and sheets all about nothing ‘ ‘I don’t know,’ said Bobby. ‘I’ve never made any wills.’ ‘I have – two. The second was this morning. I had to have some excuse for seeing a lawyer.’ ‘Who did you leave your money to?’ ‘You.’ ‘That was a bit thoughtless, wasn’t it? If Roger Bassingtonffrench succeeded in bumping you off I should probably be hanged for it!’ ‘I never thought of that,’ said Frankie. ‘Well, as I was saying, Mr Savage was so nervous and wrought up that Mr Elford wrote out the will then and there and the servant and the gardener came and witnessed it, and Mr Elford took it away with him for safe keeping.’ ‘That does seem to knock out forgery,’ agreed Bobby.
‘I know. You can’t have forgery when you’ve actually seen the man sign his name. As to the other business – murder, it’s going to be hard to find out anything about that now. The doctor who was called in has died since. The man we saw last night is a new man – he’s only been here about two months.’ ‘We seem to have rather an unfortunate number of deaths,’ said Bobby.
‘Why, who else is dead?’ ‘Albert Mere.’ ‘Do you think they’ve all been put out of the way?’ ‘That seems rather wholesale. We might give Albert Mere the benefit of the doubt – he was seventy-two, poor old man.’ ‘All right,’ said Frankie. ‘I’ll allow you Natural Causes in his case. Any luck with Rose Chudleigh?’ ‘Yes. After she left the Templetons she went to the north of England to a place, but she’s come back and married a man down here whom it seems she’s been walking out with for the last seventeen years. Unfortunately she’s a bit of a nitwit. She doesn’t seem to remember anything about anyone. Perhaps you could do something with her.’ ‘I’ll have a go,’ said Frankie. ‘I’m rather good with nitwits.
Where’s Badger, by the way?’ ‘Good Lord! I’ve forgotten all about him,’ said Bobby. He got up and left the room, returning a few minutes later.