Chapter 23 twenty three

23. Miss Sommers made tea in the typing room again. When she poured water to make tea, the water in the kettle did not boil again.History repeats itself.Miss Griffith took her teacup and thought to herself, "I really want to talk to Mr. Percival about Sommers. I believe we can do better.But with all these horrible things going on, we really don't like to bother him with office chores. " Miss Griffith said as usual: "The water isn't boiling again, Sommers." Miss Sommers blushed and replied as usual: "Oh my God, I'm sure the water is on this time."

The scene was going to go on as usual when Lance Fortescu came in and interrupted everything.He looked around blankly, and Miss Griffith jumped up to meet him. "Mr. Lance," she called. He turned to her with a smile on his face. "Hey, hey, it's Miss Griffith." Miss Griffith was delighted.He hadn't seen her for eleven years and still remembered her last name.She said in a flustered tone: "You actually remember." Lance, in all his charm, said with ease: "Of course I do." Sparks of excitement spread throughout the typing room.Miss Sommers forgot the trouble of making tea.

She stared at Mr. Lance with her mouth slightly open.Miss Bell looked forward from the typewriter, and Miss Chase modestly took out the compact and touched up makeup on her nose.Lance Fortescu looked around. "It turns out that everything here is the same as it was back then," he said. "Not much has changed, Mr. Lance. You are auburn and looking so healthy! I think you must have had a lot of fun living abroad. " Lance said, "Let's say so. But maybe I'm going to try the fun life in London now." "Are you going back to the office?" "Maybe."

"Oh, so happy." Lance said, "You'll find me out of date. Miss Griffith, you'll have to show me the tricks." Miss Griffith smiled broadly. "Mr. Lance, it must be great to have you back. Really great." Lance looked at her appreciatively. He said, "You are so sweet, you are so sweet." "We never believed it—none of us thought..." Miss Griffith broke off, blushing. Lance patted her arm. "You don't believe the Devil is as black as they say? Well, maybe not. But that's old stuff.It's useless to mention it again.It's the future that matters. He said again, "Is my brother here?" "

"I think he's in the inner office." Lance nodded lightly and continued walking.In the small front hall leading to the inner hall, there was a middle-aged woman with a serious expression sitting behind the desk. She stood up and stopped her: "Excuse me, my lord, what's the matter?" Lance looked at her suspiciously. "Are you—Miss Grosvenor?" he asked. He was told that Miss Grosvenor was a pretty fair-haired girl.The news of the Rex Fortescu trial had a picture of her, and she was indeed beautiful in the picture.This could not be Miss Grosvenor. "Miss Grosvenor left last week. I am Mrs. Strongburg, Mr. Percival Fortescue's current secretary."

Lance thought to himself: "It's exactly Percival's style. Ditch the beautiful blonde and replace it with an ugly one. I don't know why? Is it for safety, or is it because this one has a cheaper salary?" He said lightly: "I'm Lance Fortescue. You haven't seen me." Mrs. Strongborough apologized and said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr. Lance. I suppose this is your first time at the office?" Lance smiled and said, "It's the first time, but it won't be the last time." He crossed the room and opened what used to be his father's private office.Unexpectedly, it was not Percival sitting behind the desk, but Inspector Neal.Inspector Neil was sorting out a large stack of documents, he looked up and nodded.

"Good morning, Mr. Fortescue, I guess you're on a mission." "So you have heard that I decided to join the company?" "Your brother told me." "Did he say that? Sincerely?" Inspector Neil tried to hide a smile. "No sign of enthusiasm," he said solemnly. "Poor Percy," Lance commented. Inspector Neil looked at him curiously. "Are you really going to be in the financial world?" "Inspector Neil, do you think that's impossible?" "Mr. Fortescue, that doesn't seem quite right." "Why? I am my father's son."

"It's also Lingtang's son." Lance shook his head. "Inspector, you don't understand that. My mother was a Victorian Romantic. She loved The King's Idyll, as you can see from our queer names. She has mobility issues and I think she's out of touch with reality.I am different.I'm not sentimental, I don't have much romantic feelings, I'm a realist through and through. " Inspector Neil pointed out: "People are not always what they think they are." "Well, I guess that's the truth," Lance said. He sat on a chair, stretched out one long leg in his characteristic posture, and smiled to himself.Then he said unexpectedly:

"Inspector, you are smarter than my brother." "Which way, Mr. Fortescue?" "I gave Percy a fright. He thought I was going to have a business career, and that I was going to meddle in his affairs. He thought I was going to start spending the company's money and get him involved in speculative schemes. Funny, just for that." It's almost worth the fun! I mean 'almost', not really. Inspector, I can't really stand office life. I love the outdoor air and the chance for adventure.I would suffocate to death in a place like this. " He added quickly, "Remember, it's not public. Don't tell Percy my secret. Will you?"

"Mr. Fortescue, I don't think the question is ever brought up." Lance said, "I've got to tease Percy. I've got to sweat him a little. I've got to get justice." Neil said, "Mr. Fortescue, that's a strange remark. Justice—what justice?" Lance shrugged. "Oh, that's old stuff and it's not worth mentioning." "I heard there was a little problem with checks in the past. Is that what you're talking about?" "Inspector, you know a lot!" Neil said: "I heard that there is no prosecution. Your father will not."

"No, he just kicked me out." Inspector Neil looked at him thoughtfully, but he was not thinking of Lance Fortescue but of Percival—honest, hardworking, stingy Percival. He always felt that wherever the case progressed, he always encountered the mystery of Percival Fortescue.Everyone knows Percival's outward appearance, but his inner personality is difficult to estimate.Watching him, you'd say he was a characterless, unimportant man, always in the hands of his father.The Deputy Director said, "Percy Percy", he lived up to his name.Now Neil wanted to closely judge Percival's character through Lance.He tentatively whispered: "Your brother seems to have been - oh, how should I put it - controlled by your father." Lance was clearly thinking about that. "I don't know. I don't know. I think that's what it looks like on the surface. But I can't say if that's the truth. I look back and see that Percy can always do what she wants without showing it on the surface." , it's surprising, you know what I mean." Inspector Neil thought to himself: Yes, it is indeed surprising.He flipped through the pile of papers in front of him, found a letter, and pushed it to Lance at the other end of the table. "Mr. Fortescue, is this the letter you wrote in August?" Lance took a look at it and handed it back to the inspector. He said, "Yes, I wrote it after I got back to Kenya in the summer. Daddy kept it, didn't he? Where—in the office?" "No, Mr. Fortescue, in Father Yew's papers." The old letter lay on the table before the Inspector, and he examined it carefully.The content of the letter is not long. dear dad: I've discussed it with Patty, and I agree with your suggestion.I need a little time to settle things here, and it will be done around the end of October or early November.I will let you know when the time comes.I wish we were better off than before.In short, I will try my best.I can't say much more.take care. Lance on "Mr. Fortescue, where did you send this letter? The office or the Yew House?" Lance frowned thinking back. "Difficult. I can't remember. You know it's been almost three months. I think it was the office. Yes, I'm probably sure. It was sent to the office." He paused for a moment before asking curiously, "Why?" Inspector Neil said: "I find it odd. Your father didn't put it in the private papers over here. He brought it back to Yew Cottage and I found it in his desk over there. Don't know why he did that .” Lance smiled. "I guess I don't want Percy to see it." Inspector Neil said: "Yes, it appears so. So your brother has access to your father's private papers here?" Lance frowned hesitantly and said, "Oh, not really. I mean, he can probably read it whenever he likes, but he doesn't..." Inspector Neal finished for him. "Shouldn't he turn over?" Lance grinned widely. "Yes, frankly, that's peeking, but I think Percy peeks a lot." Inspector Neil nodded. He also thought Percival Fortescu might be peeping.This was in line with the Inspector's preliminary knowledge of his personality. Lance whispered, "Say Cao Cao Cao Cao is here," and the door opened and Percival Fortescu walked in.He was about to speak to the Inspector when he saw Lance and stopped, frowning. He said, "Hey, are you here? You didn't tell me you were coming today." Lance said, "I have a sudden passion for work, so I'm here to put it to use. What do you want me to do?" Percival said: "There's nothing at the moment, nothing to do at all. We've got to make arrangements, depending on what line of work you're going to take on. We've got to make an office for you." Lance grinned and said: "By the way, brother, why did you replace the beautiful Miss Grosvenor with that horse-faced woman?" Percival protested sharply: "Really, Lance." Lance said: "It keeps getting worse. I'm looking forward to the pretty Miss Grosvenor. Why did you fire her?Think she knows too much? " Percival said angrily: "Of course not. What do you think!" A blush appeared on a pale face.Turning to the Inspector, he said coldly: "Don't listen to my brother's nonsense, he has a queer sense of humor," adding: "I've never had much confidence in Miss Grosvenor's wit. Mrs. Strongborough is very personable, The required treatment is also very fair, and the person is capable.” Lance looked at the ceiling and murmured, "The treatment requested is fair. Percy, I'm really not in favor of economizing on office personnel.By the way, don't you think we deserve a pay raise across the board, the staff have been so loyal to us during these tragic weeks? " Percynier Fortescue said crisply, "Of course not. The staff didn't ask for it, and in fact it didn't have to." Inspector Neil noticed the evil light in Lance's eyes.Percival was so angry that he didn't even notice. He stammered: "You've always had wild ideas of the utmost grandiosity. According to the current situation of the company, thrift is our only lifeline. " Inspector Neil coughed apologetically. He said to Percival, "Mr. Fortescue, I have something to talk to you about." "Yes, Inspector?" Percival turned his attention to Neal. "Mr. Fortescue, I would like to make a point to you. I hear that for the last six months—perhaps more, perhaps a year—your father's behavior and words have made you more and more anxious." Percival said flatly: "He's not healthy. He's not healthy at all." "You tried to persuade him to see a doctor, but failed. He refused plainly?" "yes." "I would like to ask you, do you suspect that your father is suffering from what is commonly called 'crazy paralysis', the symptoms of which include grandiose paranoia and restlessness, and that sooner or later he will go completely insane?" Percival looked surprised. "Inspector, you're very clever. I'm really afraid of that. That's why I'm in a hurry to get my father into therapy." Neil says: "However, before you can persuade your father to seek medical attention, he may cause great damage to the company?" "Indeed," Percival agreed. "It's a very unfortunate situation," said the Inspector. "It was scary, no one knew how anxious I was." Neil said softly: "From the point of view of the company, the death of your father is a great blessing." Percival said sharply: "You don't think I think that about my father's death." "Mr. Fortescue, it's not a matter of your opinion. I'm only speaking of practical matters. Your father died before total financial collapse." Percival said impatiently: "Yes, yes, in fact you are right." "It's a great blessing for your entire family because they all depend on this company." "Yes, but inspector, I really don't understand what your intention is..." Percival stopped in the middle of speaking. Inspector Neil said: "Oh, Mr. Fortescue, I don't mean anything, I'm just getting the facts out of my mind. One more thing, I remember you saying that you didn't talk to your brother when he left England many years ago. contacted." "Yes," Percival said. "Not really, Mr. Fortescue? I mean that in the spring you were worried about your father's health and wrote to your brother in Africa, saying that you were anxious about his father's words and actions. I think you want to make my brother I will work with you to persuade your father to undergo an examination and control his condition if necessary." "I—I—really, I don't understand..." Percival was shocked. "Is that so, Mr. Fortescue?" "Oh, I actually think it's justified. Lance is a minority shareholder in the company, after all." Inspector Neil turned to look at Lance.Lance grinned. "You got that letter?" Inspector Neal asked. Lance Fortescu nodded. "How do you answer?" Lance's mouth widened. "I told Percy to fuck him off, and leave the old man alone. I said the old man probably knew very well what he was doing." Inspector Neil returned his gaze to Percival. "Is that what your brother's letter said?" "I-I-oh, I guess so. Only in a more irritating tone." Lance said, "I think it would be better for the Inspector to listen to the sanitized content. Inspector Neil, frankly, for the above reasons, I received my father's letter and went home to see if I was right. I met with my father. For a short time, frankly I don't see anything wrong with him. He's just a little agitated. I think he's quite capable of minding his own business. Anyway, I went back to Africa and talked it over with Patty and decided to go home— — how should I put it — a fair verdict.” He glanced at Percival as he spoke. Besilva Fortescu said, "I disagree, I disagree, I vehemently disagree with what you say. I'm not going to sacrifice my father, I'm concerned about his health. I admit I'm also concerned about..." He paused. Lance cut in quickly. "You care about your pockets too, eh? Percy's little pockets." He stood up with a sudden change of attitude. "Okay, Percy, I've had enough of this. I'm pretending to be working here to make you nervous. I won't let you get everything you want, but I'll be the devil if I keep going. Frankly speaking, in the same place as you I'm disgusted in the room. You've always been a dirty, vile scum: spying, peeking, lying, causing trouble. I've got one more thing to tell you. I can't prove it, but I've always believed in causing big trouble and getting me kicked out You forged that check, really badly forged, too tall and eye-catching. I have too poor a record to justify it myself, but I often marvel at the old man not thinking: If I forged his signature, I would have forged it Be smarter." Raising his voice, Lance rattled on, "Forget it, Percy, I'm not playing silly tricks like that anymore. I'm sick of England and downtown London. I hate striped trousers and black suits like you. , voice stammering, financial swindling little man. We divide property as you suggest, and I'm taking Patty back to a vastly different country—a country with room to breathe and move. You can divide your own securities; well preserved 2 percent, 3 percent, and 3.5 percent savings bonds. Give me your so-called daddy's latest speculative stake. Most of it's probably worthless. But I bet a couple of It's going to turn out to be worth more than your trusty three percent trust stock. Daddy's a smart old man. He takes risks, big risks. Some ventures make five, six, and seven percent. I support his vision and luck. As for you, little caterpillar..." Lance approached his brother, who backed away quickly, and walked around the corner of the table to Inspector Neil.Lance said: "Okay, I won't touch you. You want me out of here, you kick me out. You should be satisfied." He strode to the door and said, "If you like, you can throw me the old Black Thrush Mine. If the murderous McCanzies are after us, I'll lead them to Africa." He walked through the door, He added: "After so many years, revenge seems unthinkable. But Inspector Neil seems to be taking it seriously, isn't he, Inspector?" Percival said, "Nonsense, there can be no such thing!" Lance said, "Ask him. Ask him why he keeps looking into Black Thrush and the rye in Daddy's pocket." Inspector Neil touched his upper lip lightly and said: "Mr. Fortescue, you remember the black thrush incident in the summer. The investigation has its own reasons." Percival added: "Bullshit. No one has heard from the McCanzies for years." "I could almost swear we had the McCanzies on our side, though. I think the Inspector thinks so too," Lance said. Lance Fortescu came down the street and Inspector Neil caught up with him. Lance grinned timidly at him. He said, "I didn't mean to. But I've had a fit of temper. Oh! Never mind—something like that must come soon.I'm meeting Patty at Savoy - Inspector, are you coming with me? " "No, I'm going back to Baytown Heath, but I have something to ask you, Mr. Fortescue." "OK!" "You go into the inner office and see me there—you're taken aback. Why?" "Probably because I didn't expect it to be you. I thought I'd find Percy there." "Did no one tell you he was out?" Lance looked at him curiously. "No. They say he's in the office." "I see--nobody knew he was going out. There's no second door in the inner office--though there is a door in the little vestibule that leads directly into the corridor--I guess your brother went out that way--but I It's a wonder Mrs. Strongborough didn't tell you." Lance smiled. "She may have gone to get her tea then." "Yes—yes—yes." Lance looked at him. "Inspector, any ideas?" "Just wondering about a few small things, Mr. Fortescue—"