The LeMesurier Inheritance by Agatha Christie. Short summary

5 seconds

A family curse has been placed on the ancient family of Lemesurier — the heirs are dying one by one. Hugo Lemesurier’s wife appeals to Poirot to save her eldest son Ronald.

1 minute

A short story in the «Hercule Poirot» series. Hercule Poirot and Hastings are having lunch with their friend Captain Vincent Lemesurier and his uncle Hugo. Suddenly Vincent is informed that his father has fallen ill and is dying. The distraught captain quickly departs. Poirot and Hastings learn of an ancient curse that haunts the Lemesurier family—no firstborn has ever inherited in the family.

The next day, Vincent is found dead, having fallen from a train. Over the next few years, all of Vincent’s uncles except Hugo die. Hugo is the sole heir.

Poirot is approached by Hugo’s wife, who fears for her eldest son Ronald. Hugo believes that his son is doomed. He also tells Poirot that he will soon die of illness.

A few days later, Ronald is stung by a bee, and at night a figure sneaks into his bedroom and is about to inject the boy, but Poirot manages to grab him. It is Hugo, the boy’s father, who has gone mad because of the curse. He was the one who killed his brothers to get the estate.