The King's Evil

'You also purchased the best possible site,' Christopher reminded him with a sweep of his arm. 'It is so appealing in every way, I am surprised that its previous owner was ready to part with it.'

'When his home went up in the blaze, he lost heart.'

'Could he not build a replica in its place?'

'He lacked the funds to do so,' said the other, 'and, though he will argue his case in the fire court, he can look for very little compensation from that quarter. I seized opportunity by the forelock and made him an offer which he was unable to refuse.'

'I am heartily glad that you did so, Sir Ambrose.'

'So am I - now that we have agreed on the design. Everything is as I would wish. But I must away,' said Northcott, suddenly conscious of the time. 'I have important appointments today and I must call on my lawyer to give him his instructions. He will shortly be in touch with you.'

He waved a farewell then went off for a final word with Littlejohn. Christopher pored over his drawings once more, untroubled by the many compromises he had been forced to make between artistic impulse and the demands of his client. Given a free hand, he would have opted for a slightly plainer style and resisted all of the French flourishes which had been incorporated but it was still a piece of work of which he was quite inordinately proud and it would gain him considerable attention when it finally took its place in the new landscape.

Christopher was still revelling in his good fortune when he became aware that he was being watched. It was not an intrusive surveillance. Indeed, it seemed to wash gently over him like a benign wave and caused him to look up. The young woman was no more than a dozen yards away, her gaze fixed on him, her teeth showing in an open- mouthed smile of admiration. She was slim, comely and elegant in a dress composed of several shades of blue yet there was a slight nervousness in her manner which vitiated her poise. Christopher put her at no more than eighteen or nineteen and he wondered why she was loitering alone in such a place. She held his gaze for a full minute before modestly lowering her lids. His curiosity stirred and conducted an approving scrutiny.

Samuel Littlejohn ambled slowly over to the architect.

'You have made a conquest, I think,' he noted.

'How?'

'Margaret was so enamoured of your design for the house that she insisted she be given the chance to meet you.'

'Margaret? You know the young lady?'

'Extremely well,' said the other with a grin. 'She is my daughter.'

'And a beautiful one at that, Mr Littlejohn.'

His courteous observation drew an immediate response. Margaret Littlejohn met his eyes once more and stared into them with an intensity which bordered on yearning. Christopher was taken aback. The last thing he expected to do amid piles of building materials was to excite the interest of an attractive young woman. A pleasing sensation surged through him and produced an involuntary smile of his own. It was a thrilling moment but it soon passed.

Without quite knowing why, he suddenly sensed danger.

Chapter Five

The pilfering began almost immediately. Because only small quantities were stolen each time, the theft went unnoticed at first but it eventually became too obvious to ignore. Stone suffered the least. Bricks were taken in dozens and timber, reserved for joists, floorboards, window frames and roof trusses, was spirited away in slightly larger consignments. Expensive lead, destined for the roof, also vanished mysteriously in the night. When the losses came to the attention of Solomon Creech, he howled with rage.

'I blame you for this, Mr Littlejohn,' he accused.

'Why, sir?' said the builder. 'I did not steal it.'

'It is your duty to protect the property.'

'I have tried to do so, Mr Creech, but it still seems to trickle away. We had a nightwatchman on guard last night and even his presence did not deter these villains. Somehow they managed to strike again.'

'Then your nightwatchman is their confederate,' argued the lawyer, waving a scrawny hand. 'Did that not occur to you as a possibility?'

'It was my first thought. I questioned him closely about it but he pleaded innocence.'

'He is innocent of abetting the thefts,' said Christopher. 'I am sure of that. But I suspect he may be guilty of something else.'

'Keep out of this, Mr Redmayne,' snapped Creech.

'I am directly involved in the matter, sir.'

'You only muddy the waters of this discussion.'

'I am trying to help, Mr Creech.'

'Your help is merely a hindrance.'

'Mr Redmayne has the right to an opinion,' said Littlejohn, coming to his defence. 'If there is a delay in the building of the house - or if costs rise sharply because of these thefts - then Sir Ambrose is likely to swinge both me and Mr Redmayne.'

'He will have you hanged, drawn and quartered!' wailed Creech. 'And I will not escape his displeasure. That is why this crime must be solved forthwith and the stolen property recovered.' The scrawny hand fluttered again. 'I hold you responsible for this, Mr Littlejohn. Until you resolve the matter, I will not release any further monies to you.'

'But I need the capital to replace what we have lost.'

'Pay for it out of your own purse.'

'We have a contract, sir.'

'It has been abrogated by your incompetence. Before he left,' said Creech imperiously, 'Sir Ambrose entrusted all his affairs to me. I have discretionary powers with regard to the release of funds and you will not see another penny until my demand is met.'

Christopher had to resist the urge to punch the lawyer and even the builder's geniality was put under severe strain. The two men traded a knowing glance. Neither of them liked Solomon Creech. He was a tall, angular, pigeon- chested man in a crumpled black coat and a misshapen hat. His shoulders had been rounded so much by thirty years in the service of the law that he was almost hunchbacked. Protruding front teeth were the main feature in an unprepossessing face and they were bared in a snarl that morning. By the time he arrived on site to chastise the two men, he had worked himself up into a real fury. Christopher Redmayne and Samuel Littlejohn had to call on their last reserves of patience and tolerance.

The laywer stamped his foot and sent up a small cloud of dust.

'So?' he demanded. 'What do you intend to do about it?'

'The first thing I will do,' said Littlejohn firmly, 'is to invite a comment from Mr Redmayne.'

'His comments are irrelevant.'

'Nevertheless,' insisted Christopher, squaring up to him. 'I will give them. Were he here, I am sure that Sir Ambrose would want to hear what I have to say. If you do not, close your ears while I speak to Mr Littlejohn.'

'Well?' encouraged the builder. 'You said earlier that you thought the nightwatchman might be guilty of something else.'

'Yes,' said Christopher. 'Drunkenness. He is far too honest to be in league with any thieves but he is also elderly and prone to fatigue. I believe that he drank himself into a stupor here last night. That is why the thieves were able to strike again.'

'What proof do you have, Mr Redmayne?'

'Only this,' said the other, holding up an empty flagon. 'It was hidden under the tarpaulin near the nightwatchman's bench. My guess is that he brought this for companionship, drank it to keep himself awake but found that it only made him slumber more soundly.'

'Dismiss the wretch!' cried the lawyer. 'I'll bring an action against him for dereliction of duty.'

'That is the last thing we must do,' said Christopher firmly. 'The nightwatchman may be our one asset in this business.'

'Asset!'

'Yes, Mr Creech.'

'A drunken nightwatchman is an asset?'

'If he is seen on duty again tonight, the thieves may be tempted to strike again. Cover the site with additional guards and they will be frightened away completely.' Christopher gave a shrug. 'What chance will we have then of apprehending them and recovering our property?'