“Quite.”
“All right. That’s the dish I’m offering you.”
“Unfortunately, however, Mrs. Cool, it would make no difference in regard to the property.”
“What?” Bertha jerked her head around so as to stare straight at him.
“That happens to be the situation. Late this evening I reached an agreement with the other parties involved; an agreement which I consider, under the circumstances, was eminently fair. I am, of course, not obliged to tell you the specific terms of that agreement, but because of the peculiar circumstances and knowing that I can depend upon your discretion, I will divulge the general basis of agreement. Josephine Dell will take her specific legacy. In order to avoid a contest of the will and any possible litigation, with all of the resulting hard feelings, recriminations, and, above all, the delay, the parties have agreed that the residue of the estate, whatever it may be after paying the expenses of the funeral, the current bills, and the legacy to Josephine Dell, will be divided four ways equally. In other words, distribution will be made to the residuary legatees under the will; but, by this agreement, they have conveyed to me a share sufficient to make the total amount which I receive over and above my specific legacy equal to a one-fourth interest in the estate. That will give me roughly, a hundred thousand net. It’s not quite as simple as that, but the lawyers have managed to work it out and—”
“You’ve already signed that agreement?” Bertha asked.
“We’ve all signed it.”
“That only relates to a contest of the will,” Bertha said. “If I can prove they murdered him—”
“No, you don’t understand. The agreement contains a clause that neither party will do anything which would, in any way, jeopardize the rights of any of the other parties o, directly or indirectly result in depriving them of benefit of the settlement. To hire you would be, under the circumstances, I’m afraid, a violation of the agreement — at least, of the spirit of the agreement. No, Mrs. Cool, I can hardly believe that Mrs. Cranning, or her daughter Eva, could have been party to what you have suggested. It is, of course, possible that Paul Hanberry, without the knowledge of any of the others, has managed to expedite his inheritance. But as far as the others are concerned, it is absolutely out of the question. I will admit, Mrs. Cool, that people are greedy. They are impulsive. At times they are tricky, but to think for a moment that Mrs. Cranning or her daughter would poison my cousin — no, Mrs. Cool, it is absolutely, utterly unthinkable.”
“Well, suppose Paul poisoned him and they found out about it afterwards?”