June 10, 2025 • 20 mins
Reunited after many years, two former classmates, now immersed in military life, find themselves seeking anonymity from the public eye. Dick West, a disgraced heir to his familys estate, waits for a message from his cousin through the infamous Red Window - a symbol of danger during times of civil strife. The message would signify his grandfathers forgiveness. However, things take an unexpected turn as a handkerchief wrapped around the old mans neck adds a layer of complexity to the situation. This summary is brought to you by Lynne Thompson.
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Chapter sixteen of The Red Window. This is a LibriVox recording.
All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording
by Craig Kenneth Bryant. The Red Window by Fergus Hume,
Chapter sixteen. The unexpected Miss Berengaria's servants had been with
(00:25):
her for a long time and were all eminently respectable.
She was needless to say very good to them, and
they adored and obeyed her in quite a feudal manner.
When at supper in the servants hall, all old and
all sedate, they might have been a company of Quakers,
from the sobriety of their demeanor. The head of the
table was taken by the cook, and the foot by
(00:48):
James the coachman. Those two were married and were both fat,
both devoted to Miss Berengaria, and both rulers of the
other servants. The coachman swayed the little kingdom of Domestics
with his stout wife as queen. On the very evening,
Miss Plantagenet came back from Cove Castle. The servants were
enjoying a good supper, and James was detailing the events
(01:10):
of the day. After this, his wife narrated what had
taken place during his absence, and at the side of
the table sat Jerry, looking the picture of innocence, occupied
with his bread and cheese, but taking everything in. The
information conveyed to James by the cook related to several
tramps that had called, and to the killing of two
fowls by a fox terrier that belonged to a neighbor,
(01:32):
and a nice rage. The mississ will be in over them,
said the cook. You should have set Sloppy Jane on
the terrier, said James. Our poultry is prize birds and
worth a dozen of them. Snappy dogs as bite the
heels of respectable folk. Sloppy Jane was with me, said
a sedate housemaid. A tramp came to the gate asking
for miss Alice, and I couldn't get him away. What
did he want with miss Alice, demanded James aggressively. Ah
(01:56):
what indeed, said the housemaid. I told him Miss Alice
wouldn't speak to the like of him. But he looked
a gentleman, though he had a two days beard and
was dressed it in such rags as you never saw.
Did he go Sarah. Oh, yes, he went in a
lingering sort of way, and I had to tie Jane
up in case she'd fly on him. I didn't want that,
Why not, said the coachman, dictatorially. Tramps as tramps, Sarah pondered, Well,
(02:21):
Cook and James, it's this way, she said, with some hesitation,
this murder of old Sir Simon. Jerry pricked up his
ears at this and looked more innocent than ever. Go on,
said the cook, wondering why Sarah stopped. They said his
grandson done it, and that I'll never believe, cried James,
pounding the table. A noble young gentleman as mister Bernard,
(02:43):
and many a half crown he's given me. He never
did it, and even if he did, he's dead and gone.
Sarah drew back from the table. I really forgot that,
she whimpered. It must have been his ghost, and she
threw her apron over her head. What's that, Sarah? A ghost?
There's no such thing. Whose ghost mister Bernard's, said Sarah,
looking scared as she removed her apron. Oh to think
(03:06):
I should have lived to see a ghost? Yes, you
may all look, but that tramp ragged and torn was
mister Gore. Don't I know him as well as I
know myself, Sarah, said James, while the cook turned pale
and Jerry listened more eagerly than ever. You rave in
a crazy way. Oh well, there's no knowing, cried Sarah hysterically.
(03:27):
But the tramp was mister Gore, and I forgot he
was dead. His ghost. It must have been his ghost,
no wonder. Jane wanted to fly at him, mister Bernard's ghost,
wanting to see Miss Alice, said Cook. Get along with you, Sarah,
he must be alive. I don't believe all the papers say.
Perhaps he wasn't drowned after all. We must inquire into this,
(03:50):
said James, magisterially, and feeling for his glasses. Oh, by
the way, he drew a dirty envelope out of his pocket.
Here's something for you, young shaver, threw it across to Jerry.
I was sitting in the kitchen and his Lordship's castle
and being waited on by a dark eyed wench. I
told her of us here and mentioned you. She said
she knew you, and asked me to give you that
(04:11):
and to be sure she would know you, added James
half to himself, seeing missus Moon as your grandmother and
a fine figure of a woman. But touching this here ghost,
Jerry rose from the table and retreated to a corner
of the warm room to read his note, but he
kept his ears open all the time to the coachman's
investigation of Sarah's doings with the tramp. The note was
(04:33):
from Victoria, asking Jerry to come over and see her,
and stating that there was a gentleman stopping at the castle.
There's something queer about him, Jerry, as he keeps himself
very much to himself. Also he knows your whistle as
he whistles to me, which is funny. Can't you come
over and see me? This, with all allowance for misspelling,
was what Jerry deciphered. Then he thrust the note into
(04:54):
his pocket and returned to the table. He had an
awful cough, this tramp, said Sarah. Ghosts don't cough, remarked Cook.
This one did awful, And he looked that pale and
thin as never was. He went away in broad daylight,
asked James. It was getting dark about five. Maybe I
was sorry for him, and I would have led him
(05:15):
in to see Miss Alice. He seemed so disappointed. Ah, Sarah,
it's a pity you didn't let him in. But mister James,
you can't bear tramps or ghosts, added the cook fearfully.
It were no tramp and no specter, said the coachman.
I see it all. He looked solemnly round the company.
This was mister Bernard, come to see if Miss Alice
(05:38):
will help him. He's alive. God be praised, amen, said
the cook, bowing her head as though in church. And
if he comes again, we will let him in and
say nothing to the police. I should not, said Sarah.
He looked so sad and pale, Oh, dear me, and
such a fine, handsome young gentleman he was. To be sure,
we will swear to be silent, said James, solemnly. Seeing
(06:01):
as we are all sure mister Bernard never killed old
Sir Simon. I'd never believe it if a jury told me,
said the cook. Young Jerry, swear to be silent. Oh
I'm fly, mister James, said Jerry easily. But who is
mister Bernard and why did he kill Sir Simon? He didn't,
and he's the present baronet at the hall. Young Jerry,
(06:22):
you don't chatter or I'll thrash you within an inch
of your life. Oh he won't talk, said the good
natured cook. He's an angel, Sarah snorted. She was not
so impressed with Jerry's angelic qualities as the rest of
the company. However, Jerry, who had his own reasons to retire,
slipped away unostentatiously and read Victoria's letter for the second time.
(06:43):
Then he talked to himself in a whisper. He's alive,
after all, he said, And he's stopping at that castle,
I dare say the old girl he thus profanely described,
his mistress went over there to see him with Miss Alice,
and they brought him back, dropping on the way so
that he could get into the house quietly. He knows
my whistle. No one but him could know it, as
(07:05):
he heard me on that night. What's to be done.
I'll go out and have a look round. He may
come back again. Jerry was too young to be so
exact as he should be. There were several flaws in
his argument, but he was too excited to think over these.
It never struck him that Miss Plantagenet could have smuggled
Gore easier into the house by bringing him in her
(07:26):
carriage after swearing James to secrecy than by letting him
approach the house and the character of a tramp. But
it was creditable to the Lad's observation that he so
quickly conjectured the mysterious stranger at the castle should be Bernard.
Jerry knew that Conniston was a close friend of Gore's,
and saw at once that Bernard had sought the refuge
of the castle, where he would remain undiscovered. But for
(07:49):
Victoria's hint, Jerry would never have guessed this. It was
his duty to communicate this knowledge to Beryl, But for
reasons of his own, connected with the chance of a
reward or a bribe to hold his tongue from someone
who could pay better than Beryl, say Lord Conniston, Jerry
determined to wait quietly to see how things would turn out. Meanwhile,
(08:10):
he strolled round to the fowls, where he thought it
likely the tramp, if he was a tramp, might come.
If not a tramp, he might come this way also
as the easiest to enter the grounds. The poultry yard
was carved out of a large meadow by the side
of the gardens. It ran back a considerable distance from
the high road, and at the far end was fenced
(08:30):
with a thin plantation of elms. Wire netting and stout
fences surrounded the yard, and there was a gate opening
onto the meadow. Aforesaid, Jerry hovered round these precincts, watching,
but he did not expect any luck. However, the boy,
being a born bloodhound, waited for the sheer excitement of
the thing. Now it happened that Miss Berengaria had left
(08:53):
the house of a pair of coachin fowls unlocked. She
would have gone out to lock it herself, but that
she was so weary. All the same, she would not
delegate the duty to her servants, as she considered they
might not execute the commission properly. Finally, Alice offered to go,
and after putting on a thick waterproof and a large
pair of rubber boots which belonged to Miss Plantagenet, she
(09:15):
ventured out. Thus it was that she paddled round to
the yard with a lantern and came into the neighborhood
of Jerry. That suspicious young man immediately thought she had
heard of Bernard's coming and had come out to meet him.
He snuggled into a corner near the gate and watched
as best he could in the darkness. It was pouring rain,
and the sky was black with swiftly moving clouds. These
(09:38):
streamed across the face of a haggard looking moon, and
in the flaws of the wind down came the rain
in a perfect drench. Alice, with her dress drawn up,
a lantern in one hand and an umbrella of the
gamp species extended above her head, ventured into the yard
and locked up the precious fowls. Then she came back
round by the gate to see if it was barred.
(09:59):
To her, it was open. Rather annoyed, she closed it
again and put up the bar. Then she took her
way round by the side of the house to enter
by the front door. Jerry followed with the step of
a red Indian. He was rewarded. Just as Alice turned
the corner of the house, she heard a groan and
almost stumbled over a body lying on the flower bed
(10:21):
under the wall of the house. At first she gave
a slight shriek, but before she could step back, the
man clutched her feet. Alice. Alice moaned the man, save me.
It's Bernard. Bernard here, said Alice, with a shudder and
wondered how he had come back from the castle. She
turned the light on to his face and then started back.
(10:44):
This was not Bernard. In the circle of light she saw,
and Jerry, slinking along the side of the fence, saw
also a pale, thin face with a wild look on it.
The hair was long and matted, there was a scrubby
growth on the chin, and the eyes were duncan for
want of food. Still it was Bernard's face, and but
(11:04):
that she had seen him on that very afternoon, she
would have been deceived until she had made a closer
acquaintance with the tramp. But Alice, having heard the story
of Missus Gilroy's son, knew at once that this miserable
creature was Michael. He was representing himself to her as Bernard,
and mindful of Durham's advice after the first start of alarm,
(11:25):
she determined to treat him as though she believed he
was her lover. Can you get to your feet, she said,
touching him, although her soul shuddered within her when she
thought what the man had done. Yes, said Michael hoarsely,
and tried to rise. She assisted him to his feet,
but his weight almost made her sink. I must get
(11:45):
the servants, said she, trying to disengage herself. No, no,
said the man, in a voice of hoarse terror. They
will give me up. Remember what I have done. Alice
did remember, indeed, and shuddered again. But it was needful
for the clearing of Bernard that she should carry on
the comedy so as to detain the man a word
(12:06):
from her that she knew who he really was, and
he would fly at once when all chance of saving
Gore would be in an end. Therefore she half led,
half dragged him round the corner of the house, and
the driving rein. Jerry waited till the two disappeared and
the last gleam of the lantern vanished. Then he went
back to the kitchen unconcernedly. Where have you been, asked James, sternly,
(12:31):
looking to see if the poultry gate was all right,
said Jerry. You see, mister James, a tramp might come
in there. It was your duty to shut it. I
have shut it, said Jerry, with assumed sulkiness. Now don't
you give me your lip, young sir, or I'll knock
your head off. Do you hear any tramps about? No,
said Jerry, mendaciously, all's safe, and with a wonderful sense
(12:55):
and a lad of his age, he said no more.
Then he sat down to cards with the cook and
never made a solitary mention of what was going on
in the front of the house, as he quite expected,
Miss Plantagenet never sent for any of the servants. They'll
manage the job themselves, thought Jerry, playing cheerfully. When he
retired to bed. He had a wonderful lot to think about,
(13:17):
and more than ever, he determined to watch which way
the wind blew so as to make as much money
out of his knowledge as possible. Jerry was a marvelously
precocious criminal and knew much more than was good for him.
Miss Berengaria would have fainted, unaccustomed as she was, to
indulge in such weakness, had she known the kind of
youth she sheltered under her roof. But poor Miss Berengaria
(13:41):
had her hands full. She left the front door open
for the return of Alice and heard it close with
a bang at once. She started from her seat before
the fire in the drawing room to rebuke the girl
for such carelessness, but her anger changed to astonishment when
Alice appeared at the door, streaming with wet and supporting
a man. Aunt cried Alice, dropping the man in a heap,
(14:01):
and eagerly closing the door. Here's Bernard, Bernard, exclaimed Miss Plantagenet,
staring yes, yes, said Alice, passing over and pinching her
aunt's arm. See how pale he is and hungry. He
escaped and has come for us to save him. If
the police. The man on the floor, who was in
a half stupor half rose the police, the police, he
(14:24):
said thickly, and his wild eyes glared. No, I will
confess everything, Alice. I am, I am. He dropped again.
By this time Miss Plantagenet, accepting the hint of Alice's pinch,
was beginning to grasp the situation. She scarcely relished having
a murderer under her roof, but for the sake of Bernard,
she felt that she also must aid in the deception.
(14:47):
But she could not conceive how Michael could have the
audacity to pass himself off as Bernard to one who
knew him so intimately as Alice. At the same time,
she saw the wonderful likeness to Gore. He and Michael
might have been twins, but Michael had not the mole,
which was his brother's distinguishing mark. Still, unless Michael knew
(15:09):
all about Bernard's life, unless he was educated like him,
unless he knew his ways and tricks and manners, it
was impossible that he should hope to deceive Alice, or
even Miss Berengaria herself. Also, there was another thing to
be considered. How came the man in this plight. He
had received one thousand pounds from Sir Simon in the
(15:31):
beginning of October, and therefore must have plenty of money.
Yet here he was thin, haggard, in squalid rags, and
evidently a hunted fugitive. It was not a comedy got
up to deceive them, for both women saw that the
man really was suffering. He was now lying in a stupor.
(15:52):
But for all that he might have sense enough to
know what they said, so both were cautious. After a
glance exchanged between them. We must take Bernard up to
the turret room, said Miss Berengaria, promptly. He'll be all
right to night, and then we can send for Paine tomorrow.
Help me with him, Alice, But aunt the servants. They
(16:13):
will hold their tongues. I'll see to that. Bless you,
murmured the half stupefied man. I can't thank you for Oh,
if only you knew all. I want to tell you something.
Never mind, just now, said the old lady. Sharply, try
and get up the stairs, supported by Alice and myself.
Then we'll put you to bed and give you something
to eat. Will I be safe, asked the man, looking
(16:36):
round anxiously. Quite safe. Do you think I would let
you be taken Bernard, said Alice, although her soul sickened
in her at the deception. I trust you, said Michael,
with a strange look at her. I am ill and
dirty and and but you know I am Bernard, he
burst out in a pitiful kind of way. Yes, of
(16:57):
course you are. Any one can see that, said Miss Berengaria,
as Alice didn't answer. Help him up, Alice. The two
dragged the man up the stairs painfully, he striving his
best to make his weight light. Miss Berengaria approved of this.
He's got good stuff in him, she said, when they
led him into the small room which took up the
whole of the second floor of the turret. He always had,
(17:20):
said Alice warmly, and for the sake of the comedy,
but Miss Berengaria frowned. She applied what she said to Michael.
Then Miss Berengaria sent Alice downstairs to heat some wine
and made Michael go to bed. He was as weak
as a child and simply let her do what she liked.
With some difficulty, she managed to put him between the
(17:42):
sheets and then washed his face and hands. Finally, on Alice,
returning with the wine and some bread, she fed him
with SOPs of the latter dipped into the former. After this,
as Michael displayed symptoms of drowsiness, she prepared to leave
him to a sound sleep and pain shall see you tomorrow.
But I'll be safe, safe, said the sick man, half
(18:03):
starting up. Of course, lie down and sleep. Michael strove
to say something, then sank back on his pillows. The
two hurried out of the room and down the stairs,
feeling like conspirators. Not until they were safe in the
drawing room with the door closed did they venture to speak,
and then only did so in whispers. Alice was the
first to make a remark, if I hadn't seen Bernard
(18:26):
this very day, I should have been deceived. Aunt. Did
you ever see so wonderful a likeness never admitted, Miss Berengaria.
But how the deuce she was always a lady given
to strong expressions. Does the man expect fast himself off
to you as Bernard? There's lots of things Bernard has
said about which he must know nothing. I can't understand
(18:49):
it myself. Perhaps he came to tell the truth. Hump,
Miss Berengaria rubbed her nose. I don't think a man
who would commit a murder would tell the truth. My
flesh creeped when I touched him. All the same, there's
pluck in the fellow, a pity. He is such a scamp.
Something might be made of him. Do you think he
has got himself up like this? To no, No, snapped
(19:12):
Miss Plantagenet. The man's illness is genuine. I can see
for myself. He's only skin and bone. I wonder how
he came to be in such a plight. Perhaps he
will tell us. He'll tell lies, said the old lady grimly,
And for the sake of Bernard, will pretend to believe him.
Wait till I get Durham unto him. He won't lie then.
But the main point is to keep him. He is
(19:35):
the only person who can get Bernard out of the trouble.
What shall we do? Aunt nurse him up in that room,
telling the servants that we have a guest. They need
not see him, and Paine can cure him. When he
is cured, we will see what Durham says. That young
man's clever. He will know how to deal with the matter.
It's beyond me. Now we must go to bed. My
(19:55):
head is in a whirl with the excitement of this day.
In of Chapter sixteen, recording by Craig Kenneth Bryant
Chapter sixteen of The Red Window. This is a LibriVox recording.
All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording
by Craig Kenneth Bryant. The Red Window by Fergus Hume,
Chapter sixteen. The unexpected Miss Berengaria's servants had been with
(00:25):
her for a long time and were all eminently respectable.
She was needless to say very good to them, and
they adored and obeyed her in quite a feudal manner.
When at supper in the servants hall, all old and
all sedate, they might have been a company of Quakers,
from the sobriety of their demeanor. The head of the
table was taken by the cook, and the foot by
(00:48):
James the coachman. Those two were married and were both fat,
both devoted to Miss Berengaria, and both rulers of the
other servants. The coachman swayed the little kingdom of Domestics
with his stout wife as queen. On the very evening,
Miss Plantagenet came back from Cove Castle. The servants were
enjoying a good supper, and James was detailing the events
(01:10):
of the day. After this, his wife narrated what had
taken place during his absence, and at the side of
the table sat Jerry, looking the picture of innocence, occupied
with his bread and cheese, but taking everything in. The
information conveyed to James by the cook related to several
tramps that had called, and to the killing of two
fowls by a fox terrier that belonged to a neighbor,
(01:32):
and a nice rage. The mississ will be in over them,
said the cook. You should have set Sloppy Jane on
the terrier, said James. Our poultry is prize birds and
worth a dozen of them. Snappy dogs as bite the
heels of respectable folk. Sloppy Jane was with me, said
a sedate housemaid. A tramp came to the gate asking
for miss Alice, and I couldn't get him away. What
did he want with miss Alice, demanded James aggressively. Ah
(01:56):
what indeed, said the housemaid. I told him Miss Alice
wouldn't speak to the like of him. But he looked
a gentleman, though he had a two days beard and
was dressed it in such rags as you never saw.
Did he go Sarah. Oh, yes, he went in a
lingering sort of way, and I had to tie Jane
up in case she'd fly on him. I didn't want that,
Why not, said the coachman, dictatorially. Tramps as tramps, Sarah pondered, Well,
(02:21):
Cook and James, it's this way, she said, with some hesitation,
this murder of old Sir Simon. Jerry pricked up his
ears at this and looked more innocent than ever. Go on,
said the cook, wondering why Sarah stopped. They said his
grandson done it, and that I'll never believe, cried James,
pounding the table. A noble young gentleman as mister Bernard,
(02:43):
and many a half crown he's given me. He never
did it, and even if he did, he's dead and gone.
Sarah drew back from the table. I really forgot that,
she whimpered. It must have been his ghost, and she
threw her apron over her head. What's that, Sarah? A ghost?
There's no such thing. Whose ghost mister Bernard's, said Sarah,
looking scared as she removed her apron. Oh to think
(03:06):
I should have lived to see a ghost? Yes, you
may all look, but that tramp ragged and torn was
mister Gore. Don't I know him as well as I
know myself, Sarah, said James, while the cook turned pale
and Jerry listened more eagerly than ever. You rave in
a crazy way. Oh well, there's no knowing, cried Sarah hysterically.
(03:27):
But the tramp was mister Gore, and I forgot he
was dead. His ghost. It must have been his ghost,
no wonder. Jane wanted to fly at him, mister Bernard's ghost,
wanting to see Miss Alice, said Cook. Get along with you, Sarah,
he must be alive. I don't believe all the papers say.
Perhaps he wasn't drowned after all. We must inquire into this,
(03:50):
said James, magisterially, and feeling for his glasses. Oh, by
the way, he drew a dirty envelope out of his pocket.
Here's something for you, young shaver, threw it across to Jerry.
I was sitting in the kitchen and his Lordship's castle
and being waited on by a dark eyed wench. I
told her of us here and mentioned you. She said
she knew you, and asked me to give you that
(04:11):
and to be sure she would know you, added James
half to himself, seeing missus Moon as your grandmother and
a fine figure of a woman. But touching this here ghost,
Jerry rose from the table and retreated to a corner
of the warm room to read his note, but he
kept his ears open all the time to the coachman's
investigation of Sarah's doings with the tramp. The note was
(04:33):
from Victoria, asking Jerry to come over and see her,
and stating that there was a gentleman stopping at the castle.
There's something queer about him, Jerry, as he keeps himself
very much to himself. Also he knows your whistle as
he whistles to me, which is funny. Can't you come
over and see me? This, with all allowance for misspelling,
was what Jerry deciphered. Then he thrust the note into
(04:54):
his pocket and returned to the table. He had an
awful cough, this tramp, said Sarah. Ghosts don't cough, remarked Cook.
This one did awful, And he looked that pale and
thin as never was. He went away in broad daylight,
asked James. It was getting dark about five. Maybe I
was sorry for him, and I would have led him
(05:15):
in to see Miss Alice. He seemed so disappointed. Ah, Sarah,
it's a pity you didn't let him in. But mister James,
you can't bear tramps or ghosts, added the cook fearfully.
It were no tramp and no specter, said the coachman.
I see it all. He looked solemnly round the company.
This was mister Bernard, come to see if Miss Alice
(05:38):
will help him. He's alive. God be praised, amen, said
the cook, bowing her head as though in church. And
if he comes again, we will let him in and
say nothing to the police. I should not, said Sarah.
He looked so sad and pale, Oh, dear me, and
such a fine, handsome young gentleman he was. To be sure,
we will swear to be silent, said James, solemnly. Seeing
(06:01):
as we are all sure mister Bernard never killed old
Sir Simon. I'd never believe it if a jury told me,
said the cook. Young Jerry, swear to be silent. Oh
I'm fly, mister James, said Jerry easily. But who is
mister Bernard and why did he kill Sir Simon? He didn't,
and he's the present baronet at the hall. Young Jerry,
(06:22):
you don't chatter or I'll thrash you within an inch
of your life. Oh he won't talk, said the good
natured cook. He's an angel, Sarah snorted. She was not
so impressed with Jerry's angelic qualities as the rest of
the company. However, Jerry, who had his own reasons to retire,
slipped away unostentatiously and read Victoria's letter for the second time.
(06:43):
Then he talked to himself in a whisper. He's alive,
after all, he said, And he's stopping at that castle,
I dare say the old girl he thus profanely described,
his mistress went over there to see him with Miss Alice,
and they brought him back, dropping on the way so
that he could get into the house quietly. He knows
my whistle. No one but him could know it, as
(07:05):
he heard me on that night. What's to be done.
I'll go out and have a look round. He may
come back again. Jerry was too young to be so
exact as he should be. There were several flaws in
his argument, but he was too excited to think over these.
It never struck him that Miss Plantagenet could have smuggled
Gore easier into the house by bringing him in her
(07:26):
carriage after swearing James to secrecy than by letting him
approach the house and the character of a tramp. But
it was creditable to the Lad's observation that he so
quickly conjectured the mysterious stranger at the castle should be Bernard.
Jerry knew that Conniston was a close friend of Gore's,
and saw at once that Bernard had sought the refuge
of the castle, where he would remain undiscovered. But for
(07:49):
Victoria's hint, Jerry would never have guessed this. It was
his duty to communicate this knowledge to Beryl, But for
reasons of his own, connected with the chance of a
reward or a bribe to hold his tongue from someone
who could pay better than Beryl, say Lord Conniston, Jerry
determined to wait quietly to see how things would turn out. Meanwhile,
(08:10):
he strolled round to the fowls, where he thought it
likely the tramp, if he was a tramp, might come.
If not a tramp, he might come this way also
as the easiest to enter the grounds. The poultry yard
was carved out of a large meadow by the side
of the gardens. It ran back a considerable distance from
the high road, and at the far end was fenced
(08:30):
with a thin plantation of elms. Wire netting and stout
fences surrounded the yard, and there was a gate opening
onto the meadow. Aforesaid, Jerry hovered round these precincts, watching,
but he did not expect any luck. However, the boy,
being a born bloodhound, waited for the sheer excitement of
the thing. Now it happened that Miss Berengaria had left
(08:53):
the house of a pair of coachin fowls unlocked. She
would have gone out to lock it herself, but that
she was so weary. All the same, she would not
delegate the duty to her servants, as she considered they
might not execute the commission properly. Finally, Alice offered to go,
and after putting on a thick waterproof and a large
pair of rubber boots which belonged to Miss Plantagenet, she
(09:15):
ventured out. Thus it was that she paddled round to
the yard with a lantern and came into the neighborhood
of Jerry. That suspicious young man immediately thought she had
heard of Bernard's coming and had come out to meet him.
He snuggled into a corner near the gate and watched
as best he could in the darkness. It was pouring rain,
and the sky was black with swiftly moving clouds. These
(09:38):
streamed across the face of a haggard looking moon, and
in the flaws of the wind down came the rain
in a perfect drench. Alice, with her dress drawn up,
a lantern in one hand and an umbrella of the
gamp species extended above her head, ventured into the yard
and locked up the precious fowls. Then she came back
round by the gate to see if it was barred.
(09:59):
To her, it was open. Rather annoyed, she closed it
again and put up the bar. Then she took her
way round by the side of the house to enter
by the front door. Jerry followed with the step of
a red Indian. He was rewarded. Just as Alice turned
the corner of the house, she heard a groan and
almost stumbled over a body lying on the flower bed
(10:21):
under the wall of the house. At first she gave
a slight shriek, but before she could step back, the
man clutched her feet. Alice. Alice moaned the man, save me.
It's Bernard. Bernard here, said Alice, with a shudder and
wondered how he had come back from the castle. She
turned the light on to his face and then started back.
(10:44):
This was not Bernard. In the circle of light she saw,
and Jerry, slinking along the side of the fence, saw
also a pale, thin face with a wild look on it.
The hair was long and matted, there was a scrubby
growth on the chin, and the eyes were duncan for
want of food. Still it was Bernard's face, and but
(11:04):
that she had seen him on that very afternoon, she
would have been deceived until she had made a closer
acquaintance with the tramp. But Alice, having heard the story
of Missus Gilroy's son, knew at once that this miserable
creature was Michael. He was representing himself to her as Bernard,
and mindful of Durham's advice after the first start of alarm,
(11:25):
she determined to treat him as though she believed he
was her lover. Can you get to your feet, she said,
touching him, although her soul shuddered within her when she
thought what the man had done. Yes, said Michael hoarsely,
and tried to rise. She assisted him to his feet,
but his weight almost made her sink. I must get
(11:45):
the servants, said she, trying to disengage herself. No, no,
said the man, in a voice of hoarse terror. They
will give me up. Remember what I have done. Alice
did remember, indeed, and shuddered again. But it was needful
for the clearing of Bernard that she should carry on
the comedy so as to detain the man a word
(12:06):
from her that she knew who he really was, and
he would fly at once when all chance of saving
Gore would be in an end. Therefore she half led,
half dragged him round the corner of the house, and
the driving rein. Jerry waited till the two disappeared and
the last gleam of the lantern vanished. Then he went
back to the kitchen unconcernedly. Where have you been, asked James, sternly,
(12:31):
looking to see if the poultry gate was all right,
said Jerry. You see, mister James, a tramp might come
in there. It was your duty to shut it. I
have shut it, said Jerry, with assumed sulkiness. Now don't
you give me your lip, young sir, or I'll knock
your head off. Do you hear any tramps about? No,
said Jerry, mendaciously, all's safe, and with a wonderful sense
(12:55):
and a lad of his age, he said no more.
Then he sat down to cards with the cook and
never made a solitary mention of what was going on
in the front of the house, as he quite expected,
Miss Plantagenet never sent for any of the servants. They'll
manage the job themselves, thought Jerry, playing cheerfully. When he
retired to bed. He had a wonderful lot to think about,
(13:17):
and more than ever, he determined to watch which way
the wind blew so as to make as much money
out of his knowledge as possible. Jerry was a marvelously
precocious criminal and knew much more than was good for him.
Miss Berengaria would have fainted, unaccustomed as she was, to
indulge in such weakness, had she known the kind of
youth she sheltered under her roof. But poor Miss Berengaria
(13:41):
had her hands full. She left the front door open
for the return of Alice and heard it close with
a bang at once. She started from her seat before
the fire in the drawing room to rebuke the girl
for such carelessness, but her anger changed to astonishment when
Alice appeared at the door, streaming with wet and supporting
a man. Aunt cried Alice, dropping the man in a heap,
(14:01):
and eagerly closing the door. Here's Bernard, Bernard, exclaimed Miss Plantagenet,
staring yes, yes, said Alice, passing over and pinching her
aunt's arm. See how pale he is and hungry. He
escaped and has come for us to save him. If
the police. The man on the floor, who was in
a half stupor half rose the police, the police, he
(14:24):
said thickly, and his wild eyes glared. No, I will
confess everything, Alice. I am, I am. He dropped again.
By this time Miss Plantagenet, accepting the hint of Alice's pinch,
was beginning to grasp the situation. She scarcely relished having
a murderer under her roof, but for the sake of Bernard,
she felt that she also must aid in the deception.
(14:47):
But she could not conceive how Michael could have the
audacity to pass himself off as Bernard to one who
knew him so intimately as Alice. At the same time,
she saw the wonderful likeness to Gore. He and Michael
might have been twins, but Michael had not the mole,
which was his brother's distinguishing mark. Still, unless Michael knew
(15:09):
all about Bernard's life, unless he was educated like him,
unless he knew his ways and tricks and manners, it
was impossible that he should hope to deceive Alice, or
even Miss Berengaria herself. Also, there was another thing to
be considered. How came the man in this plight. He
had received one thousand pounds from Sir Simon in the
(15:31):
beginning of October, and therefore must have plenty of money.
Yet here he was thin, haggard, in squalid rags, and
evidently a hunted fugitive. It was not a comedy got
up to deceive them, for both women saw that the
man really was suffering. He was now lying in a stupor.
(15:52):
But for all that he might have sense enough to
know what they said, so both were cautious. After a
glance exchanged between them. We must take Bernard up to
the turret room, said Miss Berengaria, promptly. He'll be all
right to night, and then we can send for Paine tomorrow.
Help me with him, Alice, But aunt the servants. They
(16:13):
will hold their tongues. I'll see to that. Bless you,
murmured the half stupefied man. I can't thank you for Oh,
if only you knew all. I want to tell you something.
Never mind, just now, said the old lady. Sharply, try
and get up the stairs, supported by Alice and myself.
Then we'll put you to bed and give you something
to eat. Will I be safe, asked the man, looking
(16:36):
round anxiously. Quite safe. Do you think I would let
you be taken Bernard, said Alice, although her soul sickened
in her at the deception. I trust you, said Michael,
with a strange look at her. I am ill and
dirty and and but you know I am Bernard, he
burst out in a pitiful kind of way. Yes, of
(16:57):
course you are. Any one can see that, said Miss Berengaria,
as Alice didn't answer. Help him up, Alice. The two
dragged the man up the stairs painfully, he striving his
best to make his weight light. Miss Berengaria approved of this.
He's got good stuff in him, she said, when they
led him into the small room which took up the
whole of the second floor of the turret. He always had,
(17:20):
said Alice warmly, and for the sake of the comedy,
but Miss Berengaria frowned. She applied what she said to Michael.
Then Miss Berengaria sent Alice downstairs to heat some wine
and made Michael go to bed. He was as weak
as a child and simply let her do what she liked.
With some difficulty, she managed to put him between the
(17:42):
sheets and then washed his face and hands. Finally, on Alice,
returning with the wine and some bread, she fed him
with SOPs of the latter dipped into the former. After this,
as Michael displayed symptoms of drowsiness, she prepared to leave
him to a sound sleep and pain shall see you tomorrow.
But I'll be safe, safe, said the sick man, half
(18:03):
starting up. Of course, lie down and sleep. Michael strove
to say something, then sank back on his pillows. The
two hurried out of the room and down the stairs,
feeling like conspirators. Not until they were safe in the
drawing room with the door closed did they venture to speak,
and then only did so in whispers. Alice was the
first to make a remark, if I hadn't seen Bernard
(18:26):
this very day, I should have been deceived. Aunt. Did
you ever see so wonderful a likeness never admitted, Miss Berengaria.
But how the deuce she was always a lady given
to strong expressions. Does the man expect fast himself off
to you as Bernard? There's lots of things Bernard has
said about which he must know nothing. I can't understand
(18:49):
it myself. Perhaps he came to tell the truth. Hump,
Miss Berengaria rubbed her nose. I don't think a man
who would commit a murder would tell the truth. My
flesh creeped when I touched him. All the same, there's
pluck in the fellow, a pity. He is such a scamp.
Something might be made of him. Do you think he
has got himself up like this? To no, No, snapped
(19:12):
Miss Plantagenet. The man's illness is genuine. I can see
for myself. He's only skin and bone. I wonder how
he came to be in such a plight. Perhaps he
will tell us. He'll tell lies, said the old lady grimly,
And for the sake of Bernard, will pretend to believe him.
Wait till I get Durham unto him. He won't lie then.
But the main point is to keep him. He is
(19:35):
the only person who can get Bernard out of the trouble.
What shall we do? Aunt nurse him up in that room,
telling the servants that we have a guest. They need
not see him, and Paine can cure him. When he
is cured, we will see what Durham says. That young
man's clever. He will know how to deal with the matter.
It's beyond me. Now we must go to bed. My
(19:55):
head is in a whirl with the excitement of this day.
In of Chapter sixteen, recording by Craig Kenneth Bryant
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