Read Online The Ely Testament by Philip Gooden - Free Book Online Page B

Matters , I think.’
    â€˜Not part of my regular reading.’
    â€˜Nor mine. But there are plenty of people interested in the subject of death and funerals and the like.’
    â€˜There are,’ said Tom, thinking of Eric Fort.
    â€˜Oh look, here comes the guv’nor. Expect he wants to talk to you,’ said Will, disappearing in the quest for fresh alcohol.
    David Mackenzie took Tom to one side, saying that he wanted to show him something. They skirted the knots of mourners and the islands of old chairs and occasional tables which littered the large room. They climbed the stairs and walked down a dark passage towards the rear of the house. It was here, Mackenzie explained, that Alexander Lye kept the room which served as his private office or den. He produced a key.
    â€˜I am holding this key with Miss Edith’s permission. As you’ve probably seen, Tom, she is not capable of very much.’
    He unlocked the door. A window gave on to a garden where the sun shone on autumn leaves and an untidy lawn. There was enough illumination to glimpse the interior of the room, which was as Mackenzie had described it to Tom a few days before. Even if things had been neatly arranged, it would have been a packed chamber with all the documents, law books, boxes, almanacs, records, files and folios. But, as it was, it seemed as though a miniature whirlwind had bored into the centre and thrown everything everywhere.
    In a kind of hollow in the middle, again as Mackenzie described it, was a comfortable armchair. A tasselled, red smoking-cap sat on the seat. The velvet cap was a reminder of Alexander Lye, and for some reason Tom became more aware of his death at that moment than at any time during the last week. The two men stood just inside the door of the room, gazing at the mess. Attempting to advance any further might have added to the confusion, so precarious were the mounds of paper. A smell of mould and disuse emanated from the den.
    â€˜Mr Ashley and I are going to spend time here, attempting to bring this collection to order,’ said Mackenzie. ‘It is not just a question of the missing will. There could be other items in this room which are, let us say, pertinent to the good name of Scott, Lye & Mackenzie and which should not find their way on to the King’s Cross dust-heap.’
    â€˜Rather you than me,’ said Tom without thinking.
    â€˜If by that you mean that I am better placed to judge what matters to the firm, then you are right,’ said Mackenzie. Then, in a milder tone, ‘But your mission is important too, Tom. You must do your best to discover whether Alexander left any kind of testament or will in the house at Ely. I think it unlikely. I gather he was an infrequent visitor. But it is possible that you will find something and we should leave no stone unturned. You are a dab hand at investigating.’
    Tom wondered whether Mackenzie was mocking him with this last remark but he seemed to be serious. He continued, ‘Mr and Mrs Lye are apprised of the situation, and willing to give you every assistance. Mr Lye doesn’t believe you’ll find anything but he did say that there were some family papers deposited by Alexander at the Ely house, papers which he has never examined properly.’
    â€˜And if we find nothing . . .?’
    â€˜Then we shall have to apply to the Court of Probate and they will follow the law, of course, which states that in cases of intestacy . . .?’
    Luckily, Tom had been reading up on this and so was able to answer. The situation was more complicated than usual because Lye had left neither widow nor children, who would have been the automatic beneficiaries. In such instances as this the law was that the estate should be divided among the heirs of the intestate’s father. In other words, it would go to Alexander’s sister, Miss Edith, and to his half-brother, Mr Ernest.
    â€˜Which is most likely what his will says or