Chapter 2 Chapter two

After the delicious chicken soup, hearty cold food and good white wine, the atmosphere of the funeral was quite diluted.None of them mourned deeply, for none of them had any intimate affection for Richard Abernether.Their demeanor has always been moderately dignified and restrained (except for Cora, who can't restrain herself, who is clearly happy), but now they all feel that the time for demureness is over and they can return to normal conversation.Mr Entwhistle encourages this attitude.He has experienced many funerals and knows how to control the rhythm and atmosphere of funerals. After lunch, Lan Scamber led them to the study for coffee.This is where his senses are astute.It's time, time to get down to business -- in other words, time to discuss wills.The study, with its shelves full of books and heavy red velvet curtains, is just the right atmosphere for discussion.He walks in with coffee for them, then backs out, closing the door.

After some rambling talk, everyone began to look tentatively at Mr. Entwhistle.He glanced at his watch and reacted quickly. "I have to catch the three-thirty train," he began.It seemed everyone else had to catch this train too. "You all know," said Mr. Entwhistle, "that I am the executor of Richard Abernether's will—" He was cut off. "I don't know," said Cora Lansquenet cheerfully. "Are you? Did he leave me anything?" This was not the first time Mr Entwhistle felt that Cora was speaking when she shouldn't. He glanced at her repressively, and went on:

"A year ago Richard Abernether's will was very simple. He left everything but certain inheritances to his son Mortimer." "Poor Mortimer," said Cora. "Polio really chills me." "Mortimer's death, so sudden and tragic, was such a blow to Richard that it took him months to recover. I explained to him that he had better make a new will." Moody Abernether asked in her deep voice: "What if he doesn't make a new will?—will it—will it all go to Timothy—his next of kin?" Mr. Entwhistle opened his mouth to teach them a lesson, the subject is "closest relatives", think about it or forget it, and said concisely and forcefully:

"With my advice, Richard decided to make a new will. However, he decided to get acquainted with the younger generation first." "He has to look at the goods before making a decision, and put us all on his sight list," Susan said with a sudden laugh. "First George, then Greg and me, then Rosamund and Mike." Greg Banks blushed and said suddenly sharply: "I don't think you should say that, Susan. Look and see, really!" "But that's the way it is, isn't it, Mr Entwhistle?" "Did he leave me anything?" Cora repeated. Mr. Entwhistle coughed, and said a little coldly:

"I'm going to give each of you a copy of your will. If you like, I can read it all to you now, but some of the legal language may be confusing to you. The short answer is this: except for some small Apart from the bequest of the family and a substantial bequest to Lanscombe as a pension, the rest of the entire estate - a considerable sum - was divided into six equal parts: four of them were left to Richard after taxes. brother Timothy, his nephew George Crossfield, his niece Susan Banks, and his niece Rosamund Sheen. The other two are kept in trust funds, and the income goes to him Mrs. Helen Abernether, widow of brother Leo, and his sister, Mrs. Cora Lansquenett, remained so during their lifetimes. They were borne by the other four beneficiaries or their descendants. Minute."

"That's wonderful!" said Cora Lansquenet with heartfelt gratitude. "One income! How much?" "I -- er -- can't say for sure at the moment. Inheritance tax, of course, is heavy, and --" "You have no way to give me an approximate figure?" Mr Entwhistle knew that Cora had to be satisfied. "Maybe between three and four thousand pounds a year." "This is really good!" Cora said. "I can go to Capri Island." Helen Abernether said softly: "Richard is so kind and generous. I am so grateful for his kindness to me."

"He's very fond of you," said Mr. Entwhistle. "Leo was his favorite brother, and after Leo passed away, he was grateful that you still visited him." Helen said regretfully: "Wish I knew he was so sick--I came up to see him not long before he died, but though I knew he was, I didn't expect it to be that serious." "It has always been serious," An Hui said, "but he didn't want to mention it. I don't believe anyone expected him to go so quickly. I know the doctor was also quite surprised." "'Sudden death at home,' that's what the newspaper said," Cora nodded. "However, I doubt it."

"That was a big shock for all of us," Moody Abernether said. "Poor Timothy was very disturbed. So suddenly, he kept saying, so suddenly." "It's pretty neatly covered up, though, isn't it?" Cora said. Everyone stared at her with wide eyes, and she was a little flustered. "I think you're all quite right," she said hastily. "Quite. I mean--no good--to put it out in the open. It's very unpleasant for everybody. House scandals." Turning to each of her faces, the expression appeared more blank. Mr Entwhistle leaned forward:

"Really, Cora, I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean." Cora opened her eyes wide and looked around her family in surprise.She tilted her head to one side like a bird. "But he was murdered, wasn't he?" she said.