The morning sun shone again on the courtyard of Weston House, and the mist faded away, revealing the solemn view of the manor. Karl Goodman had got up early, his servant brought him delicious food, he enjoyed it, and began his investigation. Last night, he studied the diaries and documents of old Weston, all some trivial daily and normal business transactions, but this was just the tip of the iceberg. In order to uncover the truth, Karl makes a list of questions about the case, saying that the first step is to learn into the background and character of the family members.
Arthur Weston: the eldest son, the heir to the estate
Karl decides to speak first with —— Arthur, the eldest son of the Weston family. Arthur Weston was a man of over forty, handsome but somewhat tired. He looked dressed in a fitted gray suit. On the outside, he was a typical English gentleman, with a hooked nose unlike the Weston family, and looked resolute and strong, but Karl 's eyes quickly caught a trace of uneasiness and forbearance in his eyes.
Karl invited Arthur to have a preliminary conversation in the study of the estate. Arthur's voice was low and magnetic, but his words were always somewhat cautious. He told Karl that he was regarded as the heir of the family since childhood, shouldering the glory and responsibility of the family. After graduating from University, Arthur took over the family's business, managing the day-to-day operations of the British port company.
"I have always followed my father's expectations," mixed Arthur's voice with a little frustration, " but after my father died, I found the burden of the family heavier than I thought, especially after the arrangements of the will."
Karl keenly captures the contradictions in Arthur's discourse. As the eldest son and heir of the family, Arthur should have been the least person to worry about the distribution of the estate, but his words revealed a deep anxiety and dissatisfaction.
Karl notes this in his mind, knowing that Arthur's apparent calm concealed the mixed emotions inside.
Alice Weston: Second daughter, the cultural guardian of the family
Karl then spoke with Alis Weston, the second daughter of the Weston family.
Alice is a woman in her early forties, elegant and calm, with a light of wisdom in her eyes. She looked dignified and elegant in a simple long blue dress.
Alice showed a great interest in art and literature from an early age. She graduated from Oxford University majoring in English literature and is now a teacher at a prestigious girls' school in London. She has deep feelings for the family's history and culture, and often spends time sorting out the family's old letters and documents. In recent days, I have been painting in the manor, and my oil painting style is inclined to impressionism. I am good at breaking through the previous painting stereotypes and directly expressing color to express vision.
"I have always believed that the glory of our family is not only in wealth, but also in the culture and values we pass on."Alice's voice is soft and firm." I want to make some meaningful contribution to the family, not just being bound by wealth."
Karl noticed that Alice had always expressed a faint concern when talking about the family. She mentioned that after her father's death, the family harmony seemed to disintegrate, and the relationship between the siblings became strained. Arthur often accused Charlie of being a curse, even claiming that Charlie would destroy the whole family. Arthur, without saying much about Alice herself, occasionally sneered at the family if it would be an "irreparable disaster"."Karl smiles and listens to Alice's complaints, finding that she is a delicate and sensitive person, she is full of concerns about the future of the family, but she does not seem to have a direct conflict of interest.
Charlie Weston: Little son, a rebellious adventurer
Karl 's next investigation was Charlie Weston, the younger son of the Weston family. Charlie was young, in his early thirties, but he had a air of unruly. He was slender, stylish and casual, with his curly hair. Charlie's face often hung a cynical smile, his eyes full of challenge.
Charlie did not follow the family tradition as his brother and sister did. He showed a rebellious character since childhood, and as an adult, he became obsessed with various extreme sports and adventure activities. He was exploring in the jungle of South America for months and wandering in casinos around the world. Charlie's lifestyle is always a headache for the family members, but he himself enjoys it.
"The wealth of the family has little appeal to me," with a hint of contempt in Charlie's voice, " I prefer the pursuit of freedom and excitement to being trapped in this old estate."
Karl noticed that Charlie was not interested in family affairs, even disgusted. He is impulsive and active, but he also tends to make irrational decisions. Trapped in the manor of the recent time, has been infatuated with horse racing, riding flattery all day long in the manor rampage. Charlie seemed to be an outsider in the family, and was disliked by everyone. But Karl knows that it is this distinctive personality that may have hidden hidden secrets.
Madeleine Weston: Widow, a mysterious mistress
Karl next had a conversation with Lady Madeline, the widow of Old Weston. Lady Madeleine is a charming and mysterious woman, her beauty as if the years can not erode, still retain the style of youth. She wore a well-cut long black dress with a calm and calm look.
Lady Madeleine claimed to have been born into a prominent family until she fell in love with the old Weston five months ago, and her marriage to the old Mr.Weston was seen as a perfect union, despite the apparent age gap between the two. After marriage, Lady Madeleine lived on the manor, living a luxurious but relatively lonely life.
"My husband is a distinguished man," whispered Lady Madeleine, with an indescribable emotion in her tone, " and his death was a heavy blow to me. I have hard to believe that such a strong man would die at the hand of a snake."
Karl found that Lady Madeleine was unusually calm about her husband's death, revealing hardly any violent emotion. This coolness instead disturbed Karl , who had reason to suspect that Lady Madeleine might be hiding her true thoughts. In some of the past accepted cases, the young widow has largely played a disgraceful role as the murderer.
Her mystery and calmness make her the most elusive member of the family.
Mr.Wilson's butler: a loyal guardian
In addition to the core members of the family, Karl talks with Wilson Butler. Wilson Butler was a man of about fifty, with a large figure, a serious face, and a deep calm in his eyes. He worked at Weston House for over twenty years and knew the family affairs well.
Wilson Butler was loyal and almost the guardian of the family. He went out early and came back late every day, and was responsible for all the affairs of the manor, from the daily life of the family members to the maintenance and management of the manor. The Wilson butler is silent, but every word reveals deliberation and loyalty to the family.
"I was shocked by the death of old Weston," the housekeeper sank. " I have always tried to keep the estate safe, but the incident happened so sudden that I still couldn't understand it."
Karl finds that the Wilson butler has a deep respect and loyalty to every member of the family, but he seems to be particularly concerned about Lady Madeleine. There was some hostility in the words. This particular concern, not only because she was the mistress of the manor, but even mixed with some special and complex emotions, Karl decided to put it on the record.
Oliver Stone: Family lawyer, the defender of the law
Finally, Karl met with the family's lawyer, Mr.Oliver Stone. Oliver was a lawyer about 50 years old, thin and wearing a sharp black suit. There was always a serious expression on his face, and his eyes were shrewd and cautious.
Oliver Stone served for many years as counsel in the Weston family, handling various legal matters of the family, particularly involving the division of estates and property. He was cautious and meticulous, giving a sense of accessibility.
"The old Weston will was drafted by him himself and witnessed by me," Oliver's voice was cold and firm, " and there was no indication that he would change the contents of the will before he died. We must act strictly according to his will."
Karl noticed that Oliver was very clear about the contents of the will, but he mentioned some detail as vaguely evasive, as if to hide something. Karl suspects that the sophisticated lawyer may also have been involved in some unknown plans, and that his words and actions will be another key point in the investigation.
Shadows in the manor
After completing conversations with these family members, butlers and lawyers, Karl gradually outlined an intricate network of relationships. If each person is reasoning alone, each person has his own secrets and motives, and their background, profession and character determine their role in this case. To look at every part of the manor, every detail, after all, there will be hidden secrets.
However, Karl knows clearly that such superficial information is not enough to uncover the truth. The death of old Weston's death can not be just an accident, he must dig deeper into everyone's inner world, find that a trace of clues, to solve this complex mystery.
Karl , frowning, stood on the hill of the farm, looking at the distant horizon, and the sunset stained the whole farm with a golden light. But in his mind, Weston Manor has a shadow that is slowly spreading, threatening the future of every family member.
"It is only the beginning," murmured Karl , " and the real mystery has just emerged, and the truth will prick the false silence like a poisonous snake."