of indeterminate age, possibly somewhere on the wrong side of seventy. He peered at Martin over the top of a pair of glasses that looked about as old as he was.
“I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr Isherwood,” said Mr Dobson. “I trust everything is in order at Springwater House? I telephoned Mrs Brent as soon as I was informed that you were coming, and I know she is a very efficient person.”
“She is certainly that,” Martin agreed, taking the proffered seat and declining a cigarette that Mr Dobson offered to him from a box on his desk. A man of the law or not, he clearly had little regard for the latest health and safety regulations with regard to smoking in the workplace.
“As I am sure you are aware, your own solicitor is already in receipt of a copy of your late uncle’s will,” Mr Dobson continued, “however, anything I can do to help, please do ask.”
“Did you know my uncle well?” Martin enquired, easing himself back in the chair.
“Oh yes, I had that pleasure for many years,” the solicitor answered, nodding his head as if to confirm his own words. “I knew him and his late wife almost from the day he came to Wellworthy. Dr Marston was a popular, well-respected man in these parts, and his death is a sad loss both to myself and to the community as a whole. Yes indeed, a very sad loss.”
“I have to confess that I didn’t know him at all,” Martin admitted, “and the fact that he left me the bulk of his estate came as a bit of a bolt out of the blue, I’m afraid.”
“I have no doubt of that; he was particularly keen to ensure that nobody knew of his intentions until after his demise. He told me that you knew nothing of what was in his mind, and he didn’t want any inkling of his wishes to reach you until after his death. I considered his attitude in this respect to be somewhat unusual, although I had no choice other than to follow my client’s instructions as I’m sure you will appreciate?”
“Yes, I fully understand that, only it leaves me in the somewhat embarrassing situation where I have no idea why he made me the main beneficiary.”
“He was, I believe, your late mother’s brother?”
“That is correct, and as far as I know, they were not particularly close. I only recall seeing him once, and that was when I was a child so my memory of him as a person is vague in the extreme.”
“Yes, I can see that it must be a bit puzzling,” the solicitor admitted. “I only wish I could enlighten you as to what was in his mind.”
“Perhaps I am being unusual in endeavouring to understand why he did it,” Martin mused. “After all, I imagine that most people receiving an unexpected legacy are just happy that they have received it, and never bother as to why. I’m afraid I have that sort of mind that always likes to find reasons for things.”
“Then I am genuinely sorry that I am not in a position to resolve the matter for you.”
“Well, it isn’t that important; maybe I will meet some of his friends and acquaintances whilst I’m here, and they may be able to tell me something that will answer the question for me?”
“Yes, I suppose that is possible,” Mr Dobson agreed, but his tone implied that he thought it rather unlikely. “I understand that you are in business?”
“Yes; engineering as it happens.”
“I see; so I may assume you will not be taking up permanent residence in these parts?”
“At the moment I have no plans to move house, if that is what you are asking?”
“You must forgive my natural curiosity; almost every person who knew the late Dr Marston is concerned about what will happen to his home now that he has departed this earth. I imagine it is too early to ask if you have made any plans for Springwater House?”
“That is why I am here in Wellworthy; I thought I would spend a few days getting the feel of the place before I make any firm decision with regard to its future.”
“A wise move, if I may
“I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr Isherwood,” said Mr Dobson. “I trust everything is in order at Springwater House? I telephoned Mrs Brent as soon as I was informed that you were coming, and I know she is a very efficient person.”
“She is certainly that,” Martin agreed, taking the proffered seat and declining a cigarette that Mr Dobson offered to him from a box on his desk. A man of the law or not, he clearly had little regard for the latest health and safety regulations with regard to smoking in the workplace.
“As I am sure you are aware, your own solicitor is already in receipt of a copy of your late uncle’s will,” Mr Dobson continued, “however, anything I can do to help, please do ask.”
“Did you know my uncle well?” Martin enquired, easing himself back in the chair.
“Oh yes, I had that pleasure for many years,” the solicitor answered, nodding his head as if to confirm his own words. “I knew him and his late wife almost from the day he came to Wellworthy. Dr Marston was a popular, well-respected man in these parts, and his death is a sad loss both to myself and to the community as a whole. Yes indeed, a very sad loss.”
“I have to confess that I didn’t know him at all,” Martin admitted, “and the fact that he left me the bulk of his estate came as a bit of a bolt out of the blue, I’m afraid.”
“I have no doubt of that; he was particularly keen to ensure that nobody knew of his intentions until after his demise. He told me that you knew nothing of what was in his mind, and he didn’t want any inkling of his wishes to reach you until after his death. I considered his attitude in this respect to be somewhat unusual, although I had no choice other than to follow my client’s instructions as I’m sure you will appreciate?”
“Yes, I fully understand that, only it leaves me in the somewhat embarrassing situation where I have no idea why he made me the main beneficiary.”
“He was, I believe, your late mother’s brother?”
“That is correct, and as far as I know, they were not particularly close. I only recall seeing him once, and that was when I was a child so my memory of him as a person is vague in the extreme.”
“Yes, I can see that it must be a bit puzzling,” the solicitor admitted. “I only wish I could enlighten you as to what was in his mind.”
“Perhaps I am being unusual in endeavouring to understand why he did it,” Martin mused. “After all, I imagine that most people receiving an unexpected legacy are just happy that they have received it, and never bother as to why. I’m afraid I have that sort of mind that always likes to find reasons for things.”
“Then I am genuinely sorry that I am not in a position to resolve the matter for you.”
“Well, it isn’t that important; maybe I will meet some of his friends and acquaintances whilst I’m here, and they may be able to tell me something that will answer the question for me?”
“Yes, I suppose that is possible,” Mr Dobson agreed, but his tone implied that he thought it rather unlikely. “I understand that you are in business?”
“Yes; engineering as it happens.”
“I see; so I may assume you will not be taking up permanent residence in these parts?”
“At the moment I have no plans to move house, if that is what you are asking?”
“You must forgive my natural curiosity; almost every person who knew the late Dr Marston is concerned about what will happen to his home now that he has departed this earth. I imagine it is too early to ask if you have made any plans for Springwater House?”
“That is why I am here in Wellworthy; I thought I would spend a few days getting the feel of the place before I make any firm decision with regard to its future.”
“A wise move, if I may
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