while the Apothecary told him the story of his journey to Devon and all that had transpired since. Eventually he spoke.
‘You say that you were told by the coach driver that he had driven the man Gorringe before but that he used a different name?’
‘Yes, Sir. Yet my investigations in Lewes yielded up nothing, except for that strange business of seeing two of the women who travelled in the coach walking along together.’
‘Quite so.’ The Blind Beak sipped his drink. ‘Surely not a coincidence?’
‘I would hardly have thought so.’
There was silence in the room, a profound silence during which Joe winked at John. Meanwhile the Magistrate performed his usual trick of appearing to sleep, which meant, as the Apothecary knew, that he was thinking deeply.
‘Tell me about the constable in Exeter,’ he said at last.
‘A professional, Sir. And quite efficient from what I’ve seen. But he has an enormous amount of work to do and quite an area to cover.’
‘Um.’ There was another long silence and then the Beak turned his head in the direction of Joe. ‘Tell me, Jago, are you due for any leave?’
‘No, Sir John.’
‘Then in that case you must take some unofficially. I want you to go to Lewes with Mr Rawlings and then on to Devon. Assist in any way possible. But you must be back here within a fortnight. Is that understood?’
‘But how will you manage, Sir?’
‘It will give young Lucas a chance to get used to the court. I shall have to rely on him.’
‘He is very inexperienced.’
The Blind Beak sighed. ‘We all were that once upon a time.’
Joe nodded gravely. ‘You’re right there, Sir. I shall be glad to accompany you Mr Rawlings and help you by any means I can.’
‘If it doesn’t inconvenience Sir John then I’d be pleased to have your company.’
‘When do we start, Sir?’
‘Tomorrow morning,’ John answered. He turned to the Magistrate who remained oblivious of the movement. ‘I must return to Devon first, Sir. I promised the Marchesa that I would be back in time to escort her to a ball.’
‘Very good. But I would suggest another visit to Lewes soon. I have a feeling that the answer might lie there. The key to the whole thing might well be Gorringe’s former identity.’
‘I shall go there after the rout, be assured of it.’
‘Remember you will only have Jago’s assistance for two weeks,’ the Blind Beak answered.
‘I will indeed, Sir John.’
‘Well now, let us change the subject. Has anything of interest other than the murder taken place since last we met, Mr Rawlings?’
John coloured even more deeply. ‘I am to be a father again, Sir. The Marchesa is with child.’
‘Well bless my soul,’ the Blind Beak answered, and laughed his deep melodious chuckle.
The following afternoon Joe Jago and the Apothecary set off by flying coach to Exeter. These conveyances were smaller than the stagecoach, carrying a maximum of four people, and were faster, having only to stop to change horses and give the travellers some rest. This particular coach halted for the night at Overton, having already traversed a distance of some sixty miles, and the two men, having seen by their watches that it was ten o’clock, went straight to bed, after consuming a hasty supper.
The next morning they set off at seven, stopped briefly at Blandford, dined at Dorchester, then pushed on through the darkness till their arrival in Exeter some three and a half hours later. John proceeded at once to The Half Moon, determined to show Joe the scene of the crime. Fortunately the room in which William Gorringe had met his grisly death had not been let to anyone else.
‘Are you game to stay in it, Joe?’
‘Indeed I am, Sir.’
So, rather wearily after so much intensive travelling, the two men climbed the stairs to the second floor and entered room seven. It had been scrubbed out and some sort of rosewater sprinkled about so that all traces and the smell of blood had disappeared. But even though the linen was fresh and clean, the bed upon which William Gorringe had met his terrible end was the same. John glanced at it somewhat fearfully, almost as if he expected the battered corpse to be lying there. He turned to Joe.
‘This is where he was killed. He was lying on the bed, his head reduced to a pulp. I don’t recollect ever having seen a corpse so badly beaten.’
‘Does it worry you sleeping here?’
‘No, not at all,’ John answered with great bravado.
But secretly he felt a little dubious about getting into the big bed and deliberately chose the side where William Gorringe’s body had not been. Joe, oblivious, removed his outer garments and got in beside him where he fell immediately into a deep and peaceful sleep. But John could not lose consciousness and now wished fervently that he had hired a horse and ridden on to Elizabeth’s. Yet he knew full well that to have ridden through that dark and desolate landscape would have been asking for trouble from any highwaymen who might be roaming the road.
A groan jerked the Apothecary into full wakefulness and lighting a candle he peered fearfully into the dark corners of the room. But it was only Joe moaning a little as he turned over. Reluctantly John blew out the light and finally fell asleep.
He woke to find Joe whistling cheerfully as he shaved in delightfully hot water.
‘Good morning, Mr Rawlings. Did you sleep well?’
‘No, I didn’t. I believe this room is haunted, Joe.’
‘Oh I don’t think so, Sir. It was just your imagination.’
‘I’m not so certain. Remember it has witnessed a violent death.’
‘I dare say a lot of other places have as well and they can’t all be haunted.’
‘Well, I’m glad I’m not staying here another night,’ John answered defiantly. Then added, ‘But what about you, Joe? I am sure that Lady Elizabeth would be glad to have you as a guest.’
‘That’s kind of you Mr Rawlings, but I feel I will be of more use staying behind in Exeter. But before we part company I’d be obliged if you would let me have a list of everyone travelling on the stagecoach with you. And, if possible, give me some address for them.’
‘I’ll do it as soon as I have had breakfast. But tell me, Joe, how do you intend to get around and about?’
‘I shall hire an horse. A good sturdy beast that I can rely on.’
‘An excellent idea.’ John got out of bed. ‘But be sure to call on me soon so that we can compare notes.’
‘You can trust me to do that, Sir. Besides I’d like to get a look at the Marchesa’s home.’
‘I think that you will approve of it enormously.’
‘I look forward to seeing it.’
And, that said, Joe continued with his shaving.
Fifteen
It was the night of Lady Sidmouth’s ball. Outside the house and along the drive she had had flaming torches placed so that the entire area had taken on a mystic quality. As John alighted from the coach he heard far below him the seductive song of the sea and imagined mermaids chorusing as they rested on the rocks beneath, combing their long, flowing hair.
Elizabeth had dressed very beautifully in a deep lilac over-robe on top of a petticoat of white lace, which had bands of lilac crossing it at intervals. Down the sides of the gown she wore ruches of pleated silk interspersed with tiny imitation violets. At her throat she had a choker of ribbon and this, too, was decorated with little violets. Her neckline was square and low, her breasts rising above it in the most delightful way, while on her head she wore a high white wig built up over a frame. In this ensemble her pregnancy did not show and John thought her one of the
