‘May I know when it was that you knew – beyond doubting – that it was not Martin who tried to kill you?’ enquired Theo sardonically.
‘When I realized that he had introduced a Bow Street Runner into my household,’ replied the Earl, with a gleam of amusement. ‘With instructions to dog my every step!’
‘You guessed it!’ Martin ejaculated. ‘How? What made you think it?’
‘My dear boy! It was patent! I am aware that poor Lucy darkly suspects him of being a hired assassin, but I could conceive of nothing more unlikely! I am afraid you will have to forgive me: I served him a very scurvy trick today! But if I had not obliged him to accompany me, I am very sure he would have followed me on horseback, and the last thing I desire is to have an officer of the law meddling in this business. I conclude that by some means unknown to me he contrived to reach Stanyon far sooner than I had supposed he could, or you would not have galloped that bay of yours into a lather in your gallant but misguided attempt to preserve me from an untimely end!’
Martin blushed, but said in a brooding tone: ‘It was Hickling’s notion that I should make use of his precious uncle! He was a Runner, but he ain’t now, of course, and no wonder! Much use he has been to me! To be taken in by such a child’s trick! Good God! The only thing he did, and I suppose it doesn’t prove anything, was to find a button that was torn from my shooting-jacket not five yards from where I told you I was struck down, that day when you were shot. If I was dragged clear of the undergrowth, before being hoisted up by –’ He paused, and cast a smouldering glance at Theo – ‘by you, my dear cousin! – it must have been torn off then! He found signs, too, that a horse had stood for some time within the wood. But that don’t prove much either! I know it could be explained away!’
‘I don’t doubt that it was Theo who hid his gig, when I had parted from him, and thought him on the road to this place; waited for you; stunned you; left your gun and your shot-belt to be found; and carried you off in the gig. Evesleigh is not so far from Wisbech, and I have discovered that he did not arrive here until evening. You will tell me, perhaps, that you visited outlying parts of my estates, Theo, which made you late. Don’t! I should not believe you, and I would so much prefer you to tell me no more lies! Had you killed me, had there been a hue and cry after Martin, and he had told that story, it must have been thought the wildest and stupidest attempt to escape justice that ever was heard! But you didn’t kill me; there was no hue and cry. The story was told only to us, and although some of us disbelieved it I did not. Its very improbability made me think it the truth. What a risk you took, Theo! If some chance wayfarer had discovered him before he had rid himself of the bonds you so carefully loosened – ! It could have happened, you know. And if I did not die, surely you must have known that it would not be long before Martin at least realized the truth!’
‘Well, I did, of course, though not quite at once,’ admitted Martin. ‘It seemed so impossible that Theo could have done such a thing to you! Only, I knew I had not, so there was no one else! And when I had had leisure to think about my having been kidnapped in such a way, naturally I began to see how it must have been! I knew it had been done so that I should be blamed for your death, but I never guessed the whole! Not that he would not harm you if I could not be blamed! It is the most infamous thing! It was bad enough when I only thought he had kidnapped me to save himself from being suspected! All I thought was that he would kill you, if he could, and very likely me too, but not like that! Later – when all the scandal had been forgotten! That’s why I hired Leek – at least, it is in part! I thought he might be able to discover some proof that it was Theo, and not me! For what was the use of telling you what I suspected, when you were hand-in-glove with Theo, and seemed not to believe a word I said? I’m not such a gudgeon, either, as not to have known that Chard was spying on me! In fact, I made sure you had ordered him to!’
‘I had,’ said the Earl. ‘Not, however, for any other reason than to safeguard you in case of accident. From the moment of your return to Stanyon until today, when you seem, very unwisely, to have given Chard the slip, I provided you with a witness who must have testified on your behalf had anything happened to me.’
‘I never thought of that!’ Martin said, much struck. ‘I must say, St Erth, it was devilish handsome of you! When that fool, Leek, told me you had come here, and alone, I did wonder if I should not tell Chard the whole, and bring him with me. But then I thought he would very likely not believe a word of it, and prevent my coming after you into the bargain, so I gave him the bag. I suppose, if I had had time to consider, I need not have come at all, for Theo would never dare to harm you here! The thing was, it gave me the devil of a shock, when Leek told me! I thought you had been hoaxed, like everyone else, and anything might happen to you! Coming here quite alone like this! St Erth, why did you?’
The Earl regarded his signet-ring for a moment. When he raised his eyes, it was at his cousin that he looked, not at Martin. He replied in a low voice: ‘To tell him that I knew. To put an end to it all, if I could, without divulging the truth to anyone. Here I could say what had to be said without fearing that your Runner’s ear might be glued to the keyhole. If I had sent for Theo to come to Stanyon, what a damnable situation must have been created! He could not have remained there, nor I have wished him to. You were already suspicious; so, I fancy, was one other. Lucy, the servants – they would all have thought it an odd circumstance if I were to have sent for Theo only to dismiss him within the hour! Well! You have frustrated a part of my design, but we can still prevent this affair from becoming generally known.’
‘I don’t see that!’ Martin objected, scowling.
‘I was afraid you would not,’ said the Earl, rather dryly.
‘It’s very well for you!’ Martin said. ‘No one thinks you have been trying to murder anyone! Pray, what about me?’
‘Since the only certain information anyone outside Stanyon has is that I was shot by a man in homespuns, I fancy the accident will soon be forgotten. If it is seen that you and I stand upon very good terms, it will be concluded that whatever rumours were rife had no foundation in fact. I collect, from Dr Malpas, that some of the rumours are so wild that already people are beginning to shrug up their shoulders, and to disbelieve the whole. Certain persons must be told, of course: Lucy, Chard, Miss Morville (though I think she knows already), but as for the world at large – let it think what it chooses! it will not long think you had anything to do with my accident.’
‘But do you mean to do nothing?’ Martin said indignantly. ‘He ought to be brought to justice!’
Theo, who had walked away to the fireplace, said over his shoulder: ‘You have imagined an ingenious story. Does it occur to you that not one word of it can you prove?’
‘We’ll try that!’ Martin flung at him.
‘Not if I have my way,’ interposed the Earl. ‘What, brandish this abominable affair in a criminal court? Set ourselves up to provide the vulgar with a nine-days wonder to gape at and exclaim over? I thank you, Martin, no!’
Martin was silenced. Theo said, in his usual, level tone: ‘You feel, then, that it would be possible to have me arrested, do you, Gervase? Does your fancy even lead you to suppose that I could be convicted on this evidence?’
‘I could have you arrested. I think you would be acquitted. But it would ruin you, Theo.’
‘I must suppose that it is your intention to ruin me.’
‘No, it isn’t my intention, or my desire. I would prefer to send you to Jamaica.’
‘Eh?’ said Martin, startled.
Gervase turned his head. ‘Why not? Let him go out to manage the West Indian property! He himself has frequently said that he believed it to be ill-run; neither of us can doubt his ability to manage an estate.’
‘But the West Indian property is mine!’
‘Yes, and yours must therefore be the deciding voice.’
‘Well, but – Of course, he can’t remain at Stanyon!’
‘No.’
‘I must say, that to be putting him in charge of anything, after what he has tried to do to us, seems to me the craziest notion I ever heard! However, if he can’t remain at Stanyon – and that he certainly cannot! – I daresay it may be best to send him to Jamaica. It would be bound to create a deal of talk and conjecture if he left us, and was still in England. Everyone would know there must have been something devilish bad to account for it, and I’m at one with you in wanting to hush the business up. Dash it, Gervase, it makes me as sick as a horse to think of a thing like this happening amongst us Frants! You had better do as you choose about it, I suppose!’
‘Then will you, if you please, go and tell them to put my horses to, Martin?’
Martin glanced undecidedly at his cousin. ‘Well –’ He caught the Earl’s eye, said, rather crossly: ‘Oh, as you please!’ and walked out of the room.
There was a long silence. The Earl was absently studying the mountings of his pistol, a frown between his brows; and Theo continued for a full minute to stare down into the fire. He moved at last, and came back to the chair behind the table. He began mechanically to tidy the papers before him into heaps, saying in an expressionless voice: ‘I hope my successor will do as well by you as I have done.’
The Earl raised his eyes. ‘It is unlikely. I know that Stanyon has never had one who served it better, or loved it more. Alas, Theo! My father did you an ill turn, did he not?’
Their eyes met. After a moment Theo’s dropped to the pistol in his cousin’s hand. ‘Oh, put that thing away!’ he said.
The Earl slid it into his pocket. ‘Go to Jamaica!’ he said. ‘If my father, instead of bringing you up to think only of Stanyon, had given you this place, or some other, to have called your own! – if you would have let me repair his omissions – ! But it is all too late!’
‘I never wanted anything either he or you would have given me!’ Theo said.
‘No. I suppose it became an obsession with you, a madness! And lately – forgive me! – there was an added reason, was there not?’
He saw Theo fling up a hand, and was silent. After a pause, Theo said heavily: ‘And if I go to Jamaica – what then?’
‘Oh!’ Gervase said, smiling, ‘you will turn the property into a flourishing concern, and then, I have no doubt, you will yourself become a landowner there, and a prosperous one, for you were born to succeed, Theo!’
Theo gave one of his short laughs. ‘You are a strange creature, Gervase!’
‘No, why? I remember only a cousin who took care of my interests, of whom I was fond. The rest will be forgotten.’ He got up, as he heard the sound of horses on the carriage-sweep. ‘I think I had better go, or we shall have Martin coming to fetch me. The West Indian business shall be settled as speedily as I can contrive. Good-bye – and God speed!’
He left the room before Theo could reply. Martin was waiting for him below the steps, seated in his curricle. ‘I’ve told Theo’s man I’ll send over to fetch the bay tomorrow. I am going to drive you home!’ Martin announced belligerently. ‘I don’t want you laid up again, and you’re looking as queer as Dick’s hatband, let me tell you!’
‘Thank you,’ said Gervase meekly, climbing into the curricle.
‘What did he say to you? Did he admit it?’ Martin asked, setting the grays in motion.
‘To tell you the truth,’ said Gervase, ‘we did not speak of it.’
‘Good God! Well, does he mean to go to Jamaica?’
‘Oh, yes!’
‘He may count himself fortunate! And who is to fill his place? What a pickle it all is! He was devilish good at looking after our affairs, you know!’
‘I fancy you might become as good.’
‘I?’ Martin exclaimed. ‘Are you asking me to become your agent?’
‘No, that would be unsuitable. I shall employ an agent, but Theo was more than that. You could do much that he did – if you chose to!’
‘If I chose to! Why, there’s nothing I’d liefer do!’ Martin said. He added, in a burst of unwonted humility: ‘Mind, I may make mistakes! But if I do – I mean, when I do! – you will just have to tell me!’
Twenty-two
Mr Leek, when he found himself deserted by his employer, and with an unconscious lady on his hands, became a little flustered. Several agitated shouts for help having elicited no response, he knelt down, somewhat ponderously, beside Miss Morville, and tried to ascertain whether she was alive, or whether she had, as he was much inclined to fear, broken her neck. He was not without experience in such matters, and after he had cautiously raised her head, he felt reasonably assured that this ultimate disaster had not befallen her. He could not discover that she was breathing, but after a good deal of fumbling he managed to find the pulse in her wrist. It was certainly beating, so, heaving a sigh of considerable relief, he rose, puffing, to his feet, and went off to ring the iron bell which hung beside the entrance-doors. So vigorously did he tug at it that its summons brought not only a footman, but Abney also, hurrying from the servants’ quarters. It then became manifest to Mr Leek that although the domestic staff might, if suitably adjured, render assistance, no constructive effort need be expected. Abney was so much appalled that he seemed unable to do anything but wring his hands, and demand distractedly what was to be done; and the footman merely waited for orders.
‘The first thing as has to be done,’ said Mr Leek, ‘is to take and carry her to a sofy! You catch hold of her head, young feller, and I’ll take her feet!’
‘Ought she to be moved?’ Abney asked nervously. ‘Oh dear, oh dear, she’s very pale!’
‘Well, don’t start to nap your bib!’ said Mr Leek, with a touch of asperity. ‘Anyone would look pale as was gone off into a swound! Her neck ain’t broke, that I do know, so that’s a comfort, anyways. If you was to lope off and fetch a female to her, you’d be doing more good than what you are now, standing about as like as ninepence to nothing, and asking whether she ought to be moved! O’ course she ought! Nice thing it would be if we was to leave a swell mort like she is laying about at the bottom of the stairs for anyone to tread on as wasn’t looking where they was going! Now, you lift your end, young feller, and gently does it!’
Thus encouraged, the footman carefully raised Miss Morville’s shoulders from the floor. Between them, he and Mr Leek bore her into the Great Hall, and laid her down on one of the sofas. The footman thought she would be more comfortable if he placed a cushion beneath her head; Abney hovered about, wondering whether he should fetch the housekeeper, feathers, or a glass of water; and Mr Leek, with great delicacy, smoothed Miss Morville’s dress carefully about her ankles. Having informed Abney that persons in her condition stood in more need of eye-water than Adam’s ale, he told the footman to call Mrs Marple, and made a discovery. Miss Morville had broken her arm.
‘Well,’ said Mr Leek philosophically, as he disposed the limb across her bosom, ‘that’s what you might call Dutch comfort, because it might ha’ been worse.’
‘I will send a message to the stables at once!’ said Abney. ‘One of the grooms must ride for the doctor! Oh dear, I am sure I don’t know what has come over Stanyon! It seems to be one thing after another!’
He then hurried away; and after a considerable lapse of time, during which Mr Leek first fanned Miss Morville, and then, with some misgiving, wondered whether he ought to cut her laces, the housekeeper, who had been enjoying a nap in her room, bustled in, armed with smelling-salts and sal volatile, and followed by a couple of chambermaids. Mr Leek would have been glad to have resigned Miss Morville to their care, but after he had watched Mrs Marple’s singularly unsuccessful attempts to administer a dose of sal volatile, and had forcefully dissuaded one of the chambermaids from moving the broken arm, for the amiable purpose of chafing Miss Morville’s hand, he decided that it was not the par
t of a chivalrous man to abandon his post.
By the time Abney came fluttering back to the Great Hall, several more persons had assembled there, including Turvey; and the housekeeper, alarmed by Miss Morville’s prolonged swoon, was threatening spasms.
‘I fancy, Mrs Marple, that she may have sustained a blow on the head,’ said Turvey. ‘Pray do not become agitated! It frequently happens, in such cases, that the sufferer does not regain consciousness for some appreciable time.’
‘Ah! And sometimes, when they do, they find themselves dicked in the nob!’ said Mr Leek. ‘Addled!’ he explained, for the benefit of one of the maids, who was looking at him in frightened enquiry.
Mrs Marple gave a faint scream, and pressed a hand to her bosom. Mr Leek thoughtfully offered her the sal volatile; and Turvey said, with a superiority his more forthright colleague found odious, that he apprehended no such melancholy sequel to the accident.
‘Well, when she does come to herself, what you better do is to keep out of sight!’ recommended Mr Leek. ‘She’ll be all to pieces, and it won’t do her no good if the first thing she gets her ogles on is that hang-gallows face o’ yours!’
‘Miss Morville,’ said Turvey glacially, ‘is perfectly familiar with my countenance.’
‘That don’t make it no better!’ retorted Mr Leek. ‘Nor you don’t have to use all them breakteeth words to me, because I ain’t the sort as can be gammoned easy! I knew a cove as talked the way you do – leastways, in the way of business I knew him! In fact, you remind me of him very strong. I disremember what his name was. He was on the dub-lay, and very clever with his fambles. He ended up in the Whit, o’ course.’