Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 43 — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TO-MORROW IS “How soon,” demanded Michel, “‘do I get it?” Harrop laughed boomingly. He said: “Well, there’s no legal doubt at all that you’re the nearest surviving relative of Pierre Michel the first—by about four ‘removed’s. And the will is very specific. You inherit as soon as you sign a receipt proving that we have discharged our duty. I have a cheque for the money here.” Michel jerked upright. He said incredulously: “‘As simple as that? Doesn’t it have to go through probate or some- thing?” Harrop passed the receipt and the cheque across the desk. He said: “That will’s been probated over a dozen times in the course of the years, since, of course, the money had to be handed down generation by generation. Each in turn left it to you. It’s yours, and no legal dispu- tation of your claim can be made. But there are still one or two unusual things about your family which might in- terest you.” ANOTHER DAY 17 Michel settled back in his chair. “I’m listening,” he acknowledged. “The line isn’t pure, in spite of its never having lost the name of Michel. How this happened I don’t quite under- stand. On several occasions, apparently, the head of the family has died without male issue. Through this, the four or five collateral branches have either vanished com- pletely, or lost the name and become so diluted as to render them ineligible for the inheritance. The main line, however, has survived, name and all, owing to four of the daughters in no less than four different periods marrying men also named Michel, who were in no way related to the family, and could prove it, too, because at least twice scandalous imputations had to be refuted.” . ‘“‘That’s very curious,” said Michel, stubbing out his cigarette. “Not least curious is the statement, made regularly by those who saw these people, comiclooks.conn