Kirkland Revels (25 page)

” What sort of pageant was it?”

” Historical. It must be historical … with such a setting. The costumes were excellent.”

” We were lent some from the Revels and we made others. We were helped considerably from the Revels with the Cavaliers, but we made our own Roundheads. They were easy to do.”

” Yes, I suppose they would be. So you started with the Civil War, did you?”

” Good heavens, no 1 We went back to before the Dis solution. It was the only thing to do with that wonderful setting all ready for our use.

It was most effective. People said that on that day it was as though the Abbey was no longer a ruin.”

I tried to keep the note of excitement out of my voice. ” So some. of the players were dressed as monks.”

” Indeed yes. Many of them. They all played many parts … you know.

A monk in one scene was a gay cavalier in another. It was necessary, you know. We haven’t enough players. The men are so difficult and shy!

There was many a female monk on that day, I do assure you. “

” I suppose their costumes were easy to make.”

“The simplest really. Just a black robe and a cowl … so easy to make it really effective, and against the grey ruins, I really think that part was the most successful.”

” It must have been. After all, there was the Abbey to help.”

“How wonderful that you should be so interested. I’m certainly going to try a pageant this year. But June … mind you. July is definitely a wet month.”

Ruth was trying to catch my eye, and I rose. I felt I had made an important discovery and I was very pleased that I had decided to come to the vicarage this morning.

” It’s time we went,” said Ruth, ” if we’re not to be late for luncheon.”

We said good-bye to Mrs. Cartwright and started for home.

I found it difficult to make conversation. I kept saying to myself:

Somebody who played the part of a monk in the pageant five years ago had a monk’s costume which still exists to-day. The person who came into my bedroom used it.

How could I find out who had played a monk in the 153 pageant five years ago? Who, in our household, that is to say. It could only be Ruth, I guesed. Luke would have been too young. But would he? Five years ago he would have been twelve years old. He was probably tail for his age. Why should he not have played the part of a monk? Sir Matthew and Aunt Sarah would have been too old. That left Ruth and Luke.

I said: “Mrs. Cartwright was talking to me about the pageant. Did you play a part in it?”

” You don’t know Mrs. Cartwright very well if you think she would let any of us escape.”

” What part did you play?”

” The King’s wife … Queen Henrietta Maria.”

” Just that part and no other?”

” It was an important part.”

” I only asked because Mrs. Cartwright said that some people played several parts since she was short of players.”

” Those would be the people who had small parts.”

” What about Luke?”

” He was well to the fore. He was in and out of everything …”

Lukel I thought; and I remembered that it had been some time before he had appeared on that night; he had plenty of time to take off the robe and put on a dressing-gown He must have been very quick getting up to the second floor but he was young and active.

And the bed curtains and the warming-pan? Why not? He was the one who would have had every opportunity. My doubt was becoming almost a certainty. Luke was trying to terrify me; he was trying, to kill my child before it was born. Obviously Luke was the one who had most to gain from the death of my child.

” Are you feeling all right?” It was Ruth at my side.

” Oh yes … thanks …”

” Were you whispering to yourself?”

” Oh no. I was thinking of Mrs. Cartwright. She’s very talkative, is she not?”

” She certainly is.”

The house was now in view and we were both looking towards it. My eyes went, as they always did, to that south parapet from which Gabriel had fallen. There was something different about it. I stared and Ruth was staring too.

” What is it?” she said, and she quickened her pace. 154 There was something dark on the parapet; from this distance it looked as though someone was leaning over it.

“Gabriel!” I think I must have said it aloud because Ruth at my elbow said: “Nonsense! It can’t be. But whal … But who?”

I began to run; Ruth was beside me restraining me and [ could hear my breath coming in great gasps ” Something’s there,” I panted. ” What .. is it … ? H looks .. limp….”

Now I saw that whoever was there was wearing a cloak and the hood of the cloak and part of the cloak itself was hanging over the parapet.

It was impossible to see the rest.

“She’ll fall. Who is it? What does it mean?” cried Ruth as she ran ahead of me into the house. She could go so much faster than I; I found it difficult to get my breath but I hurried after her as quickly as I could. Luke appeared in the corridor. He looked at his mother and then turned to stare at me, labouring up behind.

“What on earth’s happened?” he asked.

“There’s someone on the parapet,” I cried.

“Gabriel’s parapet.”

” But who … ?”

He had started up the stairs ahead of me and I went after him as fast as I could.

Ruth appeared on the stairs and there was a grim smile about her lips.

She was holding something in her hand which I recognised as a blue cloak which belonged to me—a long winter cloak designed to shut out the winds; there was a hood attached to it.

” It’s … mine,” I gasped.

” Why did you hang it over the parapet like that?” she demanded almost roughly.

” I … But I did no such thing.”

She and Luke exchanged glances.

Then she murmured: “It was made to look exactly like someone leaning over … about to fall. It gave me quite a shock when I saw it. It was such a silly thing to do.”

” Then who did it?” I cried. ” Who is doing all these silly cruel things!”

They were both looking at me as though they found me very odd, as though certain doubts they had concerning me were being confirmed.

I had to find out the meaning of these strange happenings. I was becoming nervous, continuously watching for the next. They were such stupid tricks except of course the appearance in my bedroom of the monk. If they had intended to alarm me they could not have chosen anything more calculated to do so. But these minor irritations. What did they portend? Luke and Ruth seemed to have made up their minds that I was eccentric but perhaps that was too kind a word. I was aware of them watching me on every occasion. It was un nerving.

I did think of going to see the Redverses and telling them everything, but I was growing so distrustful of everyone that I was not even sure of Hagar. As for Simon, he had taken my view of the monk incident, but what would he think of the bed curtains, warming-pan and cloak?

There was something sinister behind this and I had to find out what it was. I wanted to do so by myself because of this distrust which was stirring in me and which seemed to be directed against every person who was connected with the Revels.

The very next day I set out to call on Mrs. Cartwright. What she had to say about the pageant the day before had seemed important and I wondered whether I could glean more from her.

Besides the turquoise brooch I found an enamel box which I had had for years and had no particular use for, so I took this along as well.

I was fortunate to find her in. She was effusive in her H welcome and expressed great pleasure in the brooch and box.

” Ah, Mrs. Rockwell, this is kind of you. And to save me the trouble of sending! I can see you are going to be a great help to us. Such a comfort. I am sure these lovely things of yours will fetch a good price. And if you would like a pre view’ ll1 be only too delighted to show you.” She looked at me slyly as though she thought this was my reason for coming.

I hesitated. I had no wish to arouse suspicions and I felt that since these strange happenings were taking place it was very necessary for me to have a reason for everything I did.

” Well,” I began.

She interrupted conspiratorially: ” But of course. And why not. You deserve it. It’s an excellent way of doing one’s Christmas shopping, particularly when it is not quite so easy to get about. I think people who help us should have 156 special privileges…. Have a look round and then perhaps you will drink a cup of coffee with me?”

I said there was nothing I should like better; so she took me into a small room where the articles were set out and I selected a scarf pin, a snuff box and a Chinese vase. She was delighted with me not only as a bringer but as a buyer, and I felt that had put her in a good mood for confidences.

As soon as we were drinking coffee together in her drawing- room I turned the conversation to pageants. That was easy. It was a subject very near to her heart.

“And do you really propose to put on a pageant this summer?”

” I shall do my utmost.”

“It must be very interesting.”

“It is indeed, and you must have a prominent part. I always thought that members of our leading family should. Don’t you agree?”

“But yes,” I said.

“Have they always been amenable? I mean do they always take part in these affairs?”

“Oh yes, they have always been what I should call a dutiful family.”

“I’d like to hear about the pageant. I suppose Mrs. Grantley and Luke would take parts.”

” They did last time.”

” Yes, Mrs. Grantley was telling me. She was the wife of Charles

I.

”

“Yes, we did a big Civil War scene. That was because the Revels was actually occupied by the Parliamentarians. It’s wonderful luck that they didn’t destroy the place .. , the vandals 1 But then all the valuables had been hidden away.”

” That must have been exciting. Where were they hidden?”

“Now, my dear Mrs. Rockwell, that’s something your family might know more about than I do. It is a mystery though, I believe.”

” And you did that scene in the pageant?”

” Not exactly … we just had the advance of the Round heads, you know, and the occupation. Then we had the restoration of the family with the restoration of the king … linking up, you see, Rockwell history and England’s history.”

” And you showed the Abbey before the Dissolution. That must have been very interesting.”

” Indeed it was, and I propose to do that again. I mean 157 it is essential. And of course it gives everyone an opportunity to play a small part.”

” It must have been most impressive to see all those black- robed figures about the place.”

” It was indeed.”

” Luke was only a boy then too young, I suppose, to play much of a part.”

” Oh no, not at all. He was most enthusiastic. He was one of our best monks. He was almost as tall as a man then. The Rockwells are a tall family, as you know.”

“You have an excellent memory, Mrs. Cartwright. I do believe you remember the parts which everyone played.”

She laughed.

“Amongst our immediate neighbourhood, of course. But this pageant was quite a big thing and we had people from all around playing parts; and of course that was good because it brought in spectators.”

” How many monks did you use?”

” A great number. Almost everyone had to be pressed into service. I even tried to get Dr. Smith.”

” Did you succeed?”

” No. It was his day for going to … that institution, and then of course he said he had to be on duty in case he was called somewhere,”

“And his daughter?”

“She had a part of course. She was the little Charles. She looked wonderful in velvet breeches with her long hair. She was too young for it to seem immodest, and the When did you last see your father?” scene was most affecting. “

” She couldn’t play a monk?”

” Indeed not. But I shall never forget her Prince Charles Everyone was splendid. Even Mr. Redvers and no one could say acting was his line.”

” Oh, what part did he play?”

” He was merely a monk, but he did join in.”

“How … interesting.”

” Will you have more coffee?”

“Thank you, no. That was delicious. But I should be going back now.”

” It was so good of you to come, and I do hope the purchases will be satisfactory.”

We parted with mutual thanks and as I walked home I felt bemused.

I was sure I had solved the mystery of the costume. Some person had used a pageant costume in which to frighten me. 158 Luke had had one at some time. Did he still possess it? Simon had had one too. Yet he had not mentioned this when I bad told him of my experience.