17

The envelope had borne a Parisian postmark and was addressed to Mrs Joan Guttmann, c/o The Century Club, 7 West 43rd St, New York, New York.

It had been forwarded by the club to Guttmann’s apartment on the Upper West Side and brought up to the fourteenth floor by Vito, the doorman on whom Joan relied for everything from weather reports to grocery deliveries.

The letter had been written in English.

Agence Père Blancs

Rue la Quintinie, 147

Paris 75015

France

Dear Mrs Guttmann

It is with the deepest regret that I must inform you of the deaths of Mr Philippe Malot and Mrs Jeannine Malot, who have passed away while on vacation in Egypt.

The next of kin has recently made contact with our agency, as a result of a clause inserted in the Last Will & Testament of his late father. In accordance with the terms of our arrangement, the agency has therefore taken the decision to contact you.

Should you wish to take this matter further, I suggest that you either write to me at our Paris address or telephone me at a time convenient to you. Allow me to say that, according to the terms of French law, you are under no obligation to do so.

Yours, cordially

Pierre Barenton (Secretary)

Joan Guttmann had dialled the number.

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