Sad Cypress (Hercule Poirot 22)

His face was grave and a little unhappy.

Elinor said impatiently:

“It just struck me as funny, that was all!”

“That Mary Gerrard was making a will? Why? Making a will is a perfectly sensible procedure. Saves a lot of trouble. Sometimes, of course, it makes trouble!”

Elinor said impatiently:

“Of course—everyone should make a will. I didn’t mean that.”

Dr. Lord said:

“Mrs. Welman ought to have made a will.”

Elinor said with feeling:

“Yes, indeed.”

The colour rose in her face.

Dr. Lord said unexpectedly:

“What about you?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you said just now everyone should make a will! Have you?”

Elinor stared at him for a minute, then she laughed.

“How extraordinary!” she said. “No, I haven’t. I hadn’t thought of it! I’m just like Aunt Laura. Do you know, Dr. Lord, I shall go home and write to Mr. Seddon about it at once.”

Peter Lord said:

“Very sensible.”

VI

In the library Elinor had just finished a letter:

Dear Mr. Seddon,—Will you draft a will f

or me to sign? Quite a simple one. I want to leave everything to Roderick Welman absolutely.

Yours sincerely,

Elinor Carlisle

She glanced at the clock. The post would be going in a few minutes.

She opened the drawer of the desk, then remembered she had used the last stamp that morning.

There were some in her bedroom, though, she was almost sure.

She went upstairs. When she reentered the library with the stamp in her hand, Roddy was standing by the window.

He said: