The search revealed the car’s papers, but nothing else. And those we left. Then we re-entered the cars, and ran without our lights for a couple of miles. Then Mansel put on his sidelights, as much to help me along as anything else, and twenty-five minutes later we stopped at the top of the hill below which Latchet lay.
Carson and Rowley stayed with the Rolls and the Lowland, with orders to turn them about, so that, if we had to leave quickly, the cars would be ready to move the way they had come. Mansel and George and I were to enter the inn: but Bell we took as far as the forecourt and posted him there.
As before, the door was unlatched, and there was no light to be seen. We passed upstairs quietly enough.
It was easy to guess that Gulf and China and Boney were sharing poor Bowshot’s room: for a second, smaller bed was standing against a wall, and three dirty pairs of pyjamas had been laid out by some maid. As may be imagined, they travelled extremely light, and our disagreeable search was very soon done. We found no papers at all, but a clip of ammunition suggested that someone went armed.
On the opposite side of the landing we found a sitting-room, far too handsome and pleasant to lodge such villainous guests. That this room, too, had been Bowshot’s, there can he no doubt; and the thought that its present tenants included the two who had actually shed his blood for some reason made me more angry than anything else. And here perhaps I should say that I was very much disappointed that, now that we knew the truth, no violence at all had been offered to those two men. That Mansel’s judgment was good, I knew very well: but an hour ago all four had been at our mercy, if we had cared to strike, and, knowing what Fortune is, I doubted that such a chance would occur again.
It was in Forecast’s bedroom that we found a battered dispatch-case, right at the back of a wardrobe, behind some clothes. The thing was locked, but we very soon had it open – to find what Mansel had hoped for, and more than that.
Mansel was after their passports: “for,” said he, “without their passports, they cannot leave Austria. They dare not go to a Consul, men like this. And so they will stay – at our convenience. And before they go –
if
they go – I’ll have the truth of this murder from bottom to top.” And now their passports were there – the four of them tied together – and George slid them into a pocket and said, “What next?”
‘Next’ was a quarto envelope, such as some lawyers use. It was neither addressed nor sealed, and when Mansel drew out its contents, I saw him open his eyes. There were some typewritten sheets, and pinned to these was a map, very roughly done. There was also an envelope, addressed to Duke Saul of Varvic, which was unsealed.
Mansel flicked this open and drew out the sheet it held, and I looked over his shoulder, to see what it said.
I saw the heading, and that was enough for us both.
Solicitors head their letters with the name of their firm. And this particular letter was headed WORSTED & CO.
An ample supper was laid, awaiting our coming in, and the servants heated and served some excellent, soup.
As we took our seats—
“And very nice too,” said George. “Better than the picnic in progress by the side of the Salzburg road. But I shall always be sorry we didn’t hear Forecast wake up.”
I laughed.
“He’d better save something for Latchet. He’ll feel the need of expression when he finds his papers have gone.”
Mansel nodded.
“Till then, he won’t be quite sure. Almost, but not quite. But then all doubt will vanish. More. The theft of the papers and passports will hit him over the heart. Of course he’s played into our hands; but we’ve had a good night out.”
“It’s a rotten position,” said George. “I’d hate to be in it myself. Up against someone who knows and who’s out for blood: line of retreat gone; and three bloody-minded wash-outs round your neck. If I were Forecast, I’m damned if I wouldn’t clear out.”
“And leave them to it?” said Mansel. “He daren’t. Those men are fools. Supposing they went to the Consul, to try and get home. No tale they could tell would wash. They’d find themselves in deep water almost at once: and then they’d let Forecast in. At least, that’s how I see it. I think he’s stuck good and proper, and I think he’ll call for help. And that was why I let the brutes go tonight. I was more than tempted to blot out Gulf and Boney as soon as they’d said their piece. It would have been perfectly safe. But Forecast and China would have panicked. They wouldn’t have called for help: they’d have faded away. But I want to know who’s behind this. I think the papers will give us a good idea. But we’ve earned our supper tonight, and we’ll eat that first.”
George looked very hard at Mansel.
“You know who’s behind this,” he said. “You always have. But you want to get them out here – under your hand.”
Mansel smiled.
“One of the truest things ever said is a jingle. This is how it runs. ‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive.’ In other words, criminals get involved. Say Gulf struck the fatal blow. But Forecast daren’t let him down, because he is involved. And someone bigger than Forecast won’t dare to let Forecast down, because
he
is involved. If we were to force the pace, all concerned would sit tight and do nothing but watch and pray. But so long as we leave a fair loophole – well, it’s human nature to try and save the game. Oh, and by the way, did either of you see the swine? I had a good look at Forecast, but I couldn’t swear to anyone else.”
“I saw Boney,” said I. “Gulf put the torch on his face. Clean-shaven and thin, with a nose a bit to one side.”
“Forecast is ruddy and has a jovial face. You wouldn’t think that, would you? But so it is. Bland to order, I’d say. Thick hair, and a hell of a jaw. A little bit under-hung. Quite decently dressed. Clean-shaven. Mouth turns up a little at either end. China, I imagine, has cheek-bones – hence his name. Oh, and what about his gift of tongues? I’d love to have heard him trying his Flemish on the hostess of Latchet’s inn. Which shows that Forecast is a man of no education. And yet he looks one. You find astonishing fish in the waters of crime.”
It was when we had finished our meal that we returned to the papers which we had found.
First we read through the letter from Worsted and Co.
HH Duke Saul of Varvic,
Schloss Varvic,
by Villach,
Austria.
YOUR HIGHNESS,
This letter is to introduce Mr Forecast, who has all our confidence.
We are anxious to trace the whereabouts of our client, Major J D Bowshot, who was lately in your neighbourhood, and the delivery of this letter will mean that Mr Forecast, who has the matter in hand, is in need of your Highness’ assistance.
Upon such assistance we feel that we may count, because of the interest in Major Bowshot’s welfare which your Highness has more than once expressed. If, however, your Highness should feel that it would be more convenient for us to raise the matter with our Foreign Office, your Highness has only to say so. In that case Mr Forecast will place himself at the disposal of the British Consul at Salzburg, who will, no doubt, communicate with your Highness direct.
We are,
Your Highness’ obedient servants,
WORSTED & CO.
“How’s that for blackmail?” said Mansel. “I told you Biretta and Cain were devilish hot.”
“But I don’t understand,” said I. “How can the Duke find the body – any better than anyone else?”
“Only we,” said Mansel, “know that he can’t. But that’s by the way. The last sentence of that letter is a definite threat. And now let’s look at the notes; for that’s what I think they are.”
The sheets were not signed, but they contained Forecast’s instructions, as they shall show. The typewriting was the same as that of the letter which I have already set out. Here and there they were altered in ink, and it was easy to see that the hand that had altered them was that of the man who had signed for Worsted and Co.
To Mr Forecast.
1. I see no reason why you should not stay at Latchet. It might become expedient for you to visit the inn; and action by a visitor is always more open to suspicion than action by a resident. But in no circumstances will you try and pump the landlord or anyone else. If your interpreter is any good, he should be able to pick up information – by letting the people talk. But he must show no interest in what they may say about B.
2. First, you will satisfy yourself that the accident in fact took place, and that it was fatal. Eye-witnesses can report a thing like that easily enough; but take them to the place where it happened, and tell them to reconstruct it, and you will see at once if they’re lying or not. This must be done after dark, and, except after dark, the spot must not be visited.
3. If you are not satisfied that a fatal accident took place, you will return at once alone, bringing the others’ passports with you.
4. If you are so satisfied, you will consider the possibility of:
(a) the body’s having been carried into the wood,
(b) and actually buried near by.
This may be the explanation. A passing motorist, reluctant to be held for enquiries, may have carried it into the wood. A gypsy may have found it, robbed it and then buried it to avoid the consequences of his crime.
Bearing these things in mind, you will make a careful search of the vicinity.
5. If and when you find the body:
(a) you will immediately wire us saying – BUY FUNDING LOAN,
(b) you will send the others home,
(c) yourself, you will return to the spot by daylight, officially discover the body, and then report this fact to the local police,
(d) as soon as the police allow you, you will follow the others home.
6. In the unlikely event of your being unable to discover the body, you will proceed to Schloss Varvic, present the accompanying letter and obtain an interview with the Duke.
7. The Duke will be difficult because he will be afraid of being involved. You will make it quite clear to him that only by helping you can he avoid being involved. He will try to avoid seeing that but he will see it in the end.
8. In all your dealings with him, never lose sight of the fact that what we must have is proof of B’s death. That is all you are after. But he must not realize this, for, if he were to, he would wash his hands of the matter. He must be made to believe that we are acting solely in his interests. In fact, we are using him.
9. The line you must take is this: Insist that B. was put out at his instance. Stick to that, no matter how much he protests. Emphasize that failure to find a body will have disastrous results – that any day now B.’s servants may grow uneasy because he does not return. If they do, they will approach us, as B.’s solicitors, when we shall be forced to take action. This action can only take the form of approaching the Foreign Office and telling them all we know. In which case, as B.’s solicitors, we should be compelled to involve him.
Point out that it is not a question of money, that, once a body is found, we should naturally expect him to fulfil his obligations, but that it is for his own security that the find must be made.
Insist that the matter is urgent, as it is. Any moment now the servants or someone may move. And if they should approach the authorities direct, the matter will pass beyond our control.
Put the wind right up him.
10. You will not wire to us (except, of course, as directed by paragraph 5), but in reporting you will use the ordinary post.
11. If we should have occasion to write or wire to you, we shall address you as WENSLEY, at 1645 Konigstrasse, Salzburg, which is an accommodation address. You had better call there once a week.
12. When you find the body, make sure that the tab is still there and is clearly legible. If it is not, put the attached envelope into one of the pockets of the coat. Any body which is to be found, must have this envelope in one of its pockets.
13. Also attached is a rough map, which will show you how to get from Latchet to Schloss Varvic.
14. You are to memorize the above instructions with great care. When you are satisfied that you have them by heart, you will place them in the enclosed, addressed envelope and return them to us, before leaving England, by registered post. The attached envelope and the map, you will of course retain.
When we came to the end of these instructions, each one of us drew a deep breath.
Then—
“Seeing’s believing,” said Mansel. “That’s all I can say. And someone dictated those words, and someone else typed them out. Takes all sorts to make a world, doesn’t it?”
“But fancy,” said I, “trusting Forecast to send them back.”
“Criminal folly,” smiled Mansel. “They should have taken them off him, before he left. The probable truth of it is that Forecast has never read them – or never read them right through. Criminals are incurably lazy: that’s why they so often fall down.”
There were three more documents.
One was the map referred to. This was a pencil sketch, which showed that Schloss Varvic stood twenty-two miles from Latchet and some twenty-nine from our farm. It was not more than fourteen from the spot on the Salzburg road.
One was a crumpled envelope, bearing a stamp which had been post-marked and addressed to Major Bowshot, The Manor House, Beehive, Somerset.
And one was the foolscap envelope, which Forecast ought to have used. This was addressed to Miss Bauchen, of Gallface Mansions in Maida Vale.
“Who would she be?” said I.
“I rather imagine,” said Mansel, “that she is a confidential clerk to Messrs Biretta and Cain. That of course is her private address. A hundred to one it was she who typed this stuff. And the letter to the Duke.”