The Cat and the Canary Page #3

that Joyce is the heir.

What's that?

Oh, did I speak

out of turn?

What was at the back

of your remark?

Oh, why,

nothing.

Come on,

you know something.

Oh, nothing

really.

Well, it's just that in practically

every mystery play I've been in,

the leading lady turns out to be the heir.

You have the power.

Yes, I... Me?

There are spirits

all around you.

Well, could you put some

in a glass with little ice?

I need it badly.

Don't you ever

stop babbling?

Attention, please.

Usual date and so on.

"I, Cyrus Canby Norman,

being of sound mind and body,

"do hereby bequeath all my money,

bonds, securities and estate

"under the following

provisions.

"Whereas I believe a streak of

insanity to be in the family,

"in the event that the heir

hereinafter named

"should prove to be

of unsound mind,

"or if said heir

should become insane

"or should meet death

within a month of inheriting,

"then my estate

is to be given to the person

"whose name is contained

in envelope number two."

Was that

his idea or yours?

What's wrong with it?

Well, that will is practically

an invitation to commit murder.

Murder?

Certainly.

What's behind that "meeting death or

insanity within a month of inheriting"?

That's easily explained.

Mr. Norman was afraid that the

shock of inheriting the fortune

might prove too much

for an unbalanced brain.

And it's also a strong

encouragement to the number two heir

to do everything possible to unbalance

the brain of the number one heir.

Fred, come off. You're

talking a lot of nonsense.

Yeah? Murder is committed frequently

for less money than old Cyrus left.

That, gentlemen,

is precisely the reason

why the name of the alternative

heir was sealed in this envelope,

so that no one should

know his identity.

Yeah?

You know who it is,

don't you?

Naturally, I drew the will.

"I therefore will that my

entire estate be divided equally

"among such descendants of

mine of sound mind and body

"who are assembled

in my library at midnight

"on the 10th anniversary

of my death,

"who bear the surname

of Norman."

Norman?

Well, I'm the only one

here with that name.

What did I tell you?

I knew it.

It becomes my pleasant duty to proclaim

you the sole heiress of the Norman fortune

and the new mistress

of this old house.

And I sincerely trust that this

second envelope shall never be opened.

Thank you.

Oh, it's wonderful,

Joyce, I'm so glad.

Thanks, Charlie.

I congratulate you

with all my heart, Joyce.

Well, that's sweet

of you, Fred.

It's so unexpected,

I can hardly believe it.

I wish I

couldn't believe it.

I'm sorry, Cicily.

You're not

a bit sorry.

I know I shouldn't be

if I were the heir.

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