Bruce Alexander - The Price of Murder

Needless to say, I saw no woman in a plum-colored dress.

Whilst resting against the fence, I became aware that, when I left it, I would have to struggle up the hill against the tide, which would be even more difficult. I decided to wait a bit longer for Constable Patley-at least as long as it took for the sweat to dry upon my brow.

I gave my attention to the horses out upon the course. They were still out there, learning the ups and downs, the jumps and full-out gallops. And of course the second-rank was there still, following at a respectful trot; and if anything, its number had grown.

Of the owners there was little more to say. They were yet standing, spy-glasses in hand; their number had also grown-or so it seemed. One of them looked quite familiar, a newcomer, I was sure. He was as well-dressed as any in that line of observers, but fat enough that he had wisely avoided the roof of his coach; if he had managed to climb up upon it, the weight of him might indeed have collapsed it. And so, he stood at the rail not much more than ten feet away. Who was he? I knew that I had seen him before my arrival at Newmarket. As I studied him, I even recalled the sound of his voice-a sort of whining drawl that perfectly matched his rude manner. Then I had it! He was the owner of Pegasus and the employer of Deuteronomy Plummer. I knew him not by name but by title-Lord Lamford he was, and a less likeable man I had never met. I looked round him and saw no sign of Mr. Deuteronomy about, and that was just as well, it seemed to me, for if he were, I’d feel obliged to speak to him, and that seemed wrong here and now.

Ah well, said I to myself, there’s naught for me to do but return to the Good Queen Bess and the tankard of flat ale which awaited me there. Taking one last look about for Mr. Patley and failing to see him, I plunged ahead into the great crowd and kept an eye open for any color that might be judged plum. Thus did I reach the inn at the top of the hill.

Entering the tap-room, I found the constable sitting where he had formerly sat, a new tankard of ale before him, and deep in talk with the serving woman. As I took my place at the table, he ended his conversation and asked for a fresh ale “for my young friend.” Then did he push the plate of bread and cheese toward me.

“I fear I’ve had more than my share,” said he. “We can order some more, if you want it.”

I could not but notice that Patley seemed far more rested and relaxed than I. How long could he have sat here talking with the serving woman? Could he really have made the same arduous journey that I had just made? Yet, just as I was searching for the right words with which to express my doubts to him, the serving woman returned with my dark ale. After I sweated the way to the race course and back, I confess, my thirst was so great that I quaffed off half the tankard in a few gulps. Then did I dig into the Stilton, slicing off a generous chunk and piling it upon the bread. That took some chewing, and as I chewed, I thought, and by the time I finished it, I had devised my approach.

“Mr. Patley,” said I, “you must have reached the rail fence round the race course long before I did-been there and gone. Sorry to have missed you, but I was wondering: did you happen to notice Lord Lamford there?”

“Uh, no, I can’t say as I did,” he replied uneasily.

“I was going to ask if you’d seen Mr. Deuteronomy with him. But of course, if you didn’t see Lord Lamford, then you couldn’t have seen Deuteronomy with him, now could you?”

“Well. . yes, that’s good thinking on your part, Jeremy.”

I gave him a look of a certain kind. I tucked in my chin and gave him a frown. I’d meant it to seem dubious, suspicious, and it must have, for it wrung from him this confession:

“I suppose I really ought to tell you, Jeremy, old friend, that I never really made it down as far as the rail fence.”

“Oh? And how did that come about, Mr. Patley?”

“Well, you see, it’s like this,” said he, “here I was, pushing and shoving my way through this great bunch of people, and I wasn’t getting nowhere at all. But I kep’ going and looking for that woman in the plum-colored dress. Oh, I looked and looked, but I never did see anyone in a dress of such a color-and then it did come to me. Alice Plummer wasn’t in such a dress when I glimpsed her from this very chair I’m sittin’ in now. Oh no, it wasn’t plum-colored, it was blue-teal blue is what it was. All of a sudden, I was just sure of it. And it wouldn’t have done any good at all to start looking for her, for I must have let pass about a dozen or more just the little ways I’d gone.”

“Oh,” said I, “I must have let twice that number go by.”

“Well, there you are,” said he. “It’s an altogether common sort of dress in a common sort of color.”

“But I went all the way down there for no purpose at all, didn’t I, Mr. Patley?”

He hesitated for a long moment. “I wouldn’t say it was for no purpose at all,” said he.

“Oh? And how is that, sir?”

“At least we know she’s here in Newmarket, don’t we?”

When the knock came upon the door, I bounded out of bed, ready to greet the day, even though a glance out the window gave proof that it must still be night. I had asked that I be knocked up at five. Had they made it four just to give me an early start? No matter, though, whatever the hour, I was well awake and ready for the day. I gave Patley a shake and received only groaning mumbles for my trouble. Ah well, let him sleep, if sleep he must. Then did I empty my bladder and begin my morning ritual-taking care to wash well and to dress warmly. Yet I’d a feeling that I must leave a reminder of some sort for Mr. Patley. I gave him another shake.

“Mr. Patley,” said I, “can you hear me?”

Again the groans and the mumbles; there was, nevertheless, a sort of affirmative sound to them.

“I’m going down to the track now. If you wish to meet Mr. Deuteronomy, come down there quickly as you can. I can’t say when I’ll return. But I’ll look for you in the tap-room when I come back.”

Was all that clear to him? I hoped it was. Yet that single grunt I received in response was anything but encouraging. And so, having no better thought, I hurriedly wrote a brief note in which I said much the same thing as I had just spoken in his ear. I propped it against the candle and blew the candle out. I recall my surprise that at that moment the room was not, of a sudden, plunged into complete darkness; the dawning of a new day had begun.

Downstairs in the lobby the standing clock in the corner said that it was near half past five. Had I taken so long to wash and dress?

“Can I get a cup of coffee in the tap-room?” I asked the fellow behind the desk.

At that he barked a laugh. “At this hour? Not the least chance, I fear. The tap-room opens at seven.”

I nodded and headed for the door. There I paused and turned back to him.

“Has Mr. Deuteronomy Plummer left yet?”

“You mean the small fellow? Oh, you may be sure of it. ’Twas near an hour ago, I should say.”

Again I nodded as I threw open the door and left.

It was cold out there. I pulled up the collar of my coat and thrust my hands deep into my pockets. Starting off along the same route I had walked the day before, I thanked God for all the threats and pleas that Clarissa had used to force me to bring along the waistcoat that now kept my chest properly warm. Then did she press her entreaties on the matter of the wager, as she repeated to me her formula-“favorable odds and the right attitude”-as a sort of incantation.

Yesterday evening, as Constable Patley and I ate dinner in the tap-room, I described to him in general terms (not mentioning Clarissa) the nature of my problem. He listened, nodding, rubbing his unshaven chin, as I explained all as best I could, even repeating to him her magic formula.