He was in a long, narrow room with a tall window in the wall immediately facing him, giving out on to a balcony. The place was in darkness save for the faint light of a newly risen moon, which streamed in through the window.
He saw Wyatt at once. He was in his dressing-gown, standing in the window, his arms outstretched, his hands resting on either side of the frame.
Abbershaw spoke to him, and for a moment he did not move. Then he turned sharply, and for an instant the moonlight fell upon his face and the long slender lines of his sensitive hands. Then he turned round completely and came towards his friend.
But Abbershaw’s mood had changed: he was no longer so determined. He seemed to have changed his mind.
‘I’ve just heard,’ he said, with real sympathy in his tone. ‘I’m awfully sorry. It was a bit of a shock, coming now, I suppose? Anything I can do, of course . . .’
Wyatt shook his head.
‘Thanks,’ he said, ‘but the old boy’s doctor had been expecting it for years. I believe all the necessary arrangements have been made for some time. It may knock the life out of the party pretty thoroughly, though, I’m afraid.’
‘My dear man.’ Abbershaw spoke hastily. ‘We’ll all sheer off first thing tomorrow morning, of course. Most people have got cars.’
‘Oh, don’t do that.’ Wyatt spoke with sudden insistence. ‘I understand my uncle was very anxious that the party should go on,’ he said. ‘Really, you’d be doing me a great service if you’d stay on till Monday and persuade the others to do the same. After all, it isn’t even as if it was his house. It’s mine, you know. It passed to me on Aunt’s death, but my uncle, her husband, was anxious to go on living here, so I rented it to him. I wish you’d stay. He would have liked it, and there’s no point in my staying down here alone. He was no blood relative of mine, and he had no kin as far as I know.’ He paused, and added, as Abbershaw still looked dubious, ‘The funeral and cremation will take place in London. Gideon has arranged about that; he was his lawyer, you know, and a very close friend. Stay if you can, won’t you? Good night. Thanks for coming down.’
Abbershaw went slowly back to his room, a slightly puzzled expression in his eyes. He had meant to tell Wyatt his discoveries, and even now he did not know quite why he had not done so. Instinct told him to be cautious. He felt convinced that there were more secrets in Black Dudley that night than the old house had ever known. Secrets that would be dangerous if they were too suddenly brought to light.