matter who had sent the mysterious box with the dagger as long as it exonerated her? But Traynor had an answer, one which was disquieting.
‘As I’ve said already, there is no accounting for human behaviour, Mrs Ansell. It is possible that Anthony Smight did not want you to face the rigour of the law. He wanted you released so that he could… well, I shall say no more.’
‘You don’t need to,’ said Helen. ‘Your meaning is all too clear.’
‘You should talk with Major Marmont, the magician,’ said Tom. ‘We have just been to see him. He is a client of my firm.’
‘I have already spoken with him but I intend to interview him again,’ said Harcourt, then under his breath, ‘And look who is here…’
There was the sound of the door to the snug opening. Tom and Helen were sitting with their backs to the door but Harcourt, who was facing it, raised his eyebrows while even Traynor’s impassive expression was replaced by a look of curiosity. Five people entered the snug. They were the magician and his Indian assistant, Dilip Gopal, together with Marmont’s three sons. They were on their way to the Assembly Rooms for that evening’s performance. Marmont conferred briefly with his entourage then indicated that they should leave without him. He walked briskly to where the others were sitting.
‘Superintendent Harcourt, I didn’t expect to see you so soon but this is a timely meeting. I have only a few minutes to spare and will give you a full statement later. But you should know that I possess some information about the weapon which was apparently used to kill Eustace Flask.’
‘Information which you have withheld from me, Major Marmont?’
‘Not deliberately withheld. I did not know it was relevant.’
The Major remained standing. He glanced at Traynor and Harcourt made a show of introducing him as a detective from Great Scotland Yard.
‘Give us the facts, sir, the bare facts if you please,’ said Traynor.
Rapidly Marmont explained how Flask had stolen the Dagger on the night during which he had disappeared from the Perseus Cabinet. He made no reference to the Dagger’s chequered history. Regarding the theft as an act of opportunistic revenge, Marmont had gone to see Flask the following morning only to find that the medium had left the house in Old Elvet.
‘Flask’s companion, the woman called Kitty, will confirm that I came calling. Also that Flask had departed by then.’
‘We are one step ahead of you,’ said Harcourt. ‘She has already given me her story.’
‘You went on looking for Flask after you called at the house?’ said Traynor.
‘I didn’t know where to look. Kitty said he had gone to meet someone but she couldn’t say who it was or where they were meeting.’
‘Well, it would hardly have been you he was meeting,’ said Traynor. ‘From what you are saying he would have been glad to get away from you. No, our thoughts are turning in a different direction.’
The Inspector glanced automatically at the drawing of Anthony Smight which lay on the table. Marmont appeared to notice it for the first time. He picked up the drawing and studied it carefully. He even ran his fingers lightly across the picture. He nodded once, then again, a gesture more for himself than the others.
‘This is the man you are looking for?’
‘Yes sir,’ said Traynor.
‘Is he in Durham?’
‘We believe so. I could say we are almost certain of it. You have seen him, Major Marmont?’
‘Not in Durham, not at all. I would take an oath on that.’
‘But from your expression you seem to know him.’
‘It is many years since I have seen this gentleman. It is a very odd coincidence and I have not spared him a thought, let alone referred to him, for ages and yet…’
Sebastian Marmont seemed undecided whether to say more. He looked towards Tom and Helen.
‘Out with it, sir. We are used to coincidences by now,’ said Traynor.
‘When I was in India in the army, I was caught up in the Siege of Lucknow during the Mutiny. I have only just now described my experiences to Mr and Mrs Ansell here. Well, there was a doctor in the infirmary in the city. There are more lines on the face in the picture and altogether a changed cast to his features, but this is the man from the infirmary.’
‘What was his name?’
‘Smight,’ said Major Marmont. ‘Doctor Anthony Smight.’
Act Four
The Major says, ‘Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, you will witness something quite unprecedented. As you can see, I am not equipped with any props except for this simple kitchen chair and this — ’
He draws from his pocket a silk handkerchief. He sits in the chair which is positioned to face the audience. He claps his hands. One of his Hindoo assistants answers the summons. The Major hands the handkerchief to the boy and sits, arms folded, while the boy ties it over his eyes. When the Major is blindfolded, the boy leaves.
The Major’s colleague, Mr Dilip Gopal, now enters. He is immaculate. He looks at the magician and shakes his head. Evidently he is not satisfied with something. He takes another handkerchief from his pocket and proceeds to bind that one too about the head of Sebastian Marmont so that the unfortunate Major looks like a casualty of battle. But it is surely impossible for the Major to see a thing.
‘Now,’ says the Major, ‘my associate Mr Gopal will pass among you, the audience. Any one of you is at liberty to hand him an object which you have about your person. Any object, I say. Mr Gopal will hold the said object in his hands before returning it to you. Using his mind, he will transmit through the ether an image of that object, a mental image. I will receive the image as it is borne through the ether and I will tell you, ladies and gentleman, what it is that Mr Gopal is holding.
‘To avoid any imputation of trickery or collusion, Mr Gopal will say nothing, not a word, as he receives the objects from you. Not a word beyond the normal courtesies of course. I am not permitted to ask him questions nor would he be allowed to answer them. Mr Gopal, if you please…’
Mr Dilip Gopal descends into the audience. He looks to the right and left and at first no one meets his eye. Then a fellow at the end of the stalls beckons to the Indian as if he were a servant. Mr Gopal goes towards him and executes an almost military salute, bringing his heels together and inclining his head. The fellow in the stalls slips something into his hand. Mr Gopal examines it. Apart from the little matter of the double blindfold, there is no possibility that the Major can see what he is holding — nor can most of the audience, come to that — since Gopal’s back is to the stage. Marmont keeps his swathed head fixed forward, his arms now resting on his knees.
‘I thank you, sir,’ says Dilip Gopal.
‘Mr Gopal, I am receiving an image of what is in your hands. Concentrate on it if you please. Just a little more concentration. Yes, I have it. A cigarette case, a silver cigarette case. It is inscribed, I believe, but the image is not clear enough for me to decipher the message. There is a slight disturbance in the ether tonight.’
Dilip Gopal holds up the item. It glints. It is a cigarette case. He returns it to the owner and a ripple of applause spreads round the auditorium. The besuited Indian moves down the aisle. A woman catches his attention. She has something for him. Mr Gopal comes to another smart halt, clicking his heels. He takes the item and looks at it. He says in his formal manner, ‘Thank you, Madam,’ but nothing further.
‘Let me see, Mr Gopal,’ says the Major, ‘or rather let me not see. I think that what you have in your hand is — yes, a picture is being transmitted to me even now — it is a purse, a small and delicate purse.’
Dilip Gopal duly holds up a purse to the admiring audience. Now he moves towards the back of the stalls. A sallow-faced man is holding out an item. The Indian takes it, with thanks.
‘Now concentrate, Mr Gopal-’
Suddenly Major Marmont breaks off. Those in the front rows notice that his posture stiffens. After a moment the magician and mind-reader seems to recover his poise.
‘I have a distinct impression of this item as it crosses the ether between Mr Gopal’s mind and my own. It is,
