# IX: The Will explained — The Clue

> Chapter companion for The Clue by Carolyn Wells.

## What happens

Lawyer Peabody reads Richard Van Norman's will, revealing that Tom Willard inherits the bulk of the fortune due to Madeleine's death before marriage and age twenty-three, while Madeleine's own will leaves the mansion and residuary fortune to Elizabeth Morton. Fessenden considers the beneficiaries as potential suspects but dismisses both. The coroner's inquest begins, with Mrs. Markham testifying about the last time she saw Madeleine and the house's secure locks, and Harris confirms the house was locked, yet Mr. Carleton entered.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wealth and Inheritance

The reading of both wills reveals that Tom Willard and Elizabeth Morton are the primary beneficiaries, highlighting how financial gain provides motive in the murder investigation.

### Detection and Reasoning

Fessenden applies detective logic by considering who benefits from Madeleine's death, though he quickly dismisses the suspects, and the coroner's inquest begins systematic questioning.

## Character check-ins

### Rob Fessenden

Observes the will reading and considers Tom Willard and Miss Morton as beneficiaries, but dismisses them as suspects; also reflects on his attraction to Kitty French.

### Madeleine Van Norman

Deceased; her will is read, leaving the mansion and residuary fortune to Elizabeth Morton.

### Tom Willard

Inherits Richard Van Norman's fortune due to Madeleine's death before marriage and age twenty-three.

### Elizabeth Morton

Inherits the Van Norman house and residuary fortune under Madeleine's will; assumes an air of importance.

### Cicely Dupuy

Testifies about her last conversation with Madeleine and becomes agitated when noting the absence of notes Madeleine intended to write.

## Key lines

> The first point, he thought to himself, in discovering a potential murderer, is to inquire who will be benefited by the victim's death.

Fessenden reasons that identifying who gains from the murder is a key step in finding the killer.

_Reflects Fessenden's detective reasoning and the theme of detection._

> Apparently the only ones to profit by the passing of Madeleine Van Norman were Tom Willard and Miss Morton.

The only people who benefit from Madeleine's death are Tom Willard and Elizabeth Morton.

_Highlights the financial motive tied to the inheritance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/ix-the-will
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_clue_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_clue_se/chapters