“That would be when Miss Bennett and I were wrecked on Kestrel?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I hope I didn’t say anything offensive, Lorrimer. I’m afraid I was not quite myself. It seems that Dr. Gaunt somehow made me forget everything I knew to his discredit then. Since I got back I have remembered it all — how I came over when they were away and talked with you, and how we went down into the crypt. I had forgotten all that.”
“There, you see, James,” Mrs. Lorrimer interjected, “I told you Mr. Hamilton didn’t know what he was doing.”
“I was offensive, then — I’m terribly sorry,” said Hamilton quickly.
“That’s all right, sir, now that we know what it was. It just shows how those devils can work on a man. It makes it easier to understand how they got Sir Anthony. Perhaps we shouldn’t have left him, after all, my dear.” He looked up at his wife doubtfully.
“We couldn’t have stayed,” she replied firmly, “not after last night. Tell Mr. Hamilton.”
Lorrimer looked about cautiously, and, seeing no one within earshot, told his tale in a low voice.
“Last night it came again, sir, that awful noise we’ve heard twice before, only this time worse than it’s ever been. The whole place was shaking, fit to bring it down, sir. We thought it was the end — honest we did. And after it had stopped the feeling that came over us! Horrible it was. Like you felt in the crypt, sir; and up in our own room where it had never come before. And the wicked thoughts that came with it, too! It seemed as if nothing was worth while any more, sir. We couldn’t even pray. So we knew then that it was time for us to go.”
“I don’t blame you in the least. Does Sir Anthony know you’ve left?”
“I was coming to that, sir. That’s another thing. I’m no coward, as you’ll bear me out, sir, having been down in that crypt with me; and when it was light again, and I felt a bit more like myself, I went to Sir Anthony’s room to tell him we was going. I wouldn’t do a think like that behind his back. Well, I knocked, sir, but he was so sound asleep that I couldn’t wake him, so I went in. And the first thing I saw was a kind of white robe on the floor, where he’d dropped it before going to bed. And believe me, sir” — Lorrimer’s voice sank to a whisper — “there was blood on it, as sure as I’m standing here.”
Hamilton stiffened, and a cold shudder went down his spine, despite the warm sun.
“Blood! Are you sure, man, are you sure?” He gripped the other’s arm.
“I wouldn’t take my oath on it, sir, but it looked like blood; I didn’t stay to make sure. I just couldn’t bring myself to touch him, for all that he lay sleeping like an innocent babe. There’s blood on his gown, I said to myself, and blood on his hands, most like. So I ran down those stairs faster than I came up; and we just left a note saying we’d gone.”
Hamilton relaxed. A thought had struck him.
“Did you notice anything else in Sir Anthony’s room?” he asked. “Any smell, for instance? And any other clothes laying about?”
Lorrimer scratched his head.
“Yes, sir,” he said at last, “now you come to mention it; there was that same smell I told you I noticed about the other two’s clothes; incense, they call it, don’t they, sir?”
Hamilton nodded.
“Yes, incense. And anything else besides the white robe?”
“I didn’t stay long, as I’ve told you, sir. I thought to myself, ‘There’s been murder done last night; this is no place for us.’ But I do seem to recollect something else on the floor along with the robe; an embroidered sort of thing, red and gold, like one of those fancy waistcoats the gentry used to wear. But I only caught a glimpse; I couldn’t swear to the shape.”
“That’s good enough.” Hamilton almost choked with relief. “For a moment I thought — but no, it wasn’t blood, Lorrimer; there’s been no murder done. Something far worse than mortal murder, in one respect, but something that is not altogether irreparable.” He saw the lack of comprehension in the other’s eyes, and explained briefly:
“Those splashes were not blood, but wine: consecrated wine, I’m afraid, used at one of their abominable ceremonies.” He knew that the sturdy Nonconformist would not understand the sacrilege, and left it at that.
Relief showed plainly in the faces of both Lorrimer and his wife.
“Thank God for that!” said the old man. “I couldn’t believe my eyes — thank you, sir.” He was almost overcome with emotion.
“What are your plans?” Hamilton asked.
“We’re going to London, sir,” Mrs. Lorrimer explained. “I’ve got a sister there we can stay with until we can get another job.”
“Good. Send me your address, and I’ll let you know how things go on. Did Tregellis bring you across?”
“Yes, sir. He’ll take the boat back, and leave it there. They’ve plenty of tinned stuff and the likes of that. He doesn’t say much, but I know he feels as we do.”
“Is he still in the harbour?”
“Yes, sir, he’s waiting for a friend of his with a dinghy he can borrow to come back in.”
“Splendid. Well, good-bye and good luck. You’ve been bricks, both of you.”
“Good-bye, sir. What are you going to do, if I may make so bold as to ask?”
“I’m going across with Tom to fetch Sir Anthony back; by force, if necessary.”
Lorrimer’s face slowly whitened.
“Oh, be careful, sir, for God’s sake!” said he. “There’s more on that island than three. If you ask me, I’d say their name was legion.”
“I’ll be careful. Good-bye!”
“Good-bye, and God bless you, sir!”
Lorrimer climbed up beside his wife, gathered the reins together, and they drove slowly away up the hill. Hamilton turned on his heel, went quickly into the inn, and up to his room.
Unlocking his suitcase, he took out the automatic pistol which Lorrimer had given him, slipped it into his pocket, and went out of the house.
Down by the harbour he found Tom Tregellis sitting on an upturned boat thoughtfully chewing tobacco. He looked curiously at Hamilton and nodded.
“Tregellis” — Hamilton’s voice was crisp and determined — “I’m going over there to bring Sir Anthony back, by hook or by crook. He’s in great danger. Will you help me?”
The other went on chewing silently for a moment, then rose, spat adroitly over the wall into the sea, and rubbed his hands on his corduroy trousers.
“Ay, sir, I’m with you,” he growled, and, without more ado, went down the steps and clambered into the launch moored there. Hamilton joined him; he started the engine and in less than five minutes they were in the open sea.
Though the sun shone brightly, a strong breeze was still blowing, and the water was choppy. Hamilton sat watching the approaching island, wondering whether he should have consulted the rector before undertaking this rather desperate mission. He decided that Valerie would only have been worried on his account had she known, and concluded that he had taken the best course in the circumstances. He slipped his hand into his pocket and caressed the smooth steel of the pistol. Let anybody try any funny business this time, and they would find they had taken on more than they bargained for!
The launch nosed its way into the narrow harbour and scraped along the landing-stage. Hamilton jumped out, caught the painter which Tregellis threw him, and made it fast. The latter shut off his engine and followed.
Hamilton remarked:
“We may have to use force. Don’t be surprised at whatever happens, but just follow my lead and we’ll soon have Sir Anthony in safety, or I’ll know the reason why.”
Tregellis contented himself with a grunt in reply, but he spat on his hands, and, bending down, drew a short iron mooring-bar from its socket in the rock. Swinging it in his right hand, he followed Hamilton up the long stairway.