<P>In a vast Victorian mansion, the Abernethie family has gathered for the reading of a will. Richard Abernethie has provided generously for his heirs. During the reading, his sister Cora is left with the dreadful suspicion that the kindly patriarch might have met with foul play and blurts out her doubts.</P><P>The man was known to be terminally ill, and there seemed to be no apparent reason why anyone would want him dead, so not much thought was given to the outburst of a distraught sister -- until she is found brutally murdered the very next day.</P><P>Now, there's little doubt that something sinister is afoot, though what it might be is elusive. That's when Hercule Poirot is brought on the case.</P>