‘ “Hullo? Hullo?” I called interrogatively.
‘No answer. No sound save the loud ticking of clocks and the crackle of the fire. I walked all round the big room. I even looked into the great four-poster bed of my dreams. Then I saw that there was a smaller adjoining room. Snatching up a candle, I hastened to explore this. At its far end I discovered a winding staircase leading up to a little gallery. The old man must have withdrawn into some upstairs lair. I would follow him. I groped my way to the foot of the stairs, and began to climb, but the steps creaked under my feet; I was conscious of crumbling woodwork. There was an icy draught; my candle went out. Cobwebs brushed against my face. To go any further was most uninviting. I desisted.
‘After all, what did it matter? Let the old man hide himself!
‘I had given my message. Best be gone. But the main room to which I had returned was now quite warm and cheerful. What had ever made me think it sinister? It was with a distinct sense of regret that I left the shop. I felt baulked. I longed to see that radiant face again. Strange old man! How could I ever have fancied that I feared him?
‘The next Saturday I was free to go straight to the shop. All the way there my mind was agreeably occupied anticipating the welcome the grateful sisters were sure to give me. As the jingle-jangle of the bell announced my opening of the door, the two girls, who were busily dusting their goods, turned to see who came at so unusually early an hour. Recognizing me, to my surprise they bowed amiably but quite casually, as though to a mere acquaintance.
‘With such a fairy-tale bond between us, I had expected a very different kind of greeting. I supposed that they had not yet heard the news, and when I told them I had brought the cheque, I saw that my surmise was right. They looked quite blank.
‘ “Cheque?”
‘ “Yes, for the frog I bought the other day.”
‘ “Frog? What frog? I only remember your buying a piece of Sheffield plate.”
‘So they knew nothing, not even of my second visit to their shop! By degrees I told them the whole story. They were overcome with astonishment. The elder sister seemed quite dazed.
‘ “But I can’t understand it! I can’t understand it!” she repeated. “Holmes, the old caretaker, isn’t even supposed to admit anyone in our absence – far less to sell things. He merely comes to take charge on the evenings we leave early, and is only supposed to stay till the night policeman comes on duty. I can’t believe he let you in and never told us he’d sold you something. It’s too extraordinary! What time was it?”
‘ “Round about six, I should think.”
‘ “He generally leaves at half past five,” said the girl. “But I suppose the policeman must have been late.”
‘ “It was later when I came yesterday.”
‘ “Did you come again?” she asked.
‘Briefly I told her of my visit and the message I had left with the caretaker.
‘ “What an extraordinary thing!” she exclaimed. “I can’t begin to understand it. But we shall soon hear his explanation. I expect him at any moment now. He comes in every morning to sweep the floors.”
‘At the prospect of meeting the remarkable old man again I felt a thrill of excitement. How would he look by daylight? Should I see him smile again?
‘ “Very old, isn’t he?” I hazarded.
‘ “Old? Yes, I suppose he is getting on, but it’s a very easy job. He’s a good, honest fellow. I can’t imagine his doing anything on the sly. I’m afraid we’ve been rather slack in our cataloguing lately. I wonder if he does sell odds and ends for himself? Oh no, I can’t believe it! By the way, can you remember whereabouts this frog was?”
‘I pointed to the shelf from which the caretaker had produced the piece of jade.
‘ “Oh, from that odd lot I bought the other day for next to nothing. I haven’t sorted or priced any of the things yet. I can’t remember any frog. What an incredible thing to happen!”
‘At this moment the telephone rang. She lifted the receiver.
‘ “Hullo? Hullo? Yes, Miss Wilson speaking. Yes, Mrs Holmes, what is it?”
‘A few seconds’ startled pause, and then, “Dead? Dead? But how? Why? Oh, I am sorry!”
‘After a few more words she replaced the receiver and turned to us, her eyes full of tears.
‘ “Oh, Bessie,” she said to her sister. “Poor old Holmes is dead. When he got home yesterday he complained of pain, and he died in the middle of the night – heart failure. No one had any idea there was anything the matter with him. Oh, poor Mrs Holmes! What will she do? We must go to her at once!”
‘Both girls were so much upset that I thought it best to leave.
‘The singular old man had made so haunting an impression upon me that I was deeply moved to hear of his sudden death. How strange that, except for his wife, I should have been the very last person to speak with him. No doubt pain had seized him in my very presence. That was why he had left so abruptly and without a word. Had death already brushed against his consciousness? That lovely, inexplicable smile? Was that the beginning of the peace that passes all understanding?
‘Next day I told Miss Wilson and her sister all the details of the fabulous sale of the frog, and presented my cheque. Here I met with unexpected opposition. The sisters showed great unwillingness to accept the money.
