Board members had begun, quietly at first and then not so quietly, to question the character and the ethics of a man who would fight his own dead mother’s dying wish in open court.

Within weeks, Arthur had stepped down as chief executive and retired to a private estate in Palm Beach.

“Is he alone?” I asked.

I was not gloating; I want that understood.

I asked because I truly wanted to know, the way you want to know how a story ends even when you already suspect.

Margaret gave a small, sad smile.

“Entirely,” she said.