Agatha Christie - Why Didn't They Ask Evans

'I want to look at a will,' said Frankie. 'And I don't know where you go and what you do. But there is somewhere you can pay a shilling, isn't there?' 'Somerset House,' said Mr Spragge. 'But what will is it? I think I can possibly tell you anything you want to know about - er - wills in your family. I may say that I believe our firm has had the honour of drawing them up for many years past.' 'It isn't a family will,' said Frankie.

'No?' said Mr Spragge.

And so strong was his almost hypnotic power of drawing confidences out of his clients that Frankie, who had not meant to do so, succumbed to the manner and told him.

'I wanted to see the will of Mr Savage - John Savage.' 'In-deed?' A very real astonishment showed in Mr Spragge's voice. He had not expected this. 'Now that is very extraordinary - very extraordinary indeed.' There was something so unusual in his voice that Frankie looked at him in surprise.

'Really,' said Mr Spragge. 'Really, I do not know what to do.

Perhaps, Lady Frances, you can give me your reasons for wanting to see that will?' 'No,' said Frankie slowly. 'I'm afraid I can't.' It struck her that Mr Spragge was, for some reason, behaving quite unlike his usual benign omniscient self. He looked actually worried.

'I really believe,' said Mr Spragge, 'that I ought to warn you.' 'Warn me?' said Frankie.

'Yes. The indications are vague, very vague - but clearly there is something afoot. I would not, for the world, have you involved in any questionable business.' As far as that went, Frankie could have told him that she was already involved up to the neck in a business of which he would have decidedly disapproved. But she merely stared at him inquiringly.

'The whole thing is rather an extraordinary coincidence,' Mr Spragge was going on. 'Something is clearly afoot - clearly. But what it is I am not at present at liberty to say.' Frankie continued to look inquiring.

'A piece of information has just come to my knowledge,' continued Mr Spragge. His chest swelled with indignation. 'I have been impersonated. Lady Frances. Deliberately impersonated.

What do you say to that?' But for just one panic-stricken minute Frankie could say nothing at all.

At last she stammered: 'How did you find out?' It was not at all what she meant to say. She could, in fact, have bitten out her tongue for stupidity a moment later, but the words had been said, and Mr Spragge would have been no lawyer had he failed to perceive that they contained an admission.

'So you know something of this business. Lady Frances?' 'Yes,' said Frankie.

She paused, drew a deep breath and said: 'The whole thing is really my doing, Mr Spragge.' 'I am amazed,' said Mr Spragge.

There was a struggle in his voice, the outraged lawyer was at war with the fatherly family solicitor.

'How did this come about?' he asked.

'It was just a joke,' said Frankie weakly. 'We - we wanted something to do.' 'And who,' demanded Mr Spragge, 'had the idea of passing himself off as Me?' Frankie looked at him, her wits working once more, made a rapid decision.

'It was the young Duke of No -' She broke off. 'I really mustn't mention names. It isn't fair.' 'Somerset House,' said Mr Spragge. 'But what will is it? I think I can possibly tell you anything you want to know about - er - wills in your family. I may say that I believe our firm has had the honour of drawing them up for many years past.' 'It isn't a family will,' said Frankie.

'No?' said Mr Spragge.

And so strong was his almost hypnotic power of drawing confidences out of his clients that Frankie, who had not meant to do so, succumbed to the manner and told him.

'I wanted to see the will of Mr Savage - John Savage.' 'In-deed?' A very real astonishment showed in Mr Spragge's voice. He had not expected this. 'Now that is very extraordinary - very extraordinary indeed.' There was something so unusual in his voice that Frankie looked at him in surprise.

'Really,' said Mr Spragge. 'Really, I do not know what to do.

Perhaps, Lady Frances, you can give me your reasons for wanting to see that will?' 'No,' said Frankie slowly. 'I'm afraid I can't.' It struck her that Mr Spragge was, for some reason, behaving quite unlike his usual benign omniscient self. He looked actually worried.

'I really believe,' said Mr Spragge, 'that I ought to warn you.' 'Warn me?' said Frankie.

'Yes. The indications are vague, very vague - but clearly there is something afoot. I would not, for the world, have you involved in any questionable business.' As far as that went, Frankie could have told him that she was already involved up to the neck in a business of which he would have decidedly disapproved. But she merely stared at him inquiringly.

'The whole thing is rather an extraordinary coincidence,' Mr Spragge was going on. 'Something is clearly afoot - clearly. But what it is I am not at present at liberty to say.' Frankie continued to look inquiring.

'A piece of information has just come to my knowledge,' continued Mr Spragge. His chest swelled with indignation. 'I have been impersonated. Lady Frances. Deliberately impersonated.

What do you say to that?' But for just one panic-stricken minute Frankie could say nothing at all.

At last she stammered: 'How did you find out?' It was not at all what she meant to say. She could, in fact, have bitten out her tongue for stupidity a moment later, but the words had been said, and Mr Spragge would have been no lawyer had he failed to perceive that they contained an admission.

'So you know something of this business. Lady Frances?' 'Yes,' said Frankie.

She paused, drew a deep breath and said: 'The whole thing is really my doing, Mr Spragge.' 'I am amazed,' said Mr Spragge.

There was a struggle in his voice, the outraged lawyer was at war with the fatherly family solicitor.

'How did this come about?' he asked.

'It was just a joke,' said Frankie weakly. 'We - we wanted something to do.' 'And who,' demanded Mr Spragge, 'had the idea of passing himself off as Me?' Frankie looked at him, her wits working once more, made a rapid decision.

'It was the young Duke of No -' She broke off. 'I really mustn't mention names. It isn't fair.' But she knew that the tide had turned in her favour. It was doubtful if Mr Spragge could have forgiven a mere vicar's son such audacity, but his weakness for noble names led him to look softly on the impertinences of a duke. His benign manner returned.

'Oh! you Bright Young People - You Bright Young People,' he murmured, wagging a forefinger. 'What trouble you land yourselves in. You would be surprised. Lady Frances, at the amount of legal complication that may ensue from an apparently harmless practical joke determined upon on the spur of the moment. Just high spirits - but sometimes extremely difficult to settle out of court.' 'I think you're too marvellous, Mr Spragge,' said Frankie earnestly. 'I do, really. Not one person in a thousand would have taken it as you have done. I feel really terribly ashamed.' 'No, no. Lady Frances,' said Mr Spragge paternally.

'Oh, but I do. I suppose it was the Rivington woman - what exactly did she tell you?' 'I think I have the letter here. I opened it only half an hour ago.' Frankie held out a hand and Mr Spragge put the letter into it with the air of one saying: 'There, see for yourself what your foolishness has led you into.' Dear Mr Spragge (Mrs Rivington had written). It's really too stupid of me, but I've just remembered something that might have helped you the day you called on me. Alan Car stairs mentioned that he was going to a place called Chipping Somerton. I don't know whether this will be any help to you.

I was so interested in what you told me about the Maltravers case. With kind regards, Yours sincerely, Edith Rivington.