He sighed in the manner of a man who prefers questions that require a yes or no answer. 'Very little more than is contained in the will. That there existed a child, that money was to be left to it, and that material identifying that child was to be found in his safe at home.'
'Which is not, in fact, to be found.'
'So it would seem. It makes the life of the executors of the will very difficult.'
'Why?'
'Because the estate cannot be easily settled until all claims on it are resolved. And that cannot be done while the matter of this child is extant. So the estate will remain in limbo until it is cleared up, one way or the other.'
'Do you know what it was, this material? Wouldn't it have been wise to leave it with you?'
'As it turned out, it would have been very much wiser,' he said evenly. 'I can only surmise that Lord Ravenscliff had a good reason for his decision.'
'What sort of good reason?'
'The obvious one would be that, when he made the will, he had not yet finished accumulating the material, and wished to add to it.'
'Tell me how the will was made. He came here . . .'
'He came here and said that he thought it best to make his will. He had realised he was not going to live for ever. Although, to be truthful, that was difficult to believe. He was in exceptional health, or appeared to be. His father lived until he was ninety.'
'He had not made a will before then? Is that usual for men of fortune?'
'Quite unusual, yes. But men like Lord Ravenscliff do not like to contemplate their mortality. He had given us a rudimentary testament, just enough to ensure he did not die intestate in case of an accident. In that all his possessions passed to his wife. This was a more complicated and complete version.'
'The details?'
'The bulk of his estate passed to his wife, there were legacies to other family members, servants and to his old college. Generous bequests, I might say. A legacy to a Mrs Esther Vincotti of Venice. Six months later he returned to add a codicil concerning this child.'
'And when he mentioned that, you didn't ask for details?'
'That is hardly my role.'
'Did he say anything about it?'
'No. He simply dictated his wishes.'
'You weren't curious?'
Henderson looked vaguely affronted at the suggestion. 'Many of my clients are wealthy men, and many have discreditable secrets in their lives. It is my job to look after their legal affairs, not their spiritual well-being.'
'So you are no wiser than anyone else?'
He inclined his head to indicate that, incredible though it might seem, that was the case.
'And he said nothing about this material identifying the child?'
'No.'
'What is your opinion? Are you allowed one?'
It didn't even make him cross. 'Yes, I think I can have an opinion on that,' he replied. 'I believe that whatever it is, it was to be found in his desk. And that someone removed it shortly after his surprising and unforeseen death. But I will make no further comment.'
He didn't need to, of course.
'The other legacies? What about them?'
'I know nothing of either of them, although naturally I have corresponded with the executor, a Michael Cardano, since the death.'
'Who's he?'
'He used to work for Rothschild's, I believe. More than that I do not know.'
'And he is capable of running a company?'
'I do not know. But he doesn't have to; the duties of an executor are very different. He is the son of an old associate of Lord Ravenscliff's. The father was ruined in 1894 and died in gaol.'
'I see. Tell me about this Italian woman.'
'We have sent Mrs Vincotti a telegram. She is due to arrive in London on Wednesday. At least, I hope she is.'
'Why? Does it matter?'
'Oh, good heavens yes. Especially with such sums as are involved in this case. Naturally we have to make sure that this is the woman that Lord Ravenscliff intended. Otherwise we would not be able to make the settlement; that would introduce another complication and we would have to look for two people, rather than only one.'
'How so?'
'His affairs cannot be settled until all the beneficiaries are contacted, so we can ensure that it contains enough for each to receive their proper due. For example, suppose someone dies and leaves £100 to one person, and the same to another, but there is only £120 pounds in the estate. What do we do? Obviously, if one of those people is dead, there is enough for the other person to receive the full amount. If both are alive, then there is not. That is when matters become complicated.'
'So this child . . .'
'Must be found, if the estate is to be wound up swiftly. Lord Ravenscliff left his wife a fixed amount, and a life interest in the residue, which devolves on various others on her death. Whether the legacy to the child is paid out is consequently a matter which affects all the other bequests.'
'So what is Lady Ravenscliff's financial position at the moment?'
'She is dependent on the goodwill of the executor and his willingness to make her an allowance out of the estate, which he in effect controls.'
'Did Lord Ravenscliff realise this?'
