About this story
Uncle Roger's fortune arrives in locked letters: one ties it to six months' residence at his Castle of Vissarion in the Land of the Blue Mountains, another secretly charges you to give the whole estate back to its old owner, if he still lives. A small bequest also goes to your aunt, Janet MacKelpie of Croom, who has heard none of it yet.
How it opens
Your ship reached London on January first, two days before your uncle Roger Melton's delayed will.
Sir Colin MacKelpieTrent tied the reading to your return, and your Amazon cable confirmed the day.
The Meltons had already spent weeks turning the delay into a grievance.
Sir Colin MacKelpieThe Meltons resent waiting, Rupert, but Roger's written command fixed this hour.
Then we arrive at the appointed hour and give them no grievance worth keeping.
Choose
Ask Sir Colin to witness every seal before the lawyer opens it.
Finish the many-sheeted letter already in my hand before eleven.
Let Trent's clerk open the locked tin box only when everyone is seated.