Iain Pears - An Instance of the Fingerpost

When I had done so, Thurloe made the journey into Oxford during which he discussed the matter with Dr. Wallis after their encounter at the play. Although I had strong misgivings, he told me that Wallis was by far the easiest way of communicating with those men in government who might assist. Despite the way I had abused him in the jail, Thurloe did not seem to think it would be hard to win Wallis’s cooperation, although he never troubled to explain to me why this should be so.

“Well?” I asked eagerly when at last I was summoned on Thurloe’s return. “Will Wallis help?”

Thurloe smiled. “Perhaps if there is an exchange of information. You mentioned an Italian gentleman at Sir William Compton’s.”

“Da Cola, yes. A most civil man, for a foreigner.”

“Yes. Cola. Dr. Wallis is most interested in your opinion of him.”

“I know that. He has asked me before, although I have no idea why he was so fascinated.”

“That need not concern you in the slightest. Will you say on oath what you know of this man? And answer any other questions he might pose, freely and frankly?”

“If he will help me, then of course I will. It is harmless enough. What do I get in return?”

“Dr. Wallis is able, I understand, to give you crucial information about the package your father had intended to send to your mother. That package contained everything he knew of Mordaunt and his activities. Whom he saw, what he said, and all the consequences. With that in your possession, your case will be easily won.”

“He knew this all along? And did not say so?”

“He does not have it himself, and he is a dark and deep man. He never gives something for nothing. Fortunately you now have something to offer. But he can tell you whom you must approach to obtain it. Now, do you agree to this bargain?”

“Yes,” I said enthusiastically. “Of course. With all my heart. Particularly if he only wants information in return. For a prize like that he could have my life, and willingly too.”

“Good,” Thurloe said, smiling with pleasure. “That is settled. Now we have to remove the threat of the law, and renew your freedom of movement. I mentioned your concern about this woman Sarah Blundy, and of the ring that you have from Dr. Grove’s body. The woman has now been placed under arrest for his murder.”

“I am glad to hear it,” I said, more exultation gripping my heart. “I have told you how I know she killed him.”

“You will testify against her, your sense of justice will be noted and the charges against you dropped. Do you give me your word that this girl actually killed Grove?”

“I do.” It was a lie, I know, and even as I spoke I resented bitterly the need to speak it.

“In that case all will be well. But only, I repeat, if you answer all questions Dr. Wallis poses.”

My heart was close to bursting with delight as I contemplated how I was triumphing in every single sphere. Truly, I thought, I was blessed, that so much should be given to me so swiftly. I was all enthusiasm for a moment, but then my spirit deflated. “It is a trap,” I said. “Wallis will not help me. It is just a lure to get me to go back to Oxford. I will be thrown back into jail and hanged.”

“That is a risk, but Wallis is after bigger game than yourself, I think.”

I snorted. It was easy, I thought, to be calm and detached at the thought of someone’s else’s neck being stretched. I would have liked to see how he contemplated a march to the hanging tree himself.

The next move came a few days later. I had reluctantly come to accept that I would have to take the risk and place myself in Wallis’s hands, but my courage had failed me, and I was in this state of indecision when Thurloe came softly into the room where I was spending my time, and announced that I had a visitor.

“A Signor Marco da Cola,” he said with a faint smile. “It is strange how that man shows up in the most unexpected places.”

“He is here?” I said, standing up with astonishment. “Why?”

“Because I invited him. He is staying nearby and when I was told, I thought I really must meet the gentleman. He is most charming.”

I insisted on seeing Cola, for I wanted to hear everything. It was Thurloe who suggested that he might prove ideal as the intermediary for approaching the magistrate in Oxford, for I think even he did not trust Wallis as much as he said.

I do not need to justify, I hope, what I told him. I have given enough evidence to show how I had to escape the curse upon me and how limited my resources were. I had begged for release from Sarah Blundy’s curse, but had been rebuffed. She had tricked me into attacking my own guardian; the efforts of magicians, priests and wise men to repulse her had all failed, and—though I have not mentioned it in my story as much as I could have done—almost daily I was assaulted by strange happenings, and my nights were a torment of fervid visitations, so that I had no peaceful sleep. She attacked me mercilessly, perhaps with the hope that I would be sent insane. I now had the possibility of striking back, once and for all. I could not possibly afford to let that chance slip through my fingers. And I also had my loyalty to Thomas.

So I told Cola that I had visited her cottage on my escape, and had seen her as she came in, wild and excited. I told him that I had found Grove’s ring in her dress, and how I had instantly recognized it and taken it from her. How she had turned pale when I demanded how she had come by it. And how I would testify to all of this at her trial. I almost believed it myself by the time I had finished.

Cola agreed to relay this to the magistrate, and even reassured me by saying he was sure that my willingness to come forward in the name of justice, even though I was placing myself at risk, would stand me in good stead for the future.

I thanked him and, indeed, felt so warmly toward him that I could not forbear from giving him some information of my own.

“Tell me,” I said, “why is it that Dr. Wallis concerns himself with you? Are you friends?”

“No, indeed,” he said. “I have only met him once and he was very uncivil.”

“He wishes to talk to me about you. I do not know why.”

Cola repeated he had no understanding of it, then brushed the matter aside and asked me when I proposed to come to Oxford.

“I think it would be best to wait until just before the trial. I hope the magistrate will grant me bail, but I am in a mood not to be overtrusting.”

“So you will see Dr. Wallis then?”

“Almost certainly.”

“Good. I would like to offer you hospitality afterward, to celebrate your good fortune.”

And he went. I mention it only to demonstrate that there was much which Cola does not include even when he gives an account of conversations. Much of the rest of what he says is more or less correct, however. The magistrate arrived in high dudgeon and was all for arresting both Thurloe and myself until he heard of my evidence against Blundy; then he was all sweetness and accommodation—although I suspect Dr. Wallis may have already intervened and told him of the probability that Sir William would withdraw his suit, as indeed he did a few days later. Then I waited until word came that the trial was to begin and journeyed back into Oxford.

I did not have to give evidence, as it turned out, as the woman confessed to the crime—a surprising thing for, as I say, on this she was innocent. But the evidence against her was strong, and perhaps she realized that it was all over. I did not care; I was merely glad that she was to die, and that I did not have to perjure myself.

She hanged the next day, and instantly I felt her malign presence lifting from my spirit, like the first breath of cool, clear wind after a thunderstorm has removed the oppression from the air. It was only then that I realized how much she had tormented me, and how constant had been the drain on my soul.