‘Yes, he is, really.’
‘Most people,’ he said, ‘would say she was afraid of him. He bullies her.’
‘Well, I’ve only heard his side. He looks pretty bad just now.
‘Did you notice the complexion?’
‘High-coloured. Goodness, he’s lost weight.’
‘Stooping more?’
‘Oh, much more. The stuffing’s knocked out of him. Mrs Pettigrew keeps the whisky locked up.’
Alec made a note. ‘Do him good in the long run,’ he commented. ‘He drank too much for his age. What is he going to do about Mrs Pettigrew?’
‘Well, he pays up. But she keeps demanding more. He hates paying up. And the latest thing, she wants him to make a new will in her favour. He was supposed to be at the lawyer’s today, but he called in on me instead. He thought I might persuade Eric to come and frighten her. He says Eric wouldn’t lose by it. But as you know, Eric feels very bitter about his family, and he’s jealous of his mother, especially since her novels were in print again, and the fact is, Eric is entitled to a certain amount, it’s only a question of time …’
‘Eric,’ said Alec, ‘is not one of us. Go on about Godfrey.’
‘He says he’d like to make it up with Eric. I promised to write to Eric for him, and so I shall, but as I say —’
‘Has Mrs Pettigrew any money of her own?’
‘Oh, I don’t know. You never know with a woman like that, do you? I don’t think she has much, because of something I heard yesterday.’
‘What was that?’
‘Well,’ said Olive, ‘I got the story from Ronald Sidebottome, he called yesterday. I didn’t get it from Godfrey.’
‘What was the story?’ said Alec. ‘You know, Olive, I always pay extra if it entails an extra interview on your part.’
‘O.K.,’ said Olive, ‘keep your hair on. I just wanted you to know this makes another item.’
Alec smiled at her like an uncle.
‘Ronald Sidebottome,’ she said, ‘has finally decided not to contest Lisa Brooke’s will now that Tempest is dead. The case was really Tempest’s idea. He said the whole thing would have been very distasteful. All about Lisa’s marriage with Guy Leet not being consummated. Mrs Pettigrew is awfully angry about the case being withdrawn, because she was working in with the Sidebottomes when Tempest died. And she hasn’t managed to get her hold on Ronald, though she’s been trying hard all winter. Ronald is a very independent type at heart. You don’t know old Ronald. He’s deaf, I admit, but —’
‘I have known Ronald over forty years. How interesting he should strike you as an independent type.’
‘He has a nice way with him on the quiet,’ she said. She had met Ronald Sidebottome while strolling round a picture gallery with her grandfather shortly after Tempest’s death, and had brought the two old men back to supper. ‘But if you’ve known Ronald for forty years, then you don’t want to hear any more from me.
‘My dear, I have known Ronald over forty years but I can’t know him as you do.’
‘He hates Mrs Pettigrew,’ Olive observed with an inward musing smile. ‘She won’t get much of Lisa’s bequest. All she has so far is Lisa’s squirrel coat, that’s all.’
‘Does she think of contesting the will on her own account?’
‘No, she’s been advised her case is too weak. Mrs Brooke paid her adequately all the time; there’s no case. Anyway, I don’t think she has the capital to finance it. She was depending on the Sidebottomes. Of course, under the will, the money goes to her when Guy Leet dies. But he’s telling everyone how fit he feels. So you can be sure Mrs P. is going to get all she can out of poor old Godfrey.’
Alec Warner finished his notes and closed the book. Olive passed him a drink.
‘Poor old Godfrey,’ said Olive. ‘And he was upset by something else, too. He had an anonymous phone call from that man who worries his sister— or at least he thinks he had. It amounts to the same thing, doesn’t it?’
Alec Warner opened his notebook again and got his pen from the pocket of his waistcoat. ‘What did the man say?’
‘The same thing. “You are going to die” or something.’
‘Always be exact. Dame Lettie’s man says, “Remember you must die” — was that what Godfrey heard?’
‘I think so,’ she said. ‘This sort of work is very tiring.’
‘I know, my dear. It must be. What time of day did he receive this call?’
‘The morning. That I do know. He told me it was just after the doctor had left Charmian.’
Alec completed his notes and closed his book once more. He said to Olive, ‘Has Guy Leet been informed of the withdrawal of the law-suit?’
‘I don’t know. The decision was only made yesterday afternoon.’
‘Perhaps he does not know yet,’ said Alec. ‘Lisa’s money will make a great difference to a man of Guy’s tastes. He has been feeling the pinch lately.’
‘He can’t have long to live,’ said Olive.
