Sherlock Holmes In Montague Street Volume 2 Read Online Free PDF

So there were a few legacies to learned societies; all his servants were remembered; he left me a certain number of his books; and there was a very fair sum of money for his nephew, Mr. Cranley Mellis, the only near relation of Mr. Holford’s still living. So that you see what the loss of this will may mean. Miss Garth, who was to have taken the greater part of her adoptive father’s property, will not have one shilling’s worth of claim on the estate and will be turned out into the world without a cent. One or two very old servants will be very awkwardly placed, too, with nothing to live on, and very little prospect of doing more work.”
    â€œEverything will go to this nephew,” said Holmes, “of course?”
    â€œOf course. That is unless I attempt to prove a rough copy of the will which I may possibly have by me. But even if I have such a thing and find it, long and costly litigation would be called for, and the result would probably be all against us.”
    â€œYou say you feel sure Mr. Holford did not destroy the will himself?”
    â€œI am quite sure he would never have done so without telling me of it; indeed, I am sure he would have consulted me first. Moreover, it can never have been his intention to leave Miss Garth utterly unprovided for; it would be the same thing as disinheriting his only daughter.”
    â€œDid you see him frequently?”
    â€œThere’s scarcely been a day when I haven’t seen him since I have lived down here. During his illness - it lasted a month - I saw him every day.”
    â€œAnd he said nothing of destroying his will?”
    â€œNothing at all. On the contrary, soon after his first seizure - indeed, on the first visit at which I found him in bed - he said, after telling me how he felt, ‘Everything’s as I want it, you know, in case I go under.’ That seemed to me to mean his will was still as he desired it to be.”
    â€œWell, yes, it would seem so. But counsel on the other side (supposing there were another side) might quite as plausibly argue that he meant to die intestate, and had destroyed his will so that everything should be as he wanted it, in that sense. But what do you want me to do - find the will?”
    â€œCertainly, if you can. It seemed to me that you, with your clever head, might be able to form a better judgment than I as to what has happened and who is responsible for it. Because if the will has been taken away, some one has taken it.”
    â€œIt seems probable. Have you told any one of your difficulty?”
    â€œNot a soul. I came over as soon as I could after Mr. Holford’s death, and Miss Garth gave me all the keys, because, as executor, the case being a peculiar one, I wished to see that all was in order, and, as you know, the estate is legally vested in the executor from the death of the testator, so that I was responsible for everything; although, of course, if there is no will I’m not executor. But I thought it best to keep the difficulty to myself till I saw you.”
    â€œQuite right. Is this Wedbury Hall?”
    The brougham had passed a lodge gate, and approached, by a wide drive, a fine old red brick mansion carrying the heavy stone dressings and copings distinctive of early eighteenth century domestic architecture.
    â€œYes,” said Mr. Crellan, “this is the place. We will go straight to the study, I think, and then I can explain details.”
    The study told the tale of the late Mr. Holford’s habits and interests. It was half a library, half a scientific laboratory - pathological curiosities in spirits, a retort or two, test tubes on the writing-table, and a fossilized lizard mounted in a case, balanced the many shelves and cases of books disposed about the walls. In a recess between two book-cases stood a heavy, old-fashioned mahogany bureau.
    â€œNow it was in that bureau,” Mr. Crellan explained, indicating it with his finger, “that Mr.