Филиппа Карр - The changeling

“And you found out that there had been negotiations for The Devil’s Crown.”

“How clever you are. There is no need for me to tell you because you know already.

Oh yes, Miss Belinda would do a great deal for me.”

“Her feelings are rather superficial,” I said with a touch of malice. “She has now transferred her devotion to another male visitor to the house. An Australian, who owns a goldmine out there. He tells racy stories about the Outback and has quite pushed you out of her mind.”

“Well, perhaps it is for the best. And Benedict got to the bottom of it, did he?

Why?”

“For the satisfaction of seeing me happy.”

“He has turned over a new leaf then?”

“We are all turning over new leaves. It is a good thing to do. There might be more to gain from helping people than from taking revenge for petty slights. Will you help me?”

“You believe that I am involved in this, don’t you?”

“I heard you say you would take your revenge on him, that’s why.”

“My dependence on him is over, you know.”

“And you have had the satisfaction of seeing that there was no place in the Cabinet for him.”

“Was he very upset?” .

“It was you who said he takes blows calmly and he did in this case. But he has changed.

If only there could be some answer to this riddle . he might find some happiness.”

“Providing it was the right answer. I heard that they were digging near the house.”

I nodded. “The ground appeared to have been recently disturbed and it gave them ideas.”

“And nothing was revealed.”

“No. I do not believe she is dead. Oh, if only she would come back.”

“Do you think they would live happy ever after, if she did?”

“I think if he would try ... and she would try ... they might. I told you he had changed.”

He took my hand which was lying on the table, and pressed it. “You are a very nice girl, Rebecca,” he said. “I should have been lucky if it had all turned out to plan.”

“I should never have married you. There was always ...”

“The lucky Pedrek.”

“I think he has not been very lucky so far. When-and if-he comes back I intend that he shall be.”

“I am envying him more and more. Do you know, I should like to help you.”

“You see now why I wanted to find you. It just occurred to me that as you had been meeting Celeste you might have known something.”

“Where are you staying?”

“At the Cartwrights’ ...”

“The lucky Pedrek’s parents’ house. I know it. How long shall you be there?”

“No more than a week.”

“You have come to London on a quest. You want to solve the mystery of Celeste’s disappearance. You want to do it for him because he has been so good to you. He has turned over a new leaf and will be the loving husband and stepfather. He will take the wayward Belinda to his heart and you will all be as one happy family.”

“Please don’t laugh at me.”

“I am not laughing. I am overcome with admiration. It means a lot to you, does it not?”

“A great deal.”

“I think it was so noble of you to come on your pilgrimage of detection. I will do all I can to help.”

“How? Do you think you can?”

“Who knows?”

I said: “I think I should go now.”

“You are disappointed.”

“It was a faint hope. It just occurred to me that she might have said something to you.”

He looked up from his teacup and smiled at me.

“Thank you for the tea,” I said, “and for listening to me.”

“I will settle with Marianna and then we will find a cab and I’ll take you home.” He paused and smiled at me. “Don’t be alarmed. I shall not attempt to oppose the ban and shall make no attempt to darken doors.”

We came into the street and were soon driving along.

“I am afraid you are a little disappointed in me,” he said. “How I should love to be of use.”

“I believe you would if you could,” I told him.

“Then you don’t think I am such a villain after all?”

“No.”

“Blackmail? Seeking betterment in shady ways ...”

“I have discovered that many people who may be a little unscrupulous in some ways can be very good in others.”

“What a lovely view of human nature! I should hate to change it.”

We drove in silence for some little way then he went on: “Ah, here is your destination. I will remain in the cab. I think there is just a possibility that you may not wish me to be seen.”

“It is just that ...”

He raised a hand. “I understand ... perfectly. I’ll make sure that you are safely in the house, then we shall trot discreetly away.”

“You are so kind and thoughtful.”

He took my hand and kissed it. “Au revoir, sweet Rebecca.”

I went into the house.

Two days later I received a note from him. It came by hand and was dropped through the letter box. I was glad that I was alone and no explanation was needed as to who my correspondent was.

He was asking me to meet him at three o’clock that afternoon at The Devil’s Crown. I was taken aback by the proposed venue, but I subdued my uneasiness, at the prospect of hearing something about Celeste.

I arrived there on time.

I was apprehensive as I stood before the building. It was not very far from The Yellow Canary and The Green Light and bore a resemblance to them ... a tall, shabby building on the wall of which was the sign, the Devil with cloven feet and horns, and a crown on his head.

I noticed the big brass knocker with a decoration at the top of it. When I looked closer I saw that it was a crowned devil’s head.

I knocked and in a few moments the door was opened by Oliver Gerson.

“I knew you’d be here promptly,” he said. “Come in.”

I stepped into a small room which was empty of furniture. He opened the door and led the way into another room. Like the first it was empty. I was beginning to feel apprehensive. He realized this and said: “I have a reason for bringing you here. I’m sorry. It is not very attractive, is it? It’s empty actually. We have only recently acquired the premises. Plans are in progress for redesigning the whole place.”

“Why did you ask me to come here?”

“I can explain to you here. I can see you are uneasy. Don’t be. You are perfectly safe with me and I think you are going to be glad I brought you here.”

“It’s ... a very strange place.”

“Are you thinking of the devil at the door? That is meant to give people a little shiver as they enter.”

He laid a hand on my arm. Instinctively I drew back. I could not help being reminded of Jean Pascal and wondering if I had been foolish enough to wander into another such trap.

“Could we go somewhere to talk?” I suggested. “That teashop?” He shook his head. “It was necessary that you should come here. You must not be afraid of me. I know I am all sorts of a rogue and an adventurer in a way. I climbed to the position I hold now ... and not always by the straight and narrow path. Benedict’s grandfather was interested in me. He recognized my talents and said he would exploit them. I had a position of some responsibility in his day and of course continued in it when Benedict took over.”

“I know all this ... and that you jeopardized that position. That was unwise surely.”

“Ah, but he couldn’t turn me out. I was too well entrenched. However, that’s neither here nor there. He’s finished with us now and I am still here. But I am wasting time, aren’t I? You want to know why I brought you here.”

“You are going to tell me something about Celeste, I hope.”

“I want to prepare you ... gently. I don’t want to give you too much of a shock. You saw us at The Hanging Judge. Yes, I was meeting her. No ... not what you are thinking. It was not a love affair. I was sorry for her. I’m not so bad really. There is a little good in the worst of us, you know. I am capable of feeling sorry for someone in distress, and she was certainly that. She confided in me. She wanted to talk to someone who was sympathetic ... and worldly enough to understand the situation. So we talked ... and then we used to meet occasionally. Then ... Benedict threatened to ruin everything for me. I was furious with him. He would not find it easy to be rid of me. There were others concerned and they knew my value. I recalled that other affair of his ... his first election when he lost through the scandal about his wife. I was furious. I wanted above all to make him pay. It became an obsession.”