Very well, Wendover conceded. Theres a car on the drive. It must be they, I suppose.
In a few moments the door opened and the visitors were ushered in. Surprised himself, the Chief Constable was still able to enjoy the astonishment of his friend; for instead of the expected man, a pretty chestnut-haired girl, dressed in mourning, was shown into the room along with the solicitor, and it was plain enough that Wendover recognised her.
You seem surprised, Mr Wendover, the girl began, evidently somewhat taken aback by Wendovers expression. Then she smiled as though an explanation occurred to her. Of course, its my name again. People always forget that Sydneys
a girls name as well as a mans. But you remember me, dont you? I met you when you visited poor Robin.
Of course I remember you, Nurse, Wendover declared, recovering from his surprise. But I never heard you called anything but Nurse and didnt even hear your surname; so naturally I didnt associate you with the letter I got about poor Robins will.
Oh, I see, answered the girl. That accounts for it.
She looked inquiringly towards the Chief Constable, and Wendover recovered his presence of mind.
This is a friend of mine, Mr Clinton, he explained. Miss Eastcote. Mr Harringay. Wont you sit down? I must admit your letter took me completely by surprise, Miss Eastcote.
Wendover was getting over his initial astonishment at the identity of the claimant, and when they had all seated themselves, he took the lead.
Ive seen a copy of Robins death certificate, he began slowly. He died in the afternoon of September 21st, the day he came of age, so he was quite competent to make a will. I suppose he was mentally t to make one?
Dr Prevost will certify that if necessary, the nurse affirmed quietly.
I noticed that he didnt die in Dr Prevosts Institute, Wendover continued. At some local hotel, wasnt it?
Yes, Nurse Eastcote confirmed. A patient died in the Institute about that time and poor Robin hated the place on that account. It depressed him, and he insisted on moving to the hotel for a time.
He must have been at deaths door then, poor fellow, Wendover commented.
Yes, the nurse admitted, sadly. He was very far through. He had lapses of consciousness, the usual diabetic coma. But while he was awake he was perfectly sound mentally, if thats what you mean.
Wendover nodded as though this satised him completely.
Tell me about this will, he asked. Its come as something of a surprise to me, not unnaturally.
Nurse Eastcote hesitated for a moment. Her lip quivered and her eyes filled with tears as she drew from her bag an envelope of thin foreign paper. From this she extracted a sheet of foreign notepaper which she passed across to Wendover.
I cant grumble if youre surprised at his leaving me this money, she said, at last. I didnt expect anything of the kind myself. But the fact is he fell in love with me, poor boy, while he was under my charge. You see, except for Dr Prevost, I was the only one who could speak English with him, and that meant much to him at that time when he was so lonely. Of course he was much younger that I am; Im twenty-seven. I suppose I ought to have checked him when I saw how things were. But I hadnt the heart to do it. It was something that gave him just the necessary spur to keep him going, and of course I knew that marriage would never come into it. It did no harm to let him fall in love; and I really did my very best to make him happy, in these last weeks. I was so sorry for him, you know.
This put the matter in a fresh light for Wendover, and he grew more sympathetic in his manner.
I can understand, he said gently. You didnt care for him, of course
Not in that way. But I was very very sorry for him, and Id have done anything to make him feel happier. It was so dreadful to see him going out into the dark before hed really started in life.
Wendover cleared his throat, evidently conscious that the talk was hardly on the businesslike lines which he had planned. He unfolded the thin sheet of notepaper and glanced over the writing.
This seems explicit enough. I leave all that I have to Nurse Sydney Eastcote, residing at Dr Prevosts medical Institute. I recognise the handwriting as Robins, and the date is in the same writing. Who are the witnesses, by the way?
Two of the waiters at the hotel, I believe, Nurse Eastcote explained.
Wendover turned to the flimsy foreign envelope and examined the address.
Addressed by himself to you at the institute, I see. And the postmark is 21st September. Thats quite good confirmatory evidence, if anything of the sort were needed.
He passed the two papers to Sir Clinton. The Chief Constable seemed to nd the light insufficient where he was sitting, for he rose and walked over to a window to examine the documents. This brought him slightly behind Nurse Eastcote. Wendover noted idly that Sir Clinton stood sideways to the light while he inspected the papers in his hand.
Now just one point, Wendover continued. Id like to know something about Robins mental condition towards the end. Did he read to pass the time, newspapers and things like that?