'Oh, that -' Venables looked suddenly embarrassed. 'Probably I exaggerated.'
I found his embarrassment and partial withdrawal of his former claim interesting. Venables was a man who lived much alone. A man who is alone develops the need to talk – to someone – anyone. Venables had talked to me – and perhaps not wisely.
'Man, the Superman,' I said. 'You've rather sold me on some modern version of the idea, you know.'
'There's nothing new about it, certainly. The formula of the Superman goes back a long way. Whole philosophies have been built on it.'
'Of course. But it seems to me that your Superman is a Superman with a difference… a man who could wield power – and never be known to wield power. A man who sits in his chair and pulls the strings.'
I looked at him as I spoke. He smiled.
'Are you casting me for the part. Easterbrook? I wish it were indeed so. One needs something to compensate for – this!'
His hand struck down on the rug across his knees, and I heard the sudden sharp bitterness of his voice.
'I won't offer you my sympathy,' I said. 'Sympathy is very little good to a man in your position. But let me say that if we are imagining such a character – a man who can turn unforeseen disaster into triumph – you would be, in my opinion, exactly that type of man.'
He laughed easily.
'You're flattering me.'
But he was pleased, I saw that.
'No,' I said. 'I have met enough people in my life to recognize the unusual, the extra-gifted man, when I meet him.'
I was afraid of going too far, but can one ever, really, go too far with flattery? A depressing thought! One must take it to heart and avoid the pitfall oneself.
'I wonder,' he said thoughtfully, 'what actually makes you say that? All this?' He swept a careless hand round the room.
'That is a proof,' I said, 'that you are a rich man who knows how to buy wisely, who has appreciation and taste. But I feel that there is more to it than mere possession. You set out to acquire beautiful and interesting things – and you have practically hinted that they were not acquired through the medium of laborious toil.'
'Quite right, Easterbrook, quite right. As I said, only the fool toils. One must think, plan the campaign in every detail. The secret of all success is something quite simple – but it has to be thought of! Something simple. One thinks of it, one puts it into execution – and there you are!'
I stared at him. Something simple – something as simple as the removal of unwanted persons? Fulfilling a need. An action performed without danger to anybody except the victim. Planned by Mr Venables sitting in his wheelchair, with his great hooked nose like the beak of a bird of prey, and his prominent Adam's apple moving up and down. Executed by whom?
Thyrza Grey?
I watched him as I said:
'All this talk of remote control reminds me of something that odd Miss Grey said.'
'Ah, our dear Thyrza!' His tone was smooth, indulgent (but had there been a faint flicker of the eyelids?). 'Such nonsense as those two dear ladies talk! And they believe it, you know, they really believe it Have you been yet – (I'm sure they'll insist on your going) – to one of these ridiculous seances of theirs?'
I had a momentary hesitation while I decided rapidly what my attitude here ought to be.
'Yes,' I said, 'I – I did go to a seance.'
'And you found it great nonsense? Or were you impressed?'
I avoided his eyes and presented to my best ability a man who is ill at ease.
'I – oh, well – of course I didn't really believe in any of it They seem very sincere but -' I looked at my watch. 'I'd no idea it was so late. I must hurry back. My cousin will wonder what I am doing.'
'You have been cheering up an invalid on a dull afternoon. My regards to Rhoda. We must arrange another luncheon party soon. Tomorrow I am going to London. There is an interesting sale at Sotheby's. Medieval French ivories. Exquisite! You will appreciate them, I am sure, if I succeed in acquiring them.'
We parted on this amicable note. Was there an amused and malicious twinkle in his eye as he registered my awkwardness over the seance? I thought so, but I could not be sure. I felt it quite likely that I was now imagining things.
Chapter 19
I went out into the late afternoon. Darkness had already fallen, and since the sky was overcast, I moved rather uncertainly down the winding drive. I looked back once at the lighted windows of the house. In doing so, I stepped off the gravel onto the grass and collided with someone moving in the opposite direction.
It was a small man, solidly made. We exchanged apologies. His voice was a rich deep bass with a rather fruity and pedantic tone.
'I'm so sorry…'
'Not at all. Entirely my fault, I assure you…'
'I have never been here before,' I explained, 'so I don't quite know where I'm going. I ought to have brought a torch.'
'Allow me.'
The stranger produced a torch from his pocket, switched it on and handed it to me. By its light I saw that he was a man of middle age, with a round cherubic face, a black moustache and spectacles. He wore a good quality dark raincoat and can only be described as the acme of respectability. All the same, it did just cross my mind to wonder why he was not using his torch himself since he had it with him.
'Ah,' I said rather idiotically, 'I see. I have stepped off the drive.'
I stepped back onto it, then offered him back the torch.
'I can find my way now.'
'No, no, pray keep it until you get to the gate.'
'But you – you are going to the house?'
'No, no. I am going the same way that you are. Er – down the drive. And then up to the bus stop. I am catching a bus back to Bournemouth.'
I said, 'I see,' and we fell into step side by side. My companion seemed a little ill at ease. He inquired if I also were going to the bus stop. I replied that I was staying in the neighbourhood.
There was again a pause and I could feel my companion's embarrassment growing. He was the kind of man who does not like feeling in any way in a false position.
'You have been to visit Mr Venables?' he asked, clearing his throat.
I said that that was so, adding, 'I took it that you also were on your way to the house?'
'No,' he said. 'No… as a matter of fact -' He paused. 'I live in Bournemouth – or at least near Bournemouth. I have just moved into a small bungalow there.'
I felt a faint stirring in my mind. What had I recently heard about a bungalow at Bournemouth? While I was trying to remember, my companion, becoming even more ill at ease, was finally impelled to speak.
'You must think it very odd – I admit, of course, it is odd – to find someone wandering in the grounds of a house when the – er – person in question is not acquainted with the owner of the house. My reasons are a little difficult to explain, though I assure you that I have reasons. But I can only say that although I have only recently settled in Bournemouth, I am quite well-known there, and I could bring forward several esteemed residents to vouch for me personally. Actually, I am a pharmacist who has recently sold an old established business in London, and I have retired to this part of the world which I have always found very pleasant – very pleasant indeed.'
Enlightenment came to me. I thought I knew who the little man was. Meanwhile he was continuing in full spate.
'My name is Osborne, Zachariah Osborne, and as I say I have – had rather – a very nice business in London – Barton Street – Paddington Green. Quite a good neighbourhood in my father's time, but sadly changed now – oh,
