The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks by James Anderson Page B
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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up. 'Pearls? Oo, I haven't got any pearls. That's lovely.' Her lack of any other reaction to the rather involved syntax of the paragraph suggested that she had not really grasped its meaning.
'You must take great care of them, Penelope,' said her father. 'Only wear them on very special occasions. They must be kept in the safe the rest of the time.'
' "To my great nephew, Gregory Carstairs," ' Bradley started, but at that point came to the end of the page and he paused for a moment. Gregory was staring at him rather in the manner of a dog hoping against hope that he was going to be taken for a walk.
Bradley continued from the next page, ' ". . . knowing of his deep interest in political history, I give and bequeath the Chippendale desk, which has for many years occupied the study of my late husband, and which was previously owned by both William Pitt the Elder and the Younger, and whose wisdom will I hope, through it, be communicated to him." '
'Oh. Ah. Yes.' Gregory's words came like a series of little explosions. 'Most interesting. Great historical connections. I'm sure I'll be the envy of many of my colleagues. Capital.' But his face looked rather grim.
' "To Miss Jean Mackenzie," ' Bradley went on, ' "in gratitude for many years' devoted friendship and loyalty, I give and bequeath the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds, free of duty, together with the furniture from the room which she has occupied in my house and ten other pieces of furniture of her choice." '
Jean Mackenzie gave a gasp. 'Oh, how generous! How very generous! I never imagined . . . It will ease so many worries.'
Stella, sitting next to her, patted her hand.
'The Testator adds two comments,' Bradley said. 'Firstly, "I am putting her on her honour to give none of this bequest to any medium or psychic and warn her that if she does so I will have a serious bone to pick with her when we next meet, which I trust will not be for many years yet." '
'How typical,' Jean Mackenzie said. 'Yes, indeed, I promise, Florrie.'
'Secondly, the Testator says: "Thank you for not peeking." ' Jean's mouth fell open. 'I - I - how did she know?'
'My client foresaw that question. I was to say to you: "By your face, when you handled the envelope." '
'Oh, what an amazing woman she was! I'm so glad now that I didn't. So glad.'
' "To my great nephew, Thomas Lambert, I give and bequeath—" ' Bradley cleared his throat. He seemed decidedly embarrassed. Tommy was leaning forward expectantly. ' "I give and bequeath precisely nothing. He is a worthless young scoundrel, who doesn't deserve a penny." '
There was a gasp round the table. Tommy's expression did not change, but his face drained of colour.
It was Penny who was the first to speak. 'Oh, Tommy, darling, how awful! I'm so, so sorry.' She put her hand on his. For practically the first time in his life Tommy was unable to speak. He just gulped and looked down at the table.
'My client's next words: "It's all right, Tommy, that was a practical joke - one that you richly deserved to have played on you." '
Tommy jerked his head up as Bradley continued. 'I should explain that the last three sentences are not part of the will, but which Mrs Saunders insisted I inserted at that point.' He held up a sheet of notepaper. 'I now revert to the will proper. 'To my ever-entertaining great nephew, Thomas Lambert, I give and bequeath the sum of fifteen hundred pounds, free of duty, in the hope if not the expectation that he will use it wisely." '
Tommy gave his head a shake. His colour was returning. He managed a sickly grin. 'The old b— the old dear. She really got me, there. Suppose I did deserve it, though. I really get fifteen hundred quid?'
'Of course you do, silly,' Penny said. Bradley nodded.
'Gosh, that's hunky-dory.' He seemed already to have got over the shock. 'She needn't have worried. I've got some absolutely spiffing ideas.'
' "To my great niece, Stella Simmons," ' Bradley continued, ' "I give and bequeath the
'You must take great care of them, Penelope,' said her father. 'Only wear them on very special occasions. They must be kept in the safe the rest of the time.'
' "To my great nephew, Gregory Carstairs," ' Bradley started, but at that point came to the end of the page and he paused for a moment. Gregory was staring at him rather in the manner of a dog hoping against hope that he was going to be taken for a walk.
Bradley continued from the next page, ' ". . . knowing of his deep interest in political history, I give and bequeath the Chippendale desk, which has for many years occupied the study of my late husband, and which was previously owned by both William Pitt the Elder and the Younger, and whose wisdom will I hope, through it, be communicated to him." '
'Oh. Ah. Yes.' Gregory's words came like a series of little explosions. 'Most interesting. Great historical connections. I'm sure I'll be the envy of many of my colleagues. Capital.' But his face looked rather grim.
' "To Miss Jean Mackenzie," ' Bradley went on, ' "in gratitude for many years' devoted friendship and loyalty, I give and bequeath the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds, free of duty, together with the furniture from the room which she has occupied in my house and ten other pieces of furniture of her choice." '
Jean Mackenzie gave a gasp. 'Oh, how generous! How very generous! I never imagined . . . It will ease so many worries.'
Stella, sitting next to her, patted her hand.
'The Testator adds two comments,' Bradley said. 'Firstly, "I am putting her on her honour to give none of this bequest to any medium or psychic and warn her that if she does so I will have a serious bone to pick with her when we next meet, which I trust will not be for many years yet." '
'How typical,' Jean Mackenzie said. 'Yes, indeed, I promise, Florrie.'
'Secondly, the Testator says: "Thank you for not peeking." ' Jean's mouth fell open. 'I - I - how did she know?'
'My client foresaw that question. I was to say to you: "By your face, when you handled the envelope." '
'Oh, what an amazing woman she was! I'm so glad now that I didn't. So glad.'
' "To my great nephew, Thomas Lambert, I give and bequeath—" ' Bradley cleared his throat. He seemed decidedly embarrassed. Tommy was leaning forward expectantly. ' "I give and bequeath precisely nothing. He is a worthless young scoundrel, who doesn't deserve a penny." '
There was a gasp round the table. Tommy's expression did not change, but his face drained of colour.
It was Penny who was the first to speak. 'Oh, Tommy, darling, how awful! I'm so, so sorry.' She put her hand on his. For practically the first time in his life Tommy was unable to speak. He just gulped and looked down at the table.
'My client's next words: "It's all right, Tommy, that was a practical joke - one that you richly deserved to have played on you." '
Tommy jerked his head up as Bradley continued. 'I should explain that the last three sentences are not part of the will, but which Mrs Saunders insisted I inserted at that point.' He held up a sheet of notepaper. 'I now revert to the will proper. 'To my ever-entertaining great nephew, Thomas Lambert, I give and bequeath the sum of fifteen hundred pounds, free of duty, in the hope if not the expectation that he will use it wisely." '
Tommy gave his head a shake. His colour was returning. He managed a sickly grin. 'The old b— the old dear. She really got me, there. Suppose I did deserve it, though. I really get fifteen hundred quid?'
'Of course you do, silly,' Penny said. Bradley nodded.
'Gosh, that's hunky-dory.' He seemed already to have got over the shock. 'She needn't have worried. I've got some absolutely spiffing ideas.'
' "To my great niece, Stella Simmons," ' Bradley continued, ' "I give and bequeath the
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