The Case of the Grinning Gorilla

I, Benjamin Addicks, make this my last will and testament entirely in my own handwriting, in a spirit of abject humility. I have been arbitrary. I have been self-righteous. I have been too prone to judge my fellow men. I particularly regret the circumstances that alienated me from my brother, Herman.

I have had a very great emotional shock tonight. Mrs. Josephine Kempton, a former employee, whom I had more or less directly accused of theft, is absolutely innocent. The valuable objects which I had thought she had stolen have been discovered under such circumstances that it is quite apparent that they were stolen by a mischievous monkey, and that I alone am responsible for the actions of this monkey.

I therefore make my last will and testament as follows: To Josephine Kempton, my former housekeeper, I leave my heartfelt apologies and the sum of fifty thousand dollars. To Mortimer Hershey, my business manager, who has, incidentally, been well paid for his services, I leave the sum of ten thousand dollars. To Nathan Fallon, who, I think, has been grossly overpaid, and who at times has been completely disloyal to my interests, I leave the sum of one dollar and my admonition to him that the prime requisite of an employee is absolute, unswerving loyalty. I trust that this admonition will stand him in good stead in whatever position he may next occupy in his new employment.

I appoint my bank, the Seaboard Mechanics National Trust Company, as executor of this my last will, and direct that all legal matters in connection with the probate of the estate shall be in the hands of Sidney Hardwick of the firm of Hardwick, Carson and Redding.

Hardwick glanced up from the paper and said, “There you are, gentlemen. The will was dated Tuesday evening, and it is entirely in the handwriting of Benjamin Addicks, and is signed by him.”

Mason said, “That undoubtedly throws a new light on the situation. I notice that you said you were going to read a portion of the will.”

Hardwick smiled. “That’s right. There are several other bequests to former employees and a residuary clause leaving all the balance of the estate to his brother.”

“His brother’s last name is Addicks?” Mason asked.

“It is not.”

“May I ask what it is?”

“It will be disclosed later.”

“How did his former will dispose of his property?”

Hardwick merely smiled.

“I’ll put it this way,” Mason said, “was Mrs. Kempton mentioned in that will?”

“No. She definitely was not.”

“So that Addicks apparently tried to make atonement,” Mason said musingly.

“I felt you should know that,” Hardwick said. “It strengthens the position of your client, and it might be valuable information for you gentlemen to have in fixing your compensation. In other words, I felt you might be embarrassed if you fixed a definite fee for your services and then found your client had fifty thousand dollars you knew nothing about.”

“Thanks,” Mason said. “Now what do you want?”

Hardwick said, “I want to talk with your client, Josephine Kempton. I want to talk with her alone. I want to talk with her on a matter which is absolutely confidential.”

“I take it,” Mason said, “that you are indicating that you don’t wish us to be present?”

“I want to talk with her in absolute confidence.”

Mason glanced at James Etna.

“It’s all right by me,” Etna said. “I certainly feel very grateful and...”

“I don’t,” Mason said.