Dartmoor.”
“Does it?”
“Yes. Same circumstances. Cottage in a lonely position. Two elderly women living together. Amount of cash taken really quite pitifully inadequate one would think.”
“The value of money is always relative, said Mr Entwhistle. ”It is the need that counts."
“Yes - yes, I suppose you re right.”
“If you need ten pounds desperately - then fifteen is more than adequate. And inversely also. If your need is for a hundred pounds, forty-five would be worse than useless. And if it's thousands you need, then hundreds are not enough.”
George said with a sudden flicker of the eyes: “I'd say any money came in useful these days. Everyone's hard up.”
“But not desperate,” Mr Entwhistle pointed out. “It's the desperation that counts.”
“Are you thinking of something in particular?”
“Oh no, not at all.” He paused then went on: “It will be a little time before the estate is settled; would it be convenient for you to have an advance?”
“As a matter of fact, I was going to raise the subject. However, I saw the Bank this morning and referred them to you and they were quite obliging about an overdraft.”
Again there came that flicker in George's eyes, and Mr Entwhistle, from the depths of his experience, recognised it. George, he felt certain, had been, if not desperate, then in very sore straits for money. He knew at that moment, what he had felt subconsciously all along, that in money matters he would not trust George. He wondered if old Richard Abernethie, who also had had great experience in judging men, had felt that. Mr Entwhistle was almost sure that after Mortimer's death, Richard Abernethie had formed the intention of making George his heir. George was not an Abernethie, but he was the only male of the younger generation. He was the natural successor to Mortimer. Richard Abernethie had sent for George, had had him staying in the house for some days. It seemed probable that at the end of the visit the older man had not found George satisfactory. Had he felt instinctively, as Mr Entwhistle felt, that George was not straight? George's father, so the family had thought, had been a poor choice on Laura's part. A stockbroker who had had other rather mysterious activities. George took after his father rather than after the Abernethies.
Perhaps misinterpreting the old lawyer's silence, George said with an uneasy laugh:
“Truth is, I've not been very lucky with my investments lately. I took a bit of a risk and it didn't come off. More or less cleaned me out. But I'll be able to recoup myself now. All one needs is a bit of capital. Ardens Consolidated are pretty good, don't you think?”
Mr Entwhistle neither agreed nor dissented. He was wondering if by any chance George had been speculating with money that belonged to clients and not with his own? If George had been in danger of criminal prosecution -
Mr Entwhistle said precisely:
“I tried to reach you the day after the funeral, but I suppose you weren't in the office.”
“Did you? They never told me. As a matter of fact, I thought I was entitled to a day off after the good news!”
“The good news?”
George reddened.
“Oh look here, I didn't mean Uncle Richard's death. But knowing you've come into money does give one a bit of a kick. One feels one must celebrate. As a matter of fact I went to Hurst Park. Backed two winners. It never rains but it pours! If your luck's in, it's in! Only a matter of fifty quid, but it all helps.”
“Oh yes,” said Mr Entwhistle. “It all helps. And there will now be an additional sum coming to you as a result of your Aunt Cora's death.”
George looked concerned.
“Poor old girl,” he said. “It does seem rotten luck, doesn't it? Probably just when she was all set to enjoy herself.”
“Let us hope the police will find the person responsible for her death,” said Mr Entwhistle.
“I expect they'll get him all right. They're good, our police. They round up all the
“Does it?”
“Yes. Same circumstances. Cottage in a lonely position. Two elderly women living together. Amount of cash taken really quite pitifully inadequate one would think.”
“The value of money is always relative, said Mr Entwhistle. ”It is the need that counts."
“Yes - yes, I suppose you re right.”
“If you need ten pounds desperately - then fifteen is more than adequate. And inversely also. If your need is for a hundred pounds, forty-five would be worse than useless. And if it's thousands you need, then hundreds are not enough.”
George said with a sudden flicker of the eyes: “I'd say any money came in useful these days. Everyone's hard up.”
“But not desperate,” Mr Entwhistle pointed out. “It's the desperation that counts.”
“Are you thinking of something in particular?”
“Oh no, not at all.” He paused then went on: “It will be a little time before the estate is settled; would it be convenient for you to have an advance?”
“As a matter of fact, I was going to raise the subject. However, I saw the Bank this morning and referred them to you and they were quite obliging about an overdraft.”
Again there came that flicker in George's eyes, and Mr Entwhistle, from the depths of his experience, recognised it. George, he felt certain, had been, if not desperate, then in very sore straits for money. He knew at that moment, what he had felt subconsciously all along, that in money matters he would not trust George. He wondered if old Richard Abernethie, who also had had great experience in judging men, had felt that. Mr Entwhistle was almost sure that after Mortimer's death, Richard Abernethie had formed the intention of making George his heir. George was not an Abernethie, but he was the only male of the younger generation. He was the natural successor to Mortimer. Richard Abernethie had sent for George, had had him staying in the house for some days. It seemed probable that at the end of the visit the older man had not found George satisfactory. Had he felt instinctively, as Mr Entwhistle felt, that George was not straight? George's father, so the family had thought, had been a poor choice on Laura's part. A stockbroker who had had other rather mysterious activities. George took after his father rather than after the Abernethies.
Perhaps misinterpreting the old lawyer's silence, George said with an uneasy laugh:
“Truth is, I've not been very lucky with my investments lately. I took a bit of a risk and it didn't come off. More or less cleaned me out. But I'll be able to recoup myself now. All one needs is a bit of capital. Ardens Consolidated are pretty good, don't you think?”
Mr Entwhistle neither agreed nor dissented. He was wondering if by any chance George had been speculating with money that belonged to clients and not with his own? If George had been in danger of criminal prosecution -
Mr Entwhistle said precisely:
“I tried to reach you the day after the funeral, but I suppose you weren't in the office.”
“Did you? They never told me. As a matter of fact, I thought I was entitled to a day off after the good news!”
“The good news?”
George reddened.
“Oh look here, I didn't mean Uncle Richard's death. But knowing you've come into money does give one a bit of a kick. One feels one must celebrate. As a matter of fact I went to Hurst Park. Backed two winners. It never rains but it pours! If your luck's in, it's in! Only a matter of fifty quid, but it all helps.”
“Oh yes,” said Mr Entwhistle. “It all helps. And there will now be an additional sum coming to you as a result of your Aunt Cora's death.”
George looked concerned.
“Poor old girl,” he said. “It does seem rotten luck, doesn't it? Probably just when she was all set to enjoy herself.”
“Let us hope the police will find the person responsible for her death,” said Mr Entwhistle.
“I expect they'll get him all right. They're good, our police. They round up all the
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