Gibbous House 44

Mrs Gonderthwaite drifted in and out with a selection of unfamiliar dishes, fish for the most part, fresh and saltwater, hot and cold, pickled and salted, with nary a sign of crab or lobster. Of conversation there was little; on being presented with something which the Professor informed me was ‘gefilte fish’ I enquired if it was the custom to eat so much food at one sitting.

‘For us, yes,’ he replied. ‘The chosen are blessed with an extra soul on shabbat, and we ensure that it is well fed.’

Having finally engaged the fellow in conversation, I bluntly and perhaps somewhat rudely said:

‘Discretionary trust.’

Tilting my head on one side, I waited for a response.

It did not come from the little Jew. Miss Pardoner’s pleasingly deep, but not unfeminine voice informed me:

‘It is quite a simple instrument in its basic form, as I understand it. However, Mr Moffat,’ here she gave the beginnings of a smile, ‘your inheritance is subject to a particular type of discretionary. That is, a testamentary trust.’

She paused. Maccabi looked at the ceiling. I caught a glimpse of the corrupt and evil gnome in the Professor’s visage and watched him give the barest of nods. Miss Pardoner went on:

‘Wherein the discretionary trust shall be a testamentary trust, it is not uncommon for the settlor to leave a letter of wishes for the trustees to guide them as to said settlor's wishes in the exercise of their discretion. In so far as Coble left sundry papers detailing his wishes for the disposition and management for the legacy in trust, you, Mr Moffat, whether you had read the papers or no, might be said to be in receipt of a Fool’s Mate. Certainly, with the game barely begun, regarding whatever plans you might have had for the House, its contents or – it pains me to say it – my own self, said game is already lost. And your plans are therefore moot.’

The young woman finished speaking and looked me directly in the eye. I confess to being dumbstruck. Not at the legal expertise so lightly shewn, nor at the seeming impasse to which I had come: no, I was absolutely captivated by the boldness of the woman, and I wondered what such a woman would not do, given the opportunity and means.

Abruptly, she stood and, naturally enough, we did the same, Or, rather, Maccabi and I did. The Professor was still struggling to dismount from his complex seating arrangement as Miss Pardoner informed us:

‘As is customary, sirs. I shall withdraw and leave you to your gentlemanly pursuits.’

Again I noted the upward tilt of one corner of her mouth, and I pondered whither she would withdraw, since the accommodations I had thus far seen had not included any manner of withdrawing room.

Maccabi and I sat down once more, just as the Professor tumbled from his perch in a most inelegant style.