“There is a codicil to the will.  It consists of a letter which Mr. Mornington wrote to Maitre Lepertuis some time after and which explains certain points with greater precision: 

“I request Maitre Lepertuis to open my will on the day after my death, in the presence of the Prefect of Police, who will be good enough to keep the matter an entire secret for a month.  One month later, to the day, he will have the kindness to summon to his office Maitre Lepertuis, Don Luis Perenna, and a prominent member of the United States Embassy.  Subsequent to the reading of the will, a cheque for one million francs shall be handed to my friend and legatee Don Luis Perenna, after a simple examination of his papers and a simple verification of his identity.  I should wish this verification to be made as regards the personality by Major Comte d’Astrignac, who was his commanding officer in Morocco, and who unfortunately had to retire prematurely from the army; and as regards birth by a member of the Peruvian Legation, as Don Luis Perenna, though retaining his Spanish nationality, was born in Peru.

“Furthermore, I desire that my will be not communicated to the Roussel heirs until two days later, at Maitre Lepertuis’s office.  Finally—­and this is the last expression of my wishes as regards the disposal of my estate and the method of proceeding with that disposal—­the Prefect of Police will be good enough to summon the persons aforesaid to his office, for a second time, at a date to be selected by himself, not less than sixty nor more than ninety days after the first meeting.  Then and not till then will the definite legatee be named and proclaimed according to his rights, nor shall any be so named and proclaimed unless he be present at this meeting, at the conclusion of which Don Luis Perenna, who must also attend it, shall become the definite legatee if, as I have said, no survivor nor heir of the Roussel sisters or of their cousin Victor have come forward to claim the bequest.”

Replacing both documents in the envelope the Prefect of Police concluded: 

“You have now, gentlemen, heard the will of Mr. Cosmo Mornington, which explains your presence here.  A sixth person will join us shortly:  one of my detectives, whom I instructed to make the first inquiries about the Roussel family and who will give you the result of his investigations.  But, for the moment, we must proceed in accordance with the testator’s directions.

“Don Luis Perenna’s papers, which he sent me, at my request, a fortnight ago, have been examined by myself and are perfectly in order.  As regards his birth, I wrote and begged his Excellency the Peruvian minister to collect the most precise information.”

“The minister entrusted this mission to me,” said Senor Caceres, the Peruvian attache.  “It offered no difficulties.  Don Luis Perenna comes of an old Spanish family which emigrated thirty years ago, but which retained its estates and property in Europe.  I knew Don Luis’s father in America; and he used to speak of his only son with the greatest affection.  It was our legation that informed the son, three years ago, of his father’s death.  I produce a copy of the letter sent to Morocco.”