The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks by James Anderson Page A
Authors: James Anderson
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Detective and Mystery Stories, Police, Police Procedural, Aristocracy (Social Class), Burford; Lord (Fictitious Character), Wilkins; Chief Inspector (Fictitious Character)
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more than one verse and one chorus,' (a murmured, 'Hear, hear' from the Earl) 'so I will now proceed with the reading of the will.' With a decided air of disdain, he dropped his copy of the lyrics into a nearby waste paper basket and immediately became more businesslike.
'We are here for the reading of the last will and testament of my late client, the Honourable Mrs Florence Saunders. If everyone is agreeable, I will omit the preamble, containing the various legal technicalities and provisos, appointment of and instructions to her executor, et cetera, and get straight to the bequests.'
Timothy looked slightly disapproving, but didn't speak. 'Jolly good idea,' said the Earl.
'The will is dated just five weeks before her death, but I perhaps should anticipate any questions by saying that only a few minor alterations to her earlier will were made at that time, and they were mostly in the nature of comments, rather than actual changes in the provisions. Very well, to proceed. There are very adequate bequests to her servants, of which she informed them some time before her death, and to various charities: The Variety Artistes' Benevolent Association, The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. I have, of course, copies of the will, for anyone wishing to see the full details.
'I should explain at the outset that most of the wording of this will is my client's own. Now to the principal bequests.' He began to read. ' "To my dear great nephew, George, Twelfth Earl of Burford, I regret I am unable to leave the revolver with which Jesse James shot Billy the Kid or vice versa, which is no doubt what he would really like. But failing this, I give and bequeath the portrait of the Sixth Earl, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, given to my husband and me by his brother, the later Tenth Earl, on the occasion of our wedding, in the belief that Alderley is its proper home and where it will complement the portrait of the Fifth Earl by the same artist, which already hangs there." '
Lord Burford raised his eyebrows. 'My word, that is kind of her. I remember being told the story of that, but I had no idea she still had it.'
'It's been in storage,' Miss Mackenzie put in quietly.
'It will fill a gap in the gallery,' said the Countess.
Bradley resumed reading. ' "To Lavinia, Countess of Burford, in recognition of her numerous kindnesses over many years, I give and bequeath my Georgian sterling silver tea service, which I hope will supplement the similar dinner service she already possesses." '
Lady Burford beamed. 'It certainly will. That is most generous.'
' "To my great-great niece, Lady Geraldine Saunders, who has always brought a sparkle into my life, I give and bequeath the diamond bracelet, which was my beloved husband's wedding present to me." '
Gerry's face lit up. 'She showed me that once. It's beautiful. Oh, thank you, Florrie, I'll treasure it always.'
Bradley continued: ' "To my great nephew, Timothy Saunders, I give and bequeath the seventeen volumes of the first edition of the complete works of Charles Dickens, in the sincere hope that it will encourage him to read something other than law books." '
For the first time that day, Timothy's sculpted-like features seemed briefly to soften. 'How splendid. I have always been meaning to read Dickens through from beginning to end, but to do it from the first edition of the collected works . . . more than I could have hoped.'
' "To my great-great niece, Penelope Saunders, I give and bequeath the pearl necklace which was my husband's gift to me on the occasion of our thirtieth wedding anniversary, trusting that the husband she is so ardently seeking, and whom I am sure she will find very soon, will wish to give her a gift she will value as much as mine when and if she reaches her thirtieth anniversary." '
For a split second Gerry thought that Penny looked a little disappointed, but she quickly covered it
'We are here for the reading of the last will and testament of my late client, the Honourable Mrs Florence Saunders. If everyone is agreeable, I will omit the preamble, containing the various legal technicalities and provisos, appointment of and instructions to her executor, et cetera, and get straight to the bequests.'
Timothy looked slightly disapproving, but didn't speak. 'Jolly good idea,' said the Earl.
'The will is dated just five weeks before her death, but I perhaps should anticipate any questions by saying that only a few minor alterations to her earlier will were made at that time, and they were mostly in the nature of comments, rather than actual changes in the provisions. Very well, to proceed. There are very adequate bequests to her servants, of which she informed them some time before her death, and to various charities: The Variety Artistes' Benevolent Association, The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. I have, of course, copies of the will, for anyone wishing to see the full details.
'I should explain at the outset that most of the wording of this will is my client's own. Now to the principal bequests.' He began to read. ' "To my dear great nephew, George, Twelfth Earl of Burford, I regret I am unable to leave the revolver with which Jesse James shot Billy the Kid or vice versa, which is no doubt what he would really like. But failing this, I give and bequeath the portrait of the Sixth Earl, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, given to my husband and me by his brother, the later Tenth Earl, on the occasion of our wedding, in the belief that Alderley is its proper home and where it will complement the portrait of the Fifth Earl by the same artist, which already hangs there." '
Lord Burford raised his eyebrows. 'My word, that is kind of her. I remember being told the story of that, but I had no idea she still had it.'
'It's been in storage,' Miss Mackenzie put in quietly.
'It will fill a gap in the gallery,' said the Countess.
Bradley resumed reading. ' "To Lavinia, Countess of Burford, in recognition of her numerous kindnesses over many years, I give and bequeath my Georgian sterling silver tea service, which I hope will supplement the similar dinner service she already possesses." '
Lady Burford beamed. 'It certainly will. That is most generous.'
' "To my great-great niece, Lady Geraldine Saunders, who has always brought a sparkle into my life, I give and bequeath the diamond bracelet, which was my beloved husband's wedding present to me." '
Gerry's face lit up. 'She showed me that once. It's beautiful. Oh, thank you, Florrie, I'll treasure it always.'
Bradley continued: ' "To my great nephew, Timothy Saunders, I give and bequeath the seventeen volumes of the first edition of the complete works of Charles Dickens, in the sincere hope that it will encourage him to read something other than law books." '
For the first time that day, Timothy's sculpted-like features seemed briefly to soften. 'How splendid. I have always been meaning to read Dickens through from beginning to end, but to do it from the first edition of the collected works . . . more than I could have hoped.'
' "To my great-great niece, Penelope Saunders, I give and bequeath the pearl necklace which was my husband's gift to me on the occasion of our thirtieth wedding anniversary, trusting that the husband she is so ardently seeking, and whom I am sure she will find very soon, will wish to give her a gift she will value as much as mine when and if she reaches her thirtieth anniversary." '
For a split second Gerry thought that Penny looked a little disappointed, but she quickly covered it
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