XI. The Case of the Missing Will

           TheproblempresentedtousbyMissVioletMarshmaderatherapleasantchangefromourusualroutinework.Poirothadreceivedabriskandbusiness-likenotefromtheladyaskingforanappointment,andhehadrepliedaskinghertocalluponhimateleveno’clockthefollowingday.

           Shearrivedpunctually—atall,handsomeyoungwoman,plainlybutneatlydressed,withanassuredandbusiness-likemanner.Clearlyayoungwomanwhomeanttogetonintheworld.Iamnotagreatadmireroftheso-calledNewWomanmyself,and,inspiteofhergoodlooks,Iwasnotparticularlyprepossessedinherfavour.

           “Mybusinessisofasomewhatunusualnature,MonsieurPoirot,”shebegan,aftershehadacceptedachair.“Ihadbetterbeginatthebeginningandtellyouthewholestory.”

           “Ifyouplease,mademoiselle.”

           “Iamanorphan.Myfatherwasoneoftwobrothers,sonsofasmallyeomanfarmerinDevonshire.Thefarmwasapoorone,andtheelderbrother,Andrew,emigratedtoAustralia,wherehedidverywellindeed,andbymeansofsuccessfulspeculationinlandbecameaveryrichman.Theyoungerbrother,Roger(myfather),hadnoleaningstowardstheagriculturallife.Hemanagedtoeducatehimselfalittle,andobtainedapostasaclerkwithasmallfirm.Hemarriedslightlyabovehim;mymotherwasthedaughterofapoorartist.MyfatherdiedwhenIwassixyearsold.WhenIwasfourteen,mymotherfollowedhimtothegrave.MyonlylivingrelationthenwasmyUncleAndrew,whohadrecentlyreturnedfromAustraliaandboughtasmallplace,CrabtreeManor,inhisnativecounty.