The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy (5 page)

'You've travelled extensively?'

'I've got around.'

'Whereas I have never been farther than four or five European capitals.'

'And you with the FO!'

'That is the precise reason. I am attached to the European section.'

'Ah, then it's unlikely we met abroad, anyway. Probably we've just sat next to each other at Wimbledon or Twickenham.'

'I think not. I have little interest in games. You are a writer, I understand.'

'Of a sort.'

'I have to admit never recalling having seen any of your books.'

'Probably because I write under various pseudonyms.'

'May I ask what names?'

'Oh, G. K. Chesterton, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf.'

For a split second Thornton looked startled. Then he smiled icily. 'I'm sorry. You think I'm being too inquisitive.'

'Not at all. Merely a feeble joke. No, I'm not a best-selling author. Mine are mostly travel and guide books. And I write magazine articles. I use the names Jonathan George and Andrew Lewis mainly.'

'Oh, I am familiar with the name Jonathan George. A work on Malaya, I believe?'

'One of my slightly better-known efforts.'

'Surely a far cry from the stately homes of England, is it not?'

'I believe in casting my net wide.'

'Who are to publish this book?'

'It's for the American market, actually. A New York firm. I doubt that the name would mean much to you.'

'What other houses are to be included apart from Alderley?'

'I'm not quite sure Alderley is to be included yet,' Deveraux said. He listed some of the other houses.

'I see,' Thornton said. 'Your plans seem to be far advanced.'

'Far enough, I think,' said Deveraux. 'Far enough.'

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Secret Passage

Mr. and Mrs. Peabody and Evans arrived about six. Jane, who'd had vague expectations of meeting the caricatured Texans of fiction, was pleased to find the Peabodys pleasant, unassuming people. She took to them at once.

The only person, in fact, who seemed not to like them, was Lord Burford himself. This puzzled Jane until Gerry explained the Earl's fears and suspicions about the guns. 'He'll be all right in a few hours, though,' she added, 'when he realises how nice they are.'

However, this wasn't to be. During the pre-dinner drinks, Gerry found her father standing alone, looking glum.

She poked him in the ribs. 'What's wrong?'

'Don't. Him.' He gave a jerk of his head.

'Peabody?' Gerry glanced towards the millionaire - a squarely-built man of about fifty-five, with a pugnacious jaw and rimless glasses. 'I thought you'd be happier now you'd seen how pleasant and quiet and intelligent he is.'

'That's the trouble. I was hoping he'd be a brash, self-opinionated fool, who'd just used his money to buy blindly. But I've got a horrible feeling he's going to turn out to know more about guns than me.'

'Oh really, Daddy, don't be ridiculous. I'm sure you'll get on like a house on fire when you really know him. Now go and talk to him.'

'Oh, all right.' Lord Burford squared his shoulders and ambled across. He tapped Peabody on the shoulder. 'Tell me all about Texas,' he said.

* * *

In spite of Merryweather's forebodings, dinner that evening was a very successful occasion.

The food - clear soup, dover sole, saddle of lamb with garden peas, strawberries and cream, and a fine Cheddar cheese - was superb. Lord Burford, having talked to Peabody, had, temporarily at least, got over his apprehensions and was a jovial host. Lady Burford, who, after Merryweather's warning had spent a hectic time trying to find an unaccompanied lady to invite at short notice, had at long last succeeded in getting hold of a Mrs. Carpenter, the relict of a former bishop of the diocese, who usually dined at Alderley a couple of times a year. So the Countess was happy, and determined not yet to worry about the same problem at future meals.

The guests seemed to get on well together. Mrs. Peabody wore her famous necklace, and the magnificent stones were an immediate talking-point. Peabody and Adler found a common interest in baseball. Felman seemed less ill at ease than earlier. Algy was eating too eagerly to bore anybody greatly. And Jane and Deveraux, finding themselves seated side by side, had caught each other's eye, hesitated, then both smiled tentatively. Thereafter - much to the relief of Gerry, who had arranged the pairing - they talked, formally at first, but later more cordially.

So the atmosphere was in every way thoroughly satisfactory, and as Merryweather supervised he wondered why he had earlier felt so uneasy. The house party was clearly going to proceed swimmingly.

After dinner, when the men joined the ladies in the drawing room, Lord Burford made a short speech. 'While everybody's here I'd like to explain something about our security system. As you know, there's a lot of very valuable stuff here -paintings, silver and personal jewellery, its well as quite famous collections of stamps, first editions, and coins. In addition, of course, there are my firearms and ammunition, which mustn't fall into the wrong hands. So to be on the safe side we've had a unique and, we think, foolproof burglar alarm installed. The drawback is that not only can nobody get in without setting it off, but nobody can get out either. Your bedroom windows will open six inches only. If you should force them wider - and, of course, you can do that quite easily in an emergency - or open or break any other window, unlock or force a door, you'll trigger the alarm off. Merryweather switches on - or if we're having a late night, I do - last thing after locking up, so I'm afraid that it's just not possible to go for a stroll in the grounds after that. Sorry.'

Peabody said: 'You can turn it off, I suppose, Earl? There is a master switch?'

'No. We wanted to be as secure as they could make us, and we had to think of the possibility of a really serious burglar—'

'Like this Wraith guy, huh?'

'Exactly. We had to think of the possibility of a thief like that bribing a servant to turn it off. So the thing's on a time switch. After it's primed it stays on until the morning, when it switches off automatically - at six-thirty this time of year.'

'What would happen if a door had to be opened at night?' Adler asked. 'To let a doctor in, say, if someone was taken ill.'

'We'd just have to put up with the alarm bells for five minutes or so. Actually, they wouldn't cause too much of a disturbance. There's one in my bedroom, one in the butler's, and one in the hall. Unless you were a very light sleeper or left your door open, I doubt if you'd hear it in your room. Now, who's for bridge?'

Two games were soon started, one involving Lord Burford, Peabody, Felman, and Thornton; and the other Carrie Peabody, Richard, Algy, and Evans. Lady Burford sat with Mrs. Carpenter, who did not play.

Meanwhile, Gerry took Adler off to hunt for the entrance to the secret passage. Deveraux also expressed an interest in seeing it and went along too. Jane made up the fourth.

Gerry led the way across the great hall to the breakfast room, which was at the eastern end of the main block. She went in, switching on the lights. The room was oak panelled and had french windows leading onto the front terrace. Heavy velvet curtains were at present drawn across them.

Gerry perched herself on the edge of the mahogany table and smiled at Adler. 'Right. It's all yours.'

He stared round. 'I don't know where to start.'

Deveraux said: 'Can I help?'

'Sure. I figure I'm going to need it.'

'If we find it, I'll expect a half-share of your winnings.'

'I'm not at all sure that's fair,' Jane said. 'Mr. Deveraux is an authority on English country houses. He'll know just where to look. I think they're out to break you, Gerry.'

'I'm no authority, I assure you,' said Deveraux. 'I haven't started to write the bally book yet. My entire knowledge of secret passages is drawn from the storybooks of my misspent boyhood.'

The room itself was sparsely furnished. Apart from the table, there was only a large sideboard and a dozen or so upright chairs placed round the walls. A large cupboard was built into one wall. For over ten minutes, while Gerry and Jane sat on the table, smoking and making unhelpful remarks, Deveraux and Adler examined the room. They tapped at panels, twisted, pulled and pushed at each small protuberance, and stamped on every accessible inch of the floor. Eventually they were forced to give up.

Gerry stubbed out her cigarette, got off the table, and crossed to the cupboard. She opened it wide, then twisted the knob twice in each direction. Suddenly there was a click, and to the right of the fireplace one whole panel slid silently aside, revealing a black square, just large enough for a man bending low to pass through.

Adler stared. 'Holy smoke.'

'Well, well, well.' Deveraux shook his head. 'Most remarkable.'

'It only works,' Gerry told them, 'when the cupboard door is wide open and the knob turned right-left-right-left. We think the cupboard was only put in as a sort of raison d'être for the knob.'

'Fascinating.' Deveraux walked across to the hole in the wall and peered in. 'Can't see a thing.'

'Allow me.' Gerry pushed past him, stuck an arm into the blackness, fumbled for a moment, and withdrew it, holding an electric torch. 'Don't let it be said that the Saunders are unprepared. Coming?'

'Where does it lead?'

'Wait and see. Mr. Adler?'

'Oh, sure. I'm not backing out at this stage - whatever terrors are in store.'

'Then I'll lead the way. Are you coming, Jane?'

'Not this time, darling, thanks. Not in the only evening dress I've brought with me.'

'I think it's pretty clean in there, actually. It's completely enclosed, so it can't get very dirty. Still, perhaps it would be a bit risky in white.'

'Have a lovely time,' said Jane.

Gerry disappeared into the opening, saying as she did so: 'Keep your heads down.'

Deveraux and Adler followed her. Jane heard Gerry's voice, muffled: 'Mr. Adler, if you reach upward with your left hand you should feel a sort of handle. Will you pull it downwards?'

There was a slight rumbling sound and the panel slid into place. Jane left the room and made her way upstairs to the first floor, turned right along the main corridor, and then went through a door on the left into another large panelled room. It was filled with shelves, which were stocked with sheets and other household linen. She waited for a few minutes, then heard a bumping sound behind the wall, a panel slid back, and Gerry emerged, followed by the two men. They looked around them, blinking.

'Welcome back to civilisation,' Jane said.

'Where are we?' Adler asked.

Gerry told them. 'Did you both enjoy it?'

'Well,' Deveraux brushed a speck of dust from his cuff. 'As secret passages go, I'm sure this one is one of the most delightful. But, frankly, if I should again have the occasion during my stay to proceed from the breakfast room to here, I shall ask Miss Clifton to guide me by the overland trail - no matter what dangers we may face from hostile natives.'

'I think you're a soulless beast,' Gerry said. 'I'm sure Mr. Adler appreciated the romance and mystery of it.'

'Indeed yes, Lady Geraldine. In spite of having banged my head at least a dozen times, I consider it to have been one of the most deeply satisfying experiences of my life. And I must congratulate you on never once losing your way.'

'What on earth was the passage built for?' Deveraux asked. 'Isn't the house rather late for a thing like that?'

'Yes. Nobody really knows. My great-grandfather's chaplain is reputed to have said that it was to be assumed it had been installed in order to facilitate an irregular liaison, but as Alderley was built by the first Earl, and it must have been included at his instructions, that theory hardly holds water.'

'Something of a puritan, was he?' Adler asked.

'Precisely the opposite. He was the most notorious profligate in the county. And utterly brazen withal. He didn't care who knew about his activities - and the sort of ladies he entertained were hardly likely to have cared either. So a secret passage would have been rather an unnecessary expense. Probably he just wanted a secret passage for prestige, in the same way he wanted a - a lake, say.'

'How does that sliding panel downstairs work?' Deveraux asked. 'It's very ingenious.'

'Oh, it's a highly complicated system of levers and springs and weights. It was added much later, by the fifth Earl, who was very mechanically minded. Before that it was just a matter of sliding the panel aside with your hands - as you still do this end. Incidentally, I hope you're both paying attention. You will be examined on the subject before you leave.'

CHAPTER NINE

Friday Morning

Friday dawned another glorious day.

At ten a.m. the official talks commenced in the small music room, which was soundproof and had been set aside for the discussions. At the same time Lord Burford finished breakfast and ambled somewhat gloomily out to the terrace, where Hiram Peabody, who'd breakfasted earlier, was reading.

Lord Burford spoke heartily. 'Mornin' Peabody. Lovely day.'

'Good morning, Earl. It sure is.' He folded up his paper.

'Sleep all right?'

'Fine, thank you. Actually Carrie and I are both notoriously heavy sleepers. But who wouldn't sleep well in at place like this?'

'Where's your missus got to?'

'Oh, she's exploring the house. The Countess kindly told her to feel quite free to go anywhere. She'll be happy as a cricket for hours just poking round on her own. It'll be the furnishings chiefly that'll take her attention, I guess.'

'Capital, capital.' Lord Burford coughed. 'I was thinking, p'raps you'd like to come and take a dekko at my little collection now.'

Peabody got to his feet with alacrity. 'Lead me to it, sir. This is something I've been looking forward to ever since we arrived in Europe.'

'Well, I hope it comes up to expectations, that's all. Come along, then. I'll take you up.'

He led the way up the stairs and turned right. They went along the main corridor and at the end turned left into the east corridor; about half-way along it, Lord Burford opened a pair of imposing double doors on the right and went through. Peabody followed. They were in a long gallery, which ran most of the outer side of the east wing. It was lined with paintings.

Lord Burford said: 'These are our pictures. Supposed to be very fine, if you're interested.'

'Oh, I'm sure they are. They certainly look beautiful. But I'm afraid I don't - I'm not . . .'

'Nor me. Come along.' He crossed the gallery to another door, almost exactly opposite. This was the entrance to the top floor of the eastern extension, the ground floor forming the ballroom. Lord Burford took a bunch of keys from his pocket, unlocked the door and opened it. Four feet beyond this was another door. This was not locked. Lord Burford opened it, then stood back and ushered his guest in. Peabody went through - and stopped dead.

He was at the end of a long, high-ceilinged and delightfully-proportioned room, with tall french doors leading onto a balustraded balcony at the far end. Through these could be seen the beech copse and the lake. The room had a finely-moulded gilded ceiling, elaborately panelled walls, and a highly-polished floor.

But Peabody had eyes for none of this. For the room was crammed from end to end with hundreds of guns. They were of every shape and size, from tiny pistols up to several huge cannon at the far end. He looked round reverently for ten seconds, before turning to his host.

'Earl,' he said. 'During the last four months I've seen most of the sights of Europe - the Parthenon, St Peter's, Notre Dame, the Tower of London - you name it. But this for me is the highlight. Now, where do we start?'

'Well, suppose first we have a quick survey of the whole collection, then later on you can examine the pieces that particularly interest you in greater detail.'

'Lead on,' said Peabody.

* * *

While Lord Burford was showing his collection, his wife had begun her task of impressing the glories of Alderley on Giles Deveraux. Determined he should miss none of the finer points, she had swooped on him shortly after breakfast and swept him off on the start of a detailed guided tour.

They commenced in the hall. 'Right,' the Countess said, 'let's first take a look at the staircase. We're quite proud of it. It's an early example of a type introduced at about the time Alderley was built. As you can see, the balustrades are composed of these pierced and carved panels in four-inch pine. The craftsmanship is considered particularly fine. If you look closely at the acanthus foliage . . .'

* * *

Jane and Gerry had gone riding.

'I was frightfully glad you made it up with Deveraux,' Gerry said. 'It would have been awfully awkward if the two of you had kept up a running feud all over the weekend. He's really much too nice to fight with, anyway, don't you think?'

She spoke casually, but cast a glance sideways as she asked the question, searching her friend's face.

The two girls had dismounted to rest their horses on the extreme southern border of the estate and were sitting on the bank of the little meandering river which eventually fed the Alderley lake.

Jane was lying back with her eyes closed. 'He's nice enough, I suppose, but he's not really my type. And you needn't use that innocent tone with me. I know just what's going through your scheming little mind.'

'It's not a little mind.'

'All right, your scheming big mind. Use it to scheme yourself into getting off with Martin Adler.'

Gerry screwed up her nose. 'I'm not sure I really want to. I could understand someone falling for him in a big way - I think I would have myself three or four years ago. But he's just a little too charming. I'm not sure I don't like Nick Felman better. He's nice I think. Even though he is like a cat on hot bricks most of the time.'

'He's worried about something.'

'Yes. Now and again he manages to throw it off - but he can't keep it up. I wish I knew what was wrong.'

'Why don't you ask him?'

'Oh, I couldn't.'

'Why not? I would.'

'You might get away with it. He'd probably tell me to mind my own business.'

'I don't know why you should think that. He hasn't given the least sign of being interested in me.'

'And, of course, he's not really your type, is he?'

Jane laughed.

'In fact, none of them are, are they? You'll have to try elsewhere, after all.'

Jane hesitated fractionally before saying: 'Looks like it, doesn't it?'

The pause lasted only a second, but it was enough for Gerry. She gave a squeak, grabbed Jane by the shoulders, and stared into her face. 'Jane - there is someone. There is, isn't there?'

'No, don't be silly.' Jane sat up and looked away.

'There is. I can tell. Who? Oh lor' - not Martin Adler - not alter what I said?'

'Of course not.'

'Evans, then, the secretary? But you've hardly spoken to him. And it couldn't possibly be Thornton.'

'Oh, Gerry, really!'

'Algy! Not Algy - I just won't believe it. But there isn't anybody else. I don't understand. Apart from them, Daddy, Mr. Peabody and Richard are the only men—' She broke off with a gasp as she noticed Jane's eyes flicker. 'Richard! Not Richard? Darling, you're not in love with Richard?'

Jane didn't answer.

'Jane, I just don't believe it!'

'Nobody's asking you to.' Jane spoke snuffily.

'But he's so much older than you.'

'He is not. He's sixteen years older. Which is nothing. Not that it would make any difference if it was a hundred and sixteen years. There never has been, and never will be, anything between us, so just shut up.'

'Darling, I'm sorry. I honestly had no idea you felt like that.' Gerry sounded rather dazed. 'How long - I mean, when did you first . . .' She tailed off.

'When I was about seventeen.' Jane's voice quavered a little.

They both sat silently for a few minutes. Then Gerry said: 'I think it would be ripping.'

'What would?'

'For you and Richard to team up.'

'You didn't sound as though you thought that.'

'Well, it sort of took me on the hop. But now I've had a chance to think about it, I'm beginning to see you together.'

'Well, forget it. It's never going to happen.'

'But for heaven's sake, why not?'

'Because he just doesn't think of me that way, that's why not. To him, I'm just his little niece's little friend.'

'Then it's up to you to open his eyes.'

'Never.' Jane shook her head firmly.

'Oh, don't be silly, Jane. I don't mean you've got to vamp him.'

'What else would it amount to?'

'You've just got to make him see you for what you are - a fully mature and very attractive woman.'

'Thanks for the compliment, but nothing doing. He's either interested in me, or he's not. I did hope that after such a long break he might see me in a new light. I've avoided him, you know, for over two years. But when we met yesterday, nothing happened. He was pleased to see me, friendly, interested, helpful. And that was all. So let's just leave it at that, shall we, and talk about something else.'

'No, let's not. I think you'd be crazy to let things stop there. Look, why don't I have a word with him—'

She broke off and winced as Jane grabbed her fiercely by the arm. 'You dare, Gerry! I swear I'll never speak to you again if you so much as hint to him how I feel.'

Gerry tried to unwind Jane's fingers from her arm. 'Jane, let go, you're hurting.'

'Promise me you won't ever mention it.'

'All right - I promise.'

'To Richard - or to anybody else.'

'All right.'

Jane let go, dropped down onto her back again and stared at the sky. Gerry rubbed her arm.

'Your trouble, Jane, is that you're just too proud.'

'Maybe. But I will not make myself cheap - for anything or anybody. Besides,' Jane rolled over onto her stomach and spoke a little less vehemently, 'he's probably got a girl already.'

'I don't think so. Not a regular one, anyway. There are women he takes out, of course, but no special one, I'm sure. I believe there was a girl once he was in love with, but that was a long time ago.'

'Oh? When?'

'During the war, when he was in France. I've got an idea l here was some sort of tragedy about it. I don't know any details. He's never talked about it. But I vaguely remember hearing him telling Daddy some story when I was quite a little girl.'

'I suppose she died, did she?'

'I honestly don't know. Probably. I just remember him and Daddy sounding rather grim, then seeing me and shutting up. I could try to find out.'

'No don't bother. There's no point in dragging up the past.'

Jane got to her feet and brushed down her jodhpurs. 'Come on, let's give these beauties of yours a really good gallop.'

* * *

Richard Saunders was feeling a little worried. The talks were not going quite as he had anticipated. It was not that, so far at least, any real differences had arisen between the sides; but matters were certainly not proceeding as smoothly as they should be.

The trouble, to Richard's mind, lay in the attitude of Adler. He appeared to expect the British to make a number of firm commitments, yet seemed unwilling to reciprocate himself. He repeatedly asked for facts and figures regarding the proposed military aid, but so far had been strangely unwilling even to mention the existence of the land which was to be handed over in return - let alone discuss it in detail. Already Richard had made concessions - had promised the delivery by a certain date of specific equipment. But no corresponding concession had been forthcoming. It was very puzzling. Richard wondered if he had said anything which might have led Adler to distrust him. If so, he would have to find out what it was and put things right as quickly as possible.

Now Adler was giving a long, repetitious and quite unnecessary peroration about the great peril faced by his country. When he eventually stopped, Richard suggested a coffee break. He rang the bell and the coffee arrived a minute or so later. After the footman had left, the two sides drifted to different ends of the room.

Richard cocked an eyebrow at Thornton. 'Well?'

'Odd, Minister. Very, odd.'

'I'm glad you agree. I was beginning to think it was me!'

Thornton shook his head. 'No, it's Adler. He's behaving very strangely. There's something here I don't understand.'

'It's almost as though they're trying to go back on their government's word - trying to avoid ceding any land.'

'I know.'

'Do you think they could have discovered that these territories are much richer than they originally estimated?'

'I would say there's more to it than that. Something peculiar is going on here. I've never known anyone conduct negotiations in the way Adler is.'

Richard looked at him keenly. 'Then what is the explanation?'

'I don't know - yet.'

'Well, what's our next move? Concede a little more?'

'That would not be my advice.'

'You thought I was wrong to give in just now, didn't you?'

Thornton hesitated. 'Well, frankly, I would not have done so.'

'Maybe you would have been right. I simply thought it was time for somebody to make a gesture of good will.'

'Oh, I appreciate your motive, Minister. And you've certainly put yourself in the right. But I would recommend firmness now - press hard for more details of this territory. That I think is vital.'

* * *

Adler said to Felman: 'What do you think?'

'Saunders is worried.'

'I know. I'm getting to feel quite sorry for the guy.'

'Sorry for him!'

'Yes, he seems a decent fellow. I don't want to louse up his career.'

'Then you know what to do.'

'Talk sense. Anyway, if he does strike out over this business, at least you won't have to blame yourself. Because, to be frank, Nicholas, you haven't been a great deal of help this morning.'

'What do you expect? I'm not exactly used to this sort of situation.'

'I'm not used to it myself. I've never handled anything like it before. I'm not enjoying myself, you know. I like these folk - Saunders's brother and his wife, those two girls. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to spend another two days here, inspecting the old boy's collection, seeing over the house, playing tennis with the chicks, then shake hands all round and go home. But I can't and you can't either. So I'm afraid you're going to have to make the best of it.'

Before Felman could reply to this, Richard spoke from the other side of the room. 'Well, gentlemen, shall we get down to business again?'

* * *

'Here's a rather nice fourteen-barrel volley gun,' said Lord Burford. 'Made by—'