"How did you first hear of your father's death?"
"My brother Roger, who occupies the west wing of the floor above came rushing down to tell me that my father had had a sudden seizure. He had difficulty in breathing and seemed very ill."
"What did you do?"
"I telephoned through to the doctor, which nobody seemed to have thought of doing.
The doctor was out - but I left a message for him to come as soon as possible.
I then went upstairs."
"And then?"
"My father was clearly very ill.
He died before the doctor came."
There was no emotion in Philip's voice.
It was a simple statement of fact.
"Where was the rest of your family?"
"My wife was in London.
She returned shortly afterwards.
Sophia was also absent, I believe.
The two younger ones, Eustace and Josephine, were at home."
"I hope you won't misunderstand me Mr Leonides, if I ask you exactly how your father's death will affect your financial position."
"I quite appreciate that you want to know all the facts.
My father made us financially independent a great many years ago.
My brother he made Chairman and principal shareholder of Associated Catering - his largest Company, and put the management of it entirely in his hands.
He made over to me what he considered an equivalent sum - actually I think it was a hundred and fifty thousand pounds in various bond and securities - so that I could use the capital as I chose.
He also settled very generous amounts on my two sisters which have since died."
"But he left himself still a very rich man?"
"No, actually he only retained for himself a comparatively modest income.
He said it would give him an interest in life. Since that time," for the first time a faint smile creased Philip's lips, "he has become, as result of various undertakings, an even richer man than he was before."
"Your brother and yourself came here to live.
That was not the result of any financial - difficulties?"
"Certainly not.
It was a mere matter of convenience.
My father always told us that we were welcome to make a home with him.
For various domestic reasons this was a convenient thing for me to do.
"I was also," added Philip deliberately, "extremely fond of my father.
I came here with my family in 1937.
I pay no rent, but I pay my proportion of the rates."
"And your brother?"
"My brother came here as a result of the Blitz when his house in London was bombed in 1943."
"Now, Mr Leonides, have you any idea what your father's testamentary dispositions are?"
"A very clear idea.
He re-made his will shortly after peace was declared in 1945.
My father was not a secretive man.
He had a great sense of family.
He held a family conclave at which his solicitor was also present and who, at his request, made clear to us the terms of the will.
These terms I expect you already know.
Mr Gaitskill will doubtless have informed you.
Roughly, a sum of a hundred thousand pounds free of duty was left to my stepmother in addition to her already very generous marriage settlement.
The residue of his property was divided into three portions, one to myself, one to my brother, and a third in trust for the three grandchildren.
The estate is a large one, but the death duties, of course, will be very heavy."
"Any bequests to servants or to charity?"
"No bequests of any kind.
The wages paid to servants were increased annually if they remained in his service."