The curse of the Reckaviles

by Walter S. Masterman

“She hardly knew me at first, but when she recognised me she was overjoyed, and clung to me to the last, imploring my pardon for the wrong she had done me. I will not dwell on that, it is too sacred, but she confided to me the dread secret of the other Reckavile, who was somewhere in the world for all she knew, and might turn up at any time to dispossess her son. I could hardly hide my delight when I heard of the tortures he was enduring, hunted through the world by the thought of that other, but I soothed her last hours, and then set myself to thought. What was the good of killing this Reckavile and leaving the other alive. I wished to destroy them both.”

The madness of the old man was plainly in his eyes, and Ena drew away, sick with horror.

“I carefully trained myself as a butler, and obtained the post here without much difficulty. It was a sinecure, as Reckavile was nearly always abroad.

“All those years I waited. I could have killed him at any time, but then the thought of the other brother coming forward and perhaps gloating over me at my trial stayed my hand. I knew somehow my chance would come, and at last it did. Southgate and I were old friends, and I heard of the stranger who had come to the Black Horse. Mrs. Southgate told me about him, and from the description I had no doubt as to his identity. I knew he was hidden away somewhere, and Southgate had asked me to let him know when Lord Reckavile came back. How little he realised what he was asking! I found the thought of my hour of triumph coming at last, and everything seemed to play into my hands, as though Fate or the Reckavile Curse was taking a part. I brought Mr. Halley in to Lord Reckavile, and the sight of his face was like wine to me. Already I was having my revenge, and it was sweet. I heard some of their conversation, though not all.

“That night Winnie came to see me, and she smiled at me as though to say how pleased she was.

“The next day Lord Reckavile sent for me and told me to tell Stevens to get Brown the constable to come up about the poachers. He was to be here just before seven o’clock. How I laughed to myself, I saw his trap. He had arranged for Mr. Halley to be outside his window at seven.

“Mr. Cook came in the afternoon and Lord Reckavile saw him in the hall. I knew why—the library he intended to keep as it was for his own vile purpose. He kept it locked all day, but when Mr. Cook had gone I followed him on tiptoe, and when I found he had forgotten to turn the key I knew he was delivered into my hands, and that the time had come. I carried my knife ready, I had kept it always sharp for such an occasion.

“I opened the door very slowly and carefully, and peeped in, and nearly spoilt everything by crying out, for the first words I heard were those of Mr. Halley and himself on the previous day. Of course, I guessed he was using his dictaphone. He never would have a secretary or typist in the house, and used to send his records away to London or somewhere to be written out. I don’t think he ever wrote a line at all with his pen except to sign cheques.

“I saw his horrible plan at once. He could turn this record on and slip out of the window. Then Mr. Halley would be found in the room with all the marks of a struggle. How I chuckled! Yes, Mr. Halley would fall into the trap all right, but not such as had been devised.

“He was bending over the dictaphone and laughing a fiendish laugh, when I stole up to him. He had taken his coat off, and was in his shirt sleeves, when I drove the knife home, wearing a glove to prevent any finger prints showing and shouting out that Winnie was revenged at last, I could see her looking at me and nodding her head to show how grateful she was.