CHAPTER XV
[COOPER'S SPINNEY]
Not till the Friday following was the dead body discovered. And then in somewhat singular fashion.
A young gamekeeper was strolling through the forest with his dog. The dog, a puppy, strayed from his side. He did not notice that it had done so till he heard it barking. When he whistled it came running up to him with something in its mouth--a brown billycock hat. The creature was in a state of excitement. On his taking the hat from it, it ran back in the direction it had come, barking as it went. Puzzled by its behaviour, curious as to how it had found the hat, he followed to where the dead man lay beneath the beech tree.
He thought at first that it was some stranger who, having trespassed and lighted on a piece of open ground, had taken advantage of the springy turf to enjoy a nap. It was only after he had called to him three times, and, in spite, also, of the dog's persistent barking, had received no answer, that he proceeded to examine more closely into the matter. Then he saw not only that the man was dead, but that his clothing was stiff with coagulated blood. There had been a violent thunderstorm the night before. The rain had evidently come drenching down on the silent sleeper, but it had not washed out that blood.
Clarke was a country bumpkin, only just turned eighteen. When it began to break on his rustic intelligence that, in all probability, he was looking down on the victim of some hideous tragedy, he was startled out of his very few wits. He had not the faintest notion what he ought to do. He only remembered that the great house was the nearest human habitation. When he had regained sufficient control of his senses, he ran blindly off to it. A footman, seeing him come staggering up the steps which led to the main entrance, came out to inquire what he meant by such a glaring breach of etiquette.
"What are you doing here? This isn't the place for you. Go round to the proper door. What's the matter with you? Do you hear, what's up?"
"There--there's a man in Cooper's Spinney!"
"Well! what of it? That's none of our business."
"He's--he's dead."
"Dead? Who's dead? What do you mean?"
The hobbledehoy broke into a fit of blubbering.
"They've--they've killed him," he blubbered.
"Killed him? Who's killed him? What are you talking about? Stop that noise. Can't you talk sense?"
Day, the butler, crossing the hall, came out to see what was the cause of the to-do. At any moment people might call. They would please to find this senseless gawk boohooing like a young bull calf. Day and the footman between them tried to make head or tail of the fellow's blundering story. While they were doing so Mrs Plummer appeared in the doorway.
"Day, what is the matter here? What is the meaning of this disturbance?"
"I can't quite make out, but from what this young man says it appears that he's seen someone lying dead in Cooper's Spinney. So far as I can understand the young man seems to think that he's been murdered."
Mrs Plummer started back, trembling so violently that she leaned against the wall, as if in want of its support.
"Murdered? He's not been murdered! It's a lie!"
Day, after one glance at her, seemed to avoid looking in her direction.
"As to that, madam, I can say nothing. The young man doesn't seem to be too clear-headed. I will send someone at once and have inquiries made."
Shortly it was known to all the house that young Clarke's story was not a lie. A horse was put into a trap, the news was conveyed to the village, the one policeman brought upon the scene. When Miss Arnott returned with her motor it was easy enough for her to see that at last the air was stirred.
"Has anything happened?" she inquired of the footman who came to superintend her descent from the motor.
"I am afraid there has--something very unpleasant."
"Unpleasant! How?"
"It appears that a man has been found dead in Cooper's Spinney--murdered, cut to pieces, they do say.
"In Cooper's Spinney? Cut to pieces?" She paused, as if to reflect. "Did you say cut to pieces? Surely there's some mistake."
"I only know what they say, miss. Granger's up there now."
"Granger?"
"The policeman, miss. Now I'm told they've sent for a doctor."
A second footman handed her an envelope as she entered the hall. She saw that "Oak Dene" was impressed in scarlet letters on the flap.
"When did this come?"
"One of Mr Morice's grooms brought it soon after you went out."
She tore the envelope open, and there and then read the note which it contained. It had no preamble, it simply ran,--
"Why have you not acted on my suggestion and gone back to Lake Como or farther?
"At any moment it may be too late! Don't you understand?
"When I think of what may be the consequences of delay I feel as if I were going mad. I shall go mad if you don't go. I don't believe that I have slept an hour since.
"Do as I tell you--go! H. M."
Then at the bottom two words were added,--
"Burn this."
As she was reading it a second time Mrs Plummer came into the hall, white and shaky.
"Have you heard the dreadful news?"
She asked the question in a kind of divided gasp, as if she were short of breath. Miss Arnott did not answer for a moment. She fixed her glance on the elder lady, as if she were looking not at, but through her. Then she put a question in return.
"Where is Cooper's Spinney?"
Had the girl hauled at her a volley of objurgations Mrs Plummer could not have seemed more distressed.
"Cooper's Spinney!" she exclaimed. "Why do you ask me? How should I know?"
Without stopping for anything further Miss Arnott went up to her bedroom. There she found Evans, waiting to relieve her of her motoring attire. As she performed her accustomed offices her mistress became aware that her hands were trembling.
"What's the matter with you? Aren't you well?"
The woman seemed to be shaking like a leaf, and to be only capable of stammering,--
"I--I don't think, miss, I--I can be well. I--I think that dreadful news has upset me."
"Dreadful news? Oh, I see. By the way, where is Cooper's Spinney?"
"I haven't a notion, miss. I--I only know just about the house."
Miss Arnott put another question as she was leaving the room.
"Has nothing been heard yet of the key of that wardrobe drawer?"
"No, miss, nothing. And, miss--I beg your pardon--but if you want to break it open, you can do it easily, or I will for you; and, if you'll excuse my taking a liberty, if those clothes are in it, I'll wash them for you, and no one shall ever know."
Miss Arnott stared at the speaker in unmistakable surprise.
"It's very good of you. But I don't think I need trouble you to step so far out of the course of your ordinary duties." When she was in her sitting-room she said to herself, "She will wash them for me? What does the woman mean? And what does he mean by writing to me in such a strain?" She referred to Mr Morice's note which she had in her hand. "'Do as I tell you--go.' Why should I go? and how dare he issue his commands to me, as if it were mine merely to obey. Plainly this was written before the news reached Oak Dene; when he hears it, it is possible that he may not stand upon the order of his going, but go at once. I'll answer him. He shall have his reply before he goes, unless his haste's too great. Then, perhaps, he will understand."
On the back leaf of the note signed "H. M." she scribbled.
"Is not the advice you offer me better suited to yourself? Why should I go? It seems to me that it is you who do not understand. Have you heard the news? Possibly understanding will come with it. You do not appear to recognise what kind of person I really am. Believe me, I am to be trusted. But am I the only factor to be reckoned with?
"Had you not better swallow your own prescription? V. A."
She hesitated before adding the initials, since he knew that they were not actually hers. Then, putting her answer, still attached to his note, into an envelope, she gave instructions that a messenger should ride over with it at once. While she was hesitating whether to go down and learn if any fresh development had occurred, there came a tapping at her sitting-room door. Day entered. To him she promptly put the question she had addressed to others.
"Oh, Day, perhaps you will be able to tell me where is Cooper's Spinney?"
He looked at her until he saw that she was looking at him, then his glance fell.
"Cooper's Spinney is right away to the east, where our land joins Oak Dene. I don't know how it gets its name. It's pretty open there. In one part there's a big beech tree. It was under the tree the--the body was found."
"Thank you, Day. I think I know where you mean." Again the butler's glance rose and fell. Perceiving that he seemed to be at a loss for words she went on. "Is there anything you wish to speak to me about?"
"Yes, Miss Arnott, I'm sorry to say there is. I've come to give you notice."
"To give me notice?"
"Yes, miss, with your permission. I've been in service all my life, good service. I've been in this house a good many years. I've saved a little money. If I'm ever to get any enjoyment out of it, and I've my own ideas, it seems to me that I'd better start doing it. I should like to leave to-day."
"To-day?"
"Yes, miss, to-day. There isn't much to do in the house just now, and there's plenty of people to do it. Bevan's quite capable of taking my place till you get someone else to fill it. Your convenience won't suffer."
"But isn't this a very sudden resolution? What has caused you to arrive at it?"
Day still kept his glance turned down, as if searching for an answer on the carpet. It was apparently only a lame one which he found.
"I'm in an awkward situation, Miss Arnott. I don't want to say anything which can be misconstrued. So much is that my feeling that I thought of going away without saying a word."
"That would not have been nice conduct on your part."
"No, miss; that's what I felt, so I came."
"Come, Day, what is it you are stammering about? Something extraordinary must have happened to make you wish to leave at a moment's notice after your long service. Don't be afraid of misconstruction. What is it, please?"
The man's tone, without being in the least uncivil, became a trifle dogged.
"Well, miss, the truth is, I'm not comfortable in my mind."
"About what?"
"I don't want to be, if I may say so, dragged into this business."
"What business?"
"Of the body they've found in Cooper's Spinney."
"Day, what are you talking about? What possible connection can that have with you?"
"Miss Arnott, I understand that Dr Radcliffe says that that man has been lying dead under that beech tree for at least four or five days. That takes us back to Saturday, the day that you came home. In these sort of things you never know what the police may take it into their heads to do. I do not want to run the risk of being called as a witness at the inquest or--anywhere else, and--asked questions about last Saturday."
Then the man looked his mistress straight in the face, and she understood--or thought she did.
"What you have said, Day, settles the question. Under no circumstances will I permit you to leave my service--or this house--until the matter to which you refer has been finally settled. So resolved am I upon that point that, if I have any further reason to suspect you of any intention of doing so, I shall myself communicate with the police at once. Understand that clearly."