Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

him something substantial.
    Old Gerrard at the Lodge is failing rapidly—has had several nasty dizzy spells. He’s just as rude and cross-grained as ever. He actually said the other day that Mary wasn’t his daughter. “Well,” I said, “I’d be ashamed to say a thing like that about your wife if I were you.” He just looked at me and said, “You’re nothing but a fool. You don’t understand.” Polite, wasn’t it? I took him up pretty sharply, I can tell you. His wife was lady’s maid to Mrs. Welman before her marriage, I believe.
    I saw The Good Earth last week. It was lovely! Women have to put up with a lot in China, it seems.
    Yours ever,
Jessie Hopkins
    Post-card from Nurse Hopkins to Nurse O’Brien:
    Fancy our letters just crossing! Isn’t this weather awful?
    Post-card from Nurse O’Brien to Nurse Hopkins:
    Got your letter this morning. What a coincidence!
    Letter from Roderick Welman to Elinor Carlisle, July 15th:
    Dear Elinor,—Just got your letter. No, really, I have no feelings about Hunterbury being sold. Nice of you to consult me. I think you’re doing the wisest thing if you don’t fancy living there, which you obviously don’t. You may have some difficulty in getting rid of it, though. It’s a biggish place for present-day needs, though, of course, it’s been modernized and is up to date, with good servants’ quarters, and gas and electric light and all that. Anyway, I hope you’ll have luck!
    The heat here is glorious. I spend hours in the sea. Rather a funny crowd of people, but I don’t mix much. You told me once that I wasn’t a good mixer. I’m afraid it’s true. I find most of the human race extraordinarily repulsive. They probably reciprocate this feeling.
    I have long felt that you are one of the only really satisfactory representatives of humanity. Am thinking of wandering on to the Dalmatian coast in a week or two. Address c/o Thomas Cook, Dubrovnik, from the 22nd onwards. If there’s anything I can do, let me know.
    Yours, with admiration and gratitude,
Roddy
    Letter from Mr. Seddon of Messrs Seddon, Blatherwick & Seddon to Miss Elinor Carlisle, July 20th:
    104 Bloomsbury Square
    Dear Miss Carlisle,—I certainly think you should accept Major Somervell’s offer of twelve thousand five hundred (£12,500) for Hunterbury. Large properties are extremely difficult to sell at the moment, and the price offered seems to be most advantageous. The offer depends, however, on immediate possession, and I know Major Somervell has been seeing other properties in the neighbourhood, so I would advise immediate acceptance.
    Major Somervell is willing, I understand, to take the place furnished for three months, by which time the legal formalities should be accomplished and the sale can go through.
    As regards the lodge keeper, Gerrard, and the question of pensioning him off, I hear from Dr. Lord that the old man is seriously ill and not expected to live.
    Probate has not yet been granted, but I have advanced one hundred pounds to Miss Mary Gerrard pending the settlement.
    Yours sincerely,
Edmund Seddon
    Letter from Dr. Lord to Miss Elinor Carlisle, July 24th:
    Dear Miss Carlisle,—Old Gerrard passed away today. Is there anything I can do for you in any way? I hear you have sold the house to our new MP, Major Somervell.
    Yours sincerely,
Peter Lord
    Letter from Elinor Carlisle to Mary Gerrard, July 25th:
    Dear Mary,—I am so sorry to hear of your father’s death.
    I have had an offer for Hunterbury—from a Major Somervell. He is anxious to get in as soon as possible. I am going down there to go through my aunt’s papers and clear up generally. Would it be possible for you to get your father’s things moved out of the Lodge as quickly as possible? I hope you are doing well and not finding your massage training too strenuous.
    Yours very sincerely,
Elinor Carlisle
    Letter