Chapter 20 Chapter 19 A Visit to Mr. Purvis

Poirot asked for the menu and paid for it. "What shall we do next?" I asked. "We did what you suggested this morning, and went to see Mr. Purvis in Harchester. That's why I made a call from the Durham Hotel." "Did you call Purvis?" "No. I called Theresa Arundell. I asked her to write me a letter of introduction. To be successful with this lawyer, we had to be asked by the Arundell family. She Promised to have the letter delivered directly to my lodgings. It may have been delivered by now." When we got back to the lodgings, it was Charles Arundell who had delivered the letter himself.

"You have a nice place to live, M. Poirot," he said, looking around the reception room of our unit. At this time, I suddenly saw that a drawer of the desk was not closed tightly.A piece of paper was stuck in the drawer, preventing it from closing properly. It is inconceivable that Poirot should have been so careless in closing the drawers!I looked at Charles thoughtfully.He was always alone in the room waiting for us.He must have been secretly looking through Poirot's papers during this time.What a treacherous fellow!I was really full of anger, extremely angry. But Charles was very happy.

"Here is the letter," he said, handing it to Poirot. "It has everything written there, verbatim—I hope you will have better luck with Purvis than we have." "I suppose Mr. Purvis thinks there is little hope of contesting the will?" "Very disappointing... It seemed obvious to him that the bird Lawson had already scooped up the inheritance." "Did you and your sister never consider begging that woman for mercy?" Charles giggled.He said: "I considered - yes, did that too, but it didn't work. I talked a whole lot to no avail. I painted myself as a poor black sheep disinherited - but always Pretending to be—(but at least I'm trying to be)—but it doesn't impress this woman! You know, she doesn't like me so much! And I don't know why.” He laughed , "Most older women feel sympathy for me easily. They think what people think of me is inappropriate and unfair!"

"Your point of view is useful." "Well, that point of view has been particularly useful before. But as I said, it didn't work for Lawson. I think she's a woman against men, and I'm afraid she's a suffragist, like women before the Great War, who was desperately trying to suffrage women. woman of power." "Ah, well," said Poirot, shaking his head, "if the simple solution fails..." "We ought to be criminal," said Charles cheerfully. "Aha," said Poirot, "speaking of crime, young man, did you really threaten your aunt—did you say you were going to kill her or anything to that effect?"

Charles was sitting in a chair, with his feet spread, staring intently at Poirot. "Who told you?" he asked. "It doesn't matter. Does it really happen?" "Something real." "Hey, let me hear your real story—tell a real story, mind you." "Oh, I'll tell you, sir. There's nothing amazing about it, though. I'd really like to try—you know what I mean?" "I see." "But it didn't go as I had planned. Aunt Emily hinted that it would be no use asking her to share the money! Instead of losing my temper, I made it clear to her. 'Well then, you see , Aunt Emily,' I said, 'you know that sooner or later you will be accused of doing things like this!' She asked me contemptuously what I meant by that. All around you with their mouths open, all as miserable as church mice—whatever church mice are—asking for some money from you. And how do you do it? Are you clinging to money? Let it go, and die without distributing. Many people have been murdered for doing this. Listen to me, if you are murdered, you have only yourself to blame!'" "Then she squinted at me, looking very Fierce.'Oh,' she said coldly, 'then that's your opinion, isn't it?' I said, 'Yes, you loosen your grip, that's my advice to you.' She said:' Thank you for your kind advice, but I'm sure you'll see that I can take good care of myself.' 'Well then, Aunt Emily,' I said. I grinned brightly— —I thought to myself that she would not be as ruthless as she pretended to be, and I said: 'Don't say I didn't warn you.' And she replied: 'I'll remember.'" He paused and said :

"That's all there is to it." "So," said Poirot, "the few pounds you find in the drawer will satisfy you." Charles stared at him, then burst out laughing. "I salute you," he said, "you are a true detective! How did you know that?" "So it's true?" "Oh, that's true! I had a hell of a time in those days. Gotta get some money anyway. I found a lot of bills in the drawer, and I just took a few. I was restrained, and I took a few." Zhang. I didn't expect anyone to notice that I took such a small amount of money. And I think that even if someone noticed, they might think it was taken by a servant."

Poirot said coldly: "If this idea is true, then the problem is much more serious for servants." Charles shrugged. "Everyone is not for himself—" he muttered. "Heaven and hell," said Poirot. "That's your motto, isn't it?" Charles looked at him curiously. "I know the old woman won't find out what I did. How did you know about it—and that conversation I said I was going to kill her?" "Miss Lawson told me." "The cunning old cat!" He looked a little disturbed. "She doesn't like me, and she doesn't like Theresa," he said at once. "You don't think—she doesn't have any more secret plans?"

"Oh, I don't know, it's just that she gave me the impression that she was a vicious old hag." He paused, and then added, "She hates Theresa..." "Mr. Arundell, do you know about Dr. Tanios visiting your aunt on the Sunday before she died?" "What—that Sunday mother we had at my aunt's?" "Yes. You didn't see him?" "No. Teresa and I went for a walk in the afternoon. I think he must have come at that time. It's odd that Aunt Emily didn't tell us about his coming. Who told you?" "Miss Lawson."

"Mother Lawson again? She seems to be a source of intelligence." He paused for a moment, then said: "You know, Tanios is a nice guy. I like him. He's a jolly, smiling guy." "He's a very attractive man, isn't he," said Poirot. Charles stood up and said: "If I had been him, I would have killed the nasty Bella years ago! Do you have the impression that she is the kind of woman whose fate is to be a victim, don't you think? You know, if in I shall never be surprised to find her parts in an iron box in Margot or anywhere else!" "You think her husband is such a good doctor that he wouldn't do such a thing?"

"I don't think so," said Charles thoughtfully. "I actually don't think Tanios would hurt a fly. He's too kind." "How about you? Would you murder if you thought it was worth it?" Charles laughed—a loud, visceral laugh. "Want to engage in a little blackmail, Monsieur Poirot? I've never done anything like that. I assure you I didn't put..." He paused suddenly, then went on, "I didn't put strychnine in Amy. Aunt Li's soup." He waved his hand casually and left. After he had gone I asked: "Poirot, are you trying to frighten him? If you do, I don't think you have succeeded. He doesn't look criminal at all."

"are not there?" "No. He looks calm." "That pause in the middle of his speech is curious," said Poirot. "Which pause?" "He paused before the word strychnine. It seemed he had intended to say another word, and then changed it after a second thought." I shrugged. "He was probably thinking of a highly effective, highly toxic poison." "It's possible, it's possible. Let's go. I think we're going to spend the night at George's Inn in Market Basing." Ten minutes later we were crossing London and out into the country again. We arrived in Harchester about four o'clock in the afternoon, and went straight to Purvis's office, which was Purvis Charlesworth Solicitors. Mr. Purvis was a tall, well-built old man.His hair was gray, but his complexion was ruddy.He was something of a country gentleman, with a polite but reserved demeanor. He looked at the letter of introduction we had brought, then stood across the desk in the office and looked at us.He seems very alert and good at seeing things. "Of course, I have long admired your name, M. Poirot," he said politely. "I think Miss Arundell and her brother have hired you to help with this matter, but I don't know what you can do for them." busy?" "Mr. Purvis, may we conduct a fuller investigation of what happened?" The lawyer said coldly: "I have spoken to Miss Arundell and her brother long ago about the question of legal inheritance. The situation is clear and there will be no room for false accusations." "Yes, that is so," continued Poirot, "but I am sure you have no objection to telling us the situation again, so that I can assess the situation clearly." The lawyer nodded. "At your command." Poirot began to ask: "Miss Arundell wrote to you on the seventeenth of April, I suppose so?" Mr. Purvis examined the papers on the table before him. "Yes, you're right." "Can you tell me what she wrote?" "She wants me to draw up a will for her. Distribute some of the relics to the servants and three or four charities. All other assets to Williamina Lawson." "Forgive me, Mr. Purvis, but were you surprised then?" "I admit—it does, I'm surprised." "Has Miss Arundell ever made a will before?" "She wrote a will five years ago." "The will says that, save for some small bequests, her property goes to her nephews, nieces, and nieces, doesn't it?" "Her principal assets are to be divided equally between the son and daughter of her brother Thomas and the daughter of her sister Arabella Biggs." "What about the will?" "At Miss Arundell's request, I took that will with me when I went to the Little Green House on April 21st." "Mr. Purvis, I should be very obliged if you could tell me in detail what happened then." The lawyer paused for a moment.Then he said very clearly: "I arrived at the Little Green House at three o'clock in the afternoon. I was accompanied by a clerk. Miss Arundell met us in the drawing-room." "What do you think of her body then?" "I think she is in good health, though she walks with a cane. I know it's because she fell a while ago. On the whole, she's in good health, as I said. She gave me The impression left was that there was a bit of nervousness and over-excitement." "Miss Lawson was with her then?" "They were together when we first arrived. But Miss Lawson left immediately." "and after?" "Miss Arundell asked me if I had done what she asked me to do, and if I had brought a new will for her to sign." "I said I did that. I—er..." He hesitated for a moment, then went on, somewhat awkwardly, "I may as well have advised Miss Arundell as well as I could. I pointed out to her that people might think this new will was unfair to her relatives, who are her own blood after all." "How did she answer?" "She asked me if she could do with the money as she liked, and I said of course she did. 'That's fine,' she said. I reminded her that her time with Miss Lawson was short , at the same time I asked if she was determined to legitimize the injustice done to her loved ones. She replied: 'My dear friend, I know exactly what I'm doing.'" "You said she was agitated." "Certainly so. But, believe me, M. Poirot, she is sane and in complete control of herself, in spite of her agitation. She is quite capable of her own affairs, no matter what you say. I sympathize with Miss Arundell." relatives, but in court, I have to uphold this will." "That's perfectly understandable. Please go on." "Miss Arundell looked over the old will carefully. Then she put out her hand for my new will. I meant to show her the draft, but she has told me to bring the new will for her to sign. After she read it, she nodded and said she would sign it right away. At this point I felt obligated to protest to her one last time. She listened patiently to the end and said she had made up her mind. I called my clerk Come in, he and the gardener are her signature witnesses. Of course, the servants are not qualified to be witnesses, because according to the will, they are all beneficiaries." "Later, did she entrust you to keep the will?" "No, she put the will in the desk drawer and locked it." "What happened to the original will? Did she destroy it?" "No, she locked the old will with the new one." "Where did you find the will after she died?" "It's in the same drawer. As executor, I have her key, and I went through her papers and information." "Are both wills in that drawer?" "Yes, exactly as she placed it." "Have you ever asked her what her motives were for this astonishing act?" "I asked. There was no satisfactory answer. She just assured me 'she knows what she's doing.'" "Still, you're amazed at this, aren't you?" "Very surprising. You know that Miss Arundell has always had an affection for her kind." Poirot was silent for a moment, then asked: "I suppose you never talked to Miss Lawson about it?" "Of course not. That would be very inappropriate." Lawyers seemed disgusted by the notion. "Has Miss Arundell said anything to suggest that Miss Lawson knew she was making a will in her favour?" "No. I asked her if Miss Lawson knew what she was doing, and Miss Arundell snapped that Lawson didn't!" "I thought then that it would be better for Miss Lawson not to know what was going on. I tried to hint at it, and Miss Arundell seemed to agree with me." "Then why do you stress the point, Mr. Purvis?" The old gentleman returned Poirot's solemn glance. "I think it's best not to discuss it. It might disappoint some people in the future." "Oh," said Poirot with a long breath, "I see. You thought that Miss Arundell might change her mind someday, didn't you?" The lawyer bowed his head and said: "Yes. I think Miss Arundell had a violent quarrel with her family. When she calmed down, she might regret her rash decision." "If she regrets it, what will she do?" "Then she will ask me to prepare a new will." "Perhaps she can adopt a simpler method, that is, she only needs to destroy the new will, so that the original will will take effect?" "That would be controversial. You know, all the original wills must be annulled by the new ones." "But Miss Arundell has no legal knowledge of the subject. She must not have understood it. She may have thought that by destroying the most recent will, the old one would come into effect." "It's entirely possible." "In fact, if she hadn't written this new will, wouldn't all her money have gone to her relatives?" "Yes, one half went to Mrs. Tanios, and the other half to Charles and Theresa Arundell. But the fact is that she hasn't changed her mind! She hasn't changed her mind until she died!" "But that," said Poirot, "is exactly what I have doubts about." The lawyer looked at him curiously. Poirot leaned forward. "Suppose," said he, "that on her deathbed Miss Arundell really wanted to destroy the new will, and she believed she had destroyed it—but in fact she only destroyed the old one." Mr. Purvis shook his head and said: "No, both wills are intact now." "Suppose, then, that what she destroyed was a false will—and she thought it was real. You know, she was very ill at the time, and it would be very easy to deceive her." "You must produce evidence of this!" said the lawyer sternly. "Oh! That's for sure—without a doubt..." "I'm going to ask you: what reasons do you have for believing that this happened?" Poirot reclaimed a little. "At this stage, I don't want to involve myself..." "Naturally, naturally," said Mr. Purvis in his favorite phrase. "But I tell you, I hope you will keep it a secret, there must be something strange about it!" said Poirot. "Really? Not so much?" Mr. Purvis rubbed his hands together and looked happy, as if he had expected it. "From what I hope to get from you, and what I have now got from you," continued Poirot, "do you think that sooner or later Miss Arundell will change her mind and become lenient towards her kindred?" .” "Of course this is just my personal opinion," the lawyer pointed out. "My dear sir, I understand you perfectly. You won't be Miss Lawson's counsel?" "I advise Miss Lawson to consult a lawyer who has nothing to do with the matter," said Mr. Purvis, but his tone was deadpan. Poirot shook his hand farewell, thanking him for his kindness and the information he had given us.