The Pride of the Peacock (40 page)

They were sorry for me, asking themselves how much I knew. In a place like this everyone knew everyone else’s business. The notices asking for information about Ezra’s murder looked out at me from every post.

i It was an uneasy town. The cosy theory was that Ezra had been shot by a bushranger who was now miles away, the only other alternative being that we had a murderer in our midst. Murderers had to have motives. I knew that the murderer was someone who came to Peacocks and was such a frequent visitor that no one would notice when he went into the orchard to bury a purse.

When I went into the offices Jeremy was waiting for me. He wanted to show me the finished product of that opal I had had such a feeling about.

“You can be proud to have your judgement proved correct,” he told me.

“Does it really mean I’m learning or was it just good luck?”

“It was pure hunch and that’s what we all wait for.” He said he would make tea and did so. I felt a great urge to talk to him about my discovery and my fears, for it occurred to me that he was one of the few people I could talk to; but I knew that would be unwise. I brought the subject round to the Green Flash.

“Have you heard the rumour that Ezra stole it and died as a result?” I asked.

“I never take any notice of rumours like that’ ” I suppose there’s just a possibility that it might be true. “

“In the first place Ezra was no thief. He would never have stolen anything.”

“His wife has a fine collection. Suppose he wanted to add the best of all to it.”

Jeremy firmly shook his head.

“If the Green Rash could be found it would be hdpful,” he said.

“Ah yes. But where is it? I only wish I knew where to start looking for it. You see, it’s very awkward because Joss doesn’t want to start fussing about it.”

Jeremy wrinkled his brows.

“It’s very strange,” he said.

“Perhaps he’s making secret investigations.”

“Since I am a joint owner I think he would have consulted me. Can you suggest anything that I might do?”

“Well, presumably it was there when Mr. Henniker left. There was obviously no break in, so it must have been taken by someone who was known to the house. That could have been anyone at the works because they could come or go without much notice being taken. You might start questioning the servants. And you can be sure I’ll keep my eyes and ears open and do everything I can.”

Thanks. “

The door opened suddenly and Joss looked in.

“Oh,” he said, ‘cosy chat, I see! ” and was about to go when Jeremy said: ” Did you want me? “

“Later will do,” replied Joss and disappeared.

I left the office soon after that and went back to Peacocks. I lay on my bed with the blinds shutting out the heat. I could not concentrate on reading and kept thinking of Joss’s burying the purse in the orchard and the more I thought of it, the more absurd it seemed. How simple it would, have been to have thrown it away in the Bush which the suspected bushranger might easily have done.

I was startled suddenly by a gentle pat on my door. It was so light I scarcely heard it. I called “Come in’ but there was no answer so I went to the door and looked into the corridor.

“Is anyone there?” I called.

There was still no answer. Then from above I heard the sound of the spinet. It was a Chopin waltz.

I wondered who in the house played the spinet and my curiosity sent me to the stairs leading to the gallery. When I was half way up the stairs the music stopped abruptly. I opened the door of the gallery and went in.

There was no one there.

I looked round in dismay. If someone had been in here playing I must surely have seen whoever it was coming out of the room.

Had I imagined it? No. I had distinctly heard it.

As I came downstairs I heard someone in the hall. It was Mrs. Laud just coming in.

“It’s hot in the town,” she said.

Have you been ordering again? You should have gone this morning. “

“A few things I had forgotten. You look startled, Mrs. 0 Madden.”

“I thought I heard someone playing the spinet in the gallery.”

Oh no, I don’t think so. Nobody’s touched it for years. Mr. Henniker used to play it sometimes. He had funny fancies for a man such as he was. He used to say to me: “Emmeline 1 -” he used to call me Emmeline, always my full name’Emmeline, when I play this I fancy I’m calling someone from the grave . ” He had this strange feeling, you know.

She died . of a broken heart, he said, and if he had stayed in England he could have saved her. Funny you should have fancied you heard it playing. ”
” It didn’t seem like fancy. “

“I can’t think what else, Mrs. Madden. I can’t really ” Oh, well,” I shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s not important.8 But it was, because I was certain I had heard someone there, and I could not understand how that could possibly be the case.

Later that day, after sundown, I went up to the gallery. It looked ghostly in the candlelight, for only a few of those on the wall sconces were kept lighted. It could be a blaze of light when there was a party. I could almost make myself believe that I sensed a presence there. Did people really return, people who had taken their lives and could not rest? Perhaps my mother would want to take care of me especially because she had left me to the far from tender care of my grandmother. What was the matter with me? Finding the purse had unnerved me, so that I could really believe that it was my mother who had tapped on the door and that in playing the spinet she was letting me know that she was watching over me.

When I came back to Peacocks the next afternoon Jeremy Dickson rode with me.

“I shall be going away for a short time,” he said.

Really? Where? “

Mr. Madden spoke to me yesterday after you had left. He wants someone to go to the Sydney office and he suggests that I go. “

I felt a mingling of disappointment and exhilaration. I should miss Jeremy, and yet what if Joss was sending him off because he knew that I was rather friendly with him? That could mean that he was not indifferent to that friendship.

I had sensed that he was a little piqued by it.

“Are you pleased ?” I asked Jeremy.

“I’ve become too enthusiastic about our plan to track down the Green Hash. Wouldn’t it be strange if the answer was in Sydney?”

“I can hardly think that’s so.”

“Why not? If someone took it would they stay here with it?”

“But we said it had to be someone who lived here … someone who could come in and out without being noticed.” That may be.

However, I’ll drop hints about it when I’m in Sydney. Ifs amazing what comes to light during casual conversations. 1 I found comfort in talking to him and missed him when two days later he left for Sydney. Joss was sardonic as we rode into the town.

“I’m sorry to deprive you of your playmate,” he said.

“Playmate?” I retorted angrily.

“Workmate, you mean.” Tou and he always seemed to be enjoying each other’s company. “

“He treated me like an intelligent being, that’s why.”

“Oh come, there’s not a man in the Company who doesn’t salute your intelligence. But you can start looking into other facets of the business now. You’ve spent too long with the facing wheels.”

“Even you had to admit my hunch proved a good one.”

“I’ve never denied it. But you can’t live on the glory of one hunch all your opal-working days. You go and look through the books with Jimson Laud. Accounting is a very important part of the business.”

“What’s happening about Ezra Bannock?” I asked. His expression changed.

“What do you mean Are you nearer to discovering his murderer?2 ” It’s hopeless. Quite clearly it was a bushranger. I expect Ezra put up a fight and that was that. “

“His purse was taken. I thought it might have been found.” He stared at me in amazement.

“His purse! You don’t think the thief would keep that, do you? He’d throw it away … and quickly. He wouldn’t want to keep something that

could incriminate him.1 It was a red purse with a gold ring.”

Yes, that came out in the enquiry. “

But it was never found . ? “

“Did you expect it would be? There must be hundreds of such purses in this neighbourhood.”

I wanted to tell him, but I couldn’t. It would be like accusing him of murder. He would never forgive me . particularly if he were guilty.

It was true that there were hundreds of such purses. Perhaps that one had been lying in the orchard for a long time. But then why had someone later taken it from the drawer in my room?

We reached the office and I went to Jimson’s department, but couldn’t concentrate. I could think of nothing but Isa and Joss . together.

I should never forget that moment when she had shown me the Harlequin Opal and blatantly confessed that Joss had given it to her.

When I left the offices, instead of riding back to Peacocks I decided to go to the homestead to see Isa.

I left Wattle with one of the grooms and went into the house where, in the hall, I immediately noticed a big trunk which looked as though it were ready for imminent removal.

A servant took me into the cool chintzy drawing-room and I had only been there a few moments when Isa came in. She looked beautiful in flowing black chiffon-secret-eyed, I thought, and predatory.

“Jessica, how nice of you to take pity on me.8 ” I thought I would come and see you. You did invite me. “

“Oh, please, you mustn’t make excuses. Haven’t I always told you that I love callers ?”

“It must be lonely for you now.”

“Oh, people are so good. They call often.”

A famt smile at the lips. Joss, I thought.

“I’ll ring for tea,” she said.

“Oh, what should we do without tea?

It’s our refuge from this thirst-parching heat’ She rang for tea and asked how I was getting on with the Company.

“I’ve heard you’re something of a genius.”

“Whoever told you that?”

These things get round. I think you’re going to be a martinet. You’ll make them all keep their noses to the grind stone. “

That’s nonsense. I happen to be very interested. “

“It’s clever of you. Processes and all that. All I can do is enjoy the finished product.”

“You said that you would one day show me the rest of your collection.”

“Didn’t I show you once?”

Yes, when you had acquired the Harlequin Opal. “

“A gem. It was good of Joss.”

“I’m sure he enjoyed giving it to you ” He knew it would be in good hands. “

“It’s not the best in your collection though, is it?”

She looked at me slyly and shook her head.

“What would you say is the finest opal you possess ?”

“Ezra used to say: ” You shouldn’t talk so much about your collection.

One of these days someone will come along and steal it. “

“But you didn’t take his advice.”

“I’ve always found that advice is something always to listen to but only take when you want to.”

“Now that I know a little more about opals I should appro-date your collection so much more.”

“Oh yes, you were a novice when you first saw it. But not so much so that you couldn’t recognize the qualities of the Harlequin.”

They were rather obvious, as I should think others in your collection would be. “

“Oh yes, of course. How is Wattle? It was a shock for her to discover Ezra. Isn’t it strange, but for that horse his death would have remained a mystery forever. It’s rather frightening, isn’t it … when you think of what can happen in a place like this. I wonder how many bodies have been buried in the Bush with never a faithful Wattle to unearth them. So you saw the groom and the servant who brought you the tea. We might be alone but for them. Did you tell Joss you were coming to see roe?”

“I didn’t. I may do. Or perhaps you will.”

She opened her ‘eyes very wide.

“Do you think I shall see him? Is he coming over?”

“Is he?” I asked.

“Are you going to show me the rest of your collection?”

“No,” she answered.

“Why not?”

“Guess.”

“Is there something so valuable there that you’d rather not show it?1

<

There are certainly valuable stones there. ” She laughed suddenly.

“Oh, I know what you’re thinking. The elusive Green h; Flash. Do you know what they’re saying in the town? That sc Ezra. stole it and gave it to me and that was why he died o1 because it brought him bad luck. Do you think I’d want bad ti luck?”

“You wouldn’t believe in the bad luck, would you?2 I ” I’m very superstitious. And the reason I shall not show you my collection has nothing to do with the Green Flash.

” V “

What, then? “

b “It’s packed away.”

“Are you sending it away?8 She nodded.

“It’s going with me. I shall be leaving for England in a few weeks.”

“Leaving for England! Leaving… here I’ c Tor a holiday. I might come back. I need to get away now that Ezra’s gone.”

Tou are going. alone? ” 1 The tiger eyes gleamed.

“You ask too many questions,” she said. I wondered what she was hinting at.

I left soon after. I did not want to be out after sundown.

‘ The house was quiet when I arrived at Peacocks. Joss had not yet returned from the town. I was very uneasy because I felt there was something significant about Isa’s departure. How would Joss feel about her going? If he were indeed madly in love with her he would certainly be upset. I could not wait to see him.

I mounted the stairs to my room and once again I heard the notes of the spinet. I took the stairs two at a time but when I reached the landing the playing had stopped. I went into the gallery. No one was there.

I looked all around. The only explanation was that, unless there was another way out of the gallery, the spinet-player could only be someone who did not have to take account of walls.

I sat down in one of the chairs and looked round the place. As usual, the sound of music had touched me deeply. Perhaps I wanted to believe it was my mother returned from the dead to care for me. But why. suddenly? What of all those years I had spent in the Dower House?