Hercule Poirot's Christmas

‘There is, I see, no love lost between you?’

Alfred said:

‘He victimized my father – victimized him shamefully!’

Lydia sighed – a quick, impatient sigh. Poirot heard it and gave her a sharp glance. 

She said:

‘If only those diamonds could be found. I’m sure the solution lies there.’

Poirot said:

‘They have been found, madame.’

‘What?’

Poirot said gently:

‘They were found in your little garden of the Dead Sea…’

Lydia cried:

‘In my garden? How – how extraordinary!’

Poirot said softly:

‘Is it not, madame?’

Part 6. December 27th

I

Alfred Lee said with a sigh:

‘That was better than I feared!’

They had just returned from the inquest.

Mr Charlton, an old-fashioned type of solicitor with a cautious blue eye, had been present and had returned with them. He said:

‘Ah – I told you the proceedings would be purely formal – purely formal – there was bound to be an adjournment – to enable the police to gather up additional evidence.’

George Lee said vexedly:

‘It is all most unpleasant – really most unpleasant – a terrible position in which to be placed! I myself am quite convinced that this crime was done by a maniac who somehow or other gained admittance to the house. That man Sugden is as obstinate as a mule. Colonel Johnson should enlist the aid of Scotland Yard. These local police are no good. Thick-headed. What about this man Horbury, for instance? I hear his past is definitely unsatisfactory but the police do nothing whatever about it.’

Mr Charlton said:

‘Ah – I believe the man Horbury has a satisfactory alibi covering the period of time in question. The police have accepted it.’

‘Why should they?’ George fumed. ‘If I were they, I should accept such an alibi with reserve – with great reserve. Naturally, a criminal always provides himself with an alibi! It is the duty of the police to break down the alibi – that is, if they know their job.’

‘Well, well,’ said Mr Charlton. ‘I don’t think it’s quite our business to teach the police their jobs, eh? Pretty competent body of men on the whole.’

George shook his head darkly.

‘Scotland Yard should be called in. I’m not at all satisfied with Superintendent Sugden – he may be painstaking – but he is certainly far from brilliant.’

Mr Charlton said:

‘I don’t agree with you, you know. Sugden’s a good man. Doesn’t throw his weight about, but he gets there.’

Lydia said:

‘I’m sure the police are doing their best. Mr Charlton, will you have a glass of sherry?’ 

Mr Charlton thanked her politely, but declined. Then, clearing his throat, he proceeded to the reading of the will, all members of the family being assembled.

He read it with a certain relish, lingering over its more obscure phraseology, and savouring its legal technicalities.

He came to the end, took off his glasses, wiped them, and looked round on the assembled company inquiringly.

Harry Lee said:

‘All this legal stuff’s a bit hard to follow. Give us the bare bones of it, will you?’

‘Really,’ said Mr Charlton. ‘It’s a perfectly simple will.’

Harry said:

‘My God, what’s a difficult will like then?’

Mr Charlton rebuked him with a cold glance. He said:

‘The main provisions of the will are quite simple. Half Mr Lee’s property goes to his son, Mr Alfred Lee, the remainder is divided between his other children.’

Harry laughed unpleasantly. He said:

‘As usual, Alfred’s struck lucky! Half my father’s fortune! Lucky dog, aren’t you, Alfred?’

Alfred flushed. Lydia said sharply:

‘Alfred was a loyal and devoted son to his father. He’s managed the works for years and has had all the responsibility.’

Harry said: ‘Oh, yes, Alfred was always the good boy.’

Alfred said sharply:

‘You may consider yourself lucky, I think, Harry, that my father left you anything at all!’

Harry laughed, throwing his head back. He said:

‘You’d have liked it better if he’d cut me right out, wouldn’t you? You’ve always disliked me.’

Mr Charlton coughed. He was used – only too well used – to the painful scenes that succeeded the reading of a will. He was anxious to get away before the usual family quarrel got too well under way.

He murmured:

‘I think – er – that that is all that I need – er–’

Harry said sharply: ‘What about Pilar?’

Mr Charlton coughed again, this time apologetically.

‘Er – Miss Estravados is not mentioned in the will.’

Harry said: ‘Doesn’t she get her mother’s share?’

Mr Charlton explained.

‘Señora Estravados, if she had lived, would of course have received an equal share with the rest of you, but as she is dead, the portion that would have been hers goes back into the estate to be shared out between you.’

Pilar said slowly in her rich Southern voice: 

‘Then – I have – nothing?’

Lydia said quickly:

‘My dear, the family will see to that, of course.’

George Lee said:

‘You will be able to make your home here with Alfred – eh, Alfred? We – er – you are our niece – it is our duty to look after you.’

Hilda said: ‘We shall always be glad to have Pilar with us.’

Harry said:

‘She ought to have her proper share. She ought to have Jennifer’s whack.’

Mr Charlton murmured: