Виктория Холт - The Pride of the Peacock

“Who could have used the stab-case with all those things on the stairs?”

“Someone who knew they were there … someone who put them there .. knowing that I should see the open door and investigate."

” Oh no, Mrs. Madden, he wouldn’t go as far as that. “

“He? Who?"

” Whoever it is who is playing these tricks with the spinet.

That’s what you said, isn’t it, it’s someone playing tricks. “

“I have got to get to the bottom of this, Mrs. Laud. don’t move anything on that staircase. I’m going to see what is actually there.”

“Well, Mrs. Madden, there’s a door on the landing below this. It’s so unobtrusive you’d hardly notice ifs there. I put a curtain over it since no one uses it as a staircase. As you’ve seen, ifs dark and dangerous. It looks to me as if someone used it as a cupboard and piled boxes on the stairs.”

“Anyone would see on opening the door down there that it was a staircase and not a cupboard, surely."

” I can’t think how it happened,” said Mrs. Laud helplessly.

I took a candle, lighted it, and peered down the staircase. I could see the huddle of boxes on the lower stairs.

“We’d better clear it out and open it,” I said.

“I don’t like the idea of these secret places.”

And as I was speaking I knew mat someone had lured me on to that staircase, had put the boxes there to trap me, someone who had hoped that I would have an accident . Aa or perhaps break my neck. I knew it was not the spirit of my so’ mother-or anyone who cared for me-who had lured me to the gallery with the spinet playing. to It was someone who wished me out of the way.

As I rode into the town next morning for I had suffered little physical effect from yesterday’s adventure. I said to Joss: “Did you know there was a staircase connecting the gallery with the corridor on the lower floor?”

I watched him carefully as I asked the question. His expression did not change as he said: “Oh yes, I remember. I used to play hide and seek a lot when I was a boy. It was one of my favourite games, and I remember using that stair-c< case.”

“You haven’t used it lately?”

I'd forgotten about it. What made you mention it ? “

“I discovered it yesterday.”

“We ought to open it and use it.”

"That's what I said. Did you ever play the spinet ? “

“What makes you ask?”

“Just curiosity.”

“As a matter of fact I did.”

I laughed.

“What’s amusing?”

The thought of your sitting at that dainty stool rendering a Chopin nocturne. “

“I wasn’t bad at it. I’ll show you one day.”

“Have you played recently?”

“Haven’t touched it for years. I expect it’s out of tune. We ought to get someone to look at it. I can’t think who. Spinet-care would hardly be a profitable profession in these parts. I can’t think why Ben ever brought it out here.”

“For sentimental reasons, I believe.”

“And they are rarely sound ones.”

How could he be so calm, so matter of fact? He didn’t want me. I was well aware of that, but would he really play the spinet and try to make me break my neck? Ruthless I knew him to be, in love with Isa and making little secret of it. There were people in the town who suspected him of murdering Ezra-Mrs. Laud had hinted at it-but what was the use of getting rid of Ezra if nothing was to be done to remove the other encumbrance?

I must face the tacts, if I did not exist he could marry Isa. They had been lovers for a long time without contemplating marriage, so why should they suddenly desire it?

I realized that it was not so much that I believed Joss would not despatch me but that I could not believe he would have used such a method. Why not? Above all, my death must appear natural. It would be too much of a coincidence if I were supposed to be shot by a bushranger.

In Fancy Town Joss was a great power; people were afraid of him. But even he would have to be careful how he committed murder.

The next morning when one of the maids came in with my hot water she brought a letter to me. I was astonished because we collected our mail from Fancy Town when it came in from Sydney every Wednesday and for a letter to be delivered at the house was unheard of.

“How did it come?” I asked, turning it over in my hand.

“It was found in the hall, Mrs. Madden. One of the servants Saw it lying there and it was addressed to you so I brought it up.”

It had obviously been delivered by hand and the writing on the envelope was vaguely familiar. I opened it. My dear Mrs. Madden (I read), I have made a discovery as I hoped I might. I rode in late last night to drop this letter at Peacocks. I must see you alone and in secret.

My enquiries have revealed so much and it would be very unwise for us to meet openly at this stage. You are in danger. So am I. I have something to show you and it is known that I have this. I hope you won’t think this is too melodramatic, but I assure you there is something melodramatic about the whole matter and both our lives could be in jeopardy. Therefore I am going to ask you to meet me tomorrow . that will be today when you get this letter. I have tried to think of a suitable meeting place, for I assure you it must be very secret, and I have decided that the best would be Glover’s Gully. Could you be there at three o’clock? There should be no one about at that time but we must be very careful. I’m going to suggest that we meet me underground chambers to the mine. There is nothing to fear and descent is easy by ha: means of the old ladder there.

Please don’t show this letter to anyone. That’s very important. You will understand the reason for this when we meet.

Sincerely, I’s Jeremy Dickson.

The words danced before my eyes. It sounded wildly dramatic but then everything connected with the Green Flash bl-‘ was-and I was certain that this was connected with that stone.

Of course I would do it. I was not afraid, although the mine was said to be haunted. I had always liked and trusted Jeremy Dickson. I could scarcely wait for three o’clock.

I did not want anything to be different so I went as usual with Joss in the morning. If I was more silent than usual, so t( was he. We left each other at the doors of the offices and I went into Jimson Laud’s department. I could concentrate on nothing that morning.

I had seen some of the chambers of disused mines and I would take a candle with me so that I should be able to find a my way through the passages.

I left just after midday and went back to Peacocks, which I had to pass on my way to the Gully. In my room I picked’s up the candle and matches and set out, confident that no one had seen me leave.

There was not a touch of wind nor a cloud in the sky. The day was at its hottest. I rode fast, so eager was I to reach our rendezvous in time.

The sun was high in the sky-a white blazing light-and as I rode I left a cloud of dust behind me. The song of cicadas filled the ah” but I was so accustomed to it that I scarcely noticed it. Away on the horizon a kangaroo leaped in his ungainly progress among the dumps of mulga. Overhead the inevitable kookaburras laughed together and never before had I felt so conscious of the loneliness of the Bush.

I went through the pass and there was the mine. There was no sign of anyone there. I looked at my watch. It was five minutes to three.

Shading my eyes I studied the landscape. I could see no one. Jeremy had said in the underground chambers and he must be there already although I wondered whether he had hidden his mount I slipped off Wattle, who showed no objection and seemed perfectly at peace. I tethered her to a bush and went to the mine.