Free A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie

hospital—their referring me here.” He broke off. After a pause he went on, “The funeral?” He spoke interrogatively.
    â€œThe inquest is fixed for tomorrow after the postmortem. The proceedings at the inquest will be purely formal and the inquest will be adjourned.”
    â€œI understand. That is usually the case?”
    â€œYes, sir. Nowadays.”
    â€œMay I ask, have you formed any ideas, any suspicions of who could—Really, I—” again he broke off.
    â€œIt’s rather early days for that, Mr. Fortescue,” murmured Neele.
    â€œYes, I suppose so.”
    â€œAll the same it would be helpful to us, Mr. Fortescue, if you could give us some idea of your father’s testamentary dispositions. Or perhaps you could put me in touch with his solicitor.”
    â€œHis solicitors are Billingsby, Horsethorpe & Walters of Bedford Square. As far as his will goes, I think I can more or less tell you its main dispositions.”
    â€œIf you will be kind enough to do so, Mr. Fortescue. It’s a routine that has to be gone through, I’m afraid.”
    â€œMy father made a new will on the occasion of his marriage two years ago,” said Percival precisely. “My father left the sum of £100,000 to his wife absolutely and £50,000 to my sister, Elaine. I am his residuary legatee. I am already, of course, a partner in the firm.”
    â€œThere was no bequest to your brother, Lancelot Fortescue?”
    â€œNo, there is an estrangement of long standing between my father and my brother.”
    Neele threw a sharp glance at him—but Percival seemed quite sure of his statement.
    â€œSo as the will stands,” said Inspector Neele, “the three people who stand to gain are Mrs. Fortescue, Miss Elaine Fortescue and yourself?”
    â€œI don’t think I shall be much of a gainer.” Percival sighed. “There are death duties, you know, Inspector. And of late my father has been—well, all I can say is, highly injudicious in some of his financial dealings.”
    â€œYou and your father have not seen eye to eye lately about the conduct of the business?” Inspector Neele threw out the question in a genial manner.
    â€œI put my point of view to him, but alas—” Percival shrugged his shoulders.
    â€œPut it rather forcibly, didn’t you?” Neele inquired. “In fact, not to put too fine a point on it, there was quite a row about it, wasn’t there?”
    â€œI should hardly say that, Inspector.” A red flush of annoyance mounted to Percival’s forehead.
    â€œPerhaps the dispute you had was about some other matter then, Mr. Fortescue?”
    â€œThere was no dispute, Inspector.”
    â€œQuite sure of that, Mr. Fortescue? Well, no matter. Did I understand that your father and brother are still estranged?”
    â€œThat is so.”
    â€œThen perhaps you can tell me what this means?”
    Neele handed him the telephone message Mary Dove had jotted down.
    Percival read it and uttered an exclamation of surprise and annoyance. He seemed both incredulous and angry.
    â€œI can’t understand it, I really can’t. I can hardly believe it.”
    â€œIt seems to be true, though, Mr. Fortescue. Your brother is arriving from Paris today.”
    â€œBut it’s extraordinary, quite extraordinary. No, I really can’t understand it.”
    â€œYour father said nothing to you about it?”
    â€œHe certainly did not. How outrageous of him. To go behind my back and send for Lance.”
    â€œYou’ve no idea, I suppose, why he did such a thing?”
    â€œOf course I haven’t. It’s all on a par with his behaviour lately—Crazy! Unaccountable. It’s got to be stopped—I—”
    Percival came to an abrupt stop. The colour ebbed away again from his pale face.
    â€œI’d forgotten—” he said. “For the moment I’d forgotten that my father