Stephens was taking full advantage of Archie’s absence to have a well-deserved break and was relaxing on the settee with a good book and a fine whisky, when a banging at the front door shattered his peace.
He placed his book and drink on the coffee table. The banging continued as he walked to the door.
“Yes, yes. I’m coming, be patient,” he called.
The thumping at the front door persisted as he opened it. Standing on the doorstep was Mr Cropp, the gamekeeper.
“Hello Croppy,” Stephens said. “Why are you beating the daylights out of our door at this hour?”
Croppy looked quite worried.
“Oh, begging your pardon Mr Stephens but I’ve seen something today which ‘as scared the pants off me. I’ve been by here a few times to see you or Mr Archie, but there’s been no one home.”
Stephens caught the tone in his voice.
“What’s the matter Croppy? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“You could say that,” Croppy replied. “Except this one’s alive and well.”
“Well come on in man. Would a stiff whisky and a warm fire help get some colour back in your cheeks?”
Croppy’s face brightened at the offer. Stephens took him into the sitting room and made him a drink. Croppy took a gulp of whisky and gasped as it slid down his throat.
“Blimey, that’s potent stuff. Now, you know how his Lordship had some important visitor today?”
Stephens nodded as he sipped his own whisky.
“I knew something about it, but didn’t know who it was,” he said.
“Well ‘is Lordship wanted to take this bloke shooting in the afternoon see, so an hour or so later we’re out on the estate. ‘Is Lordship and the guest were shooting while I’m standing next to them reloading the guns.”
Stephens finished his drink and turned to make himself another. Croppy held out his empty glass which Stephens felt obligated to fill for him.
“That’s all in a days work for you Croppy, but it doesn’t explain why you’re beating down my door so late in the evening.”
“Well,” said Croppy knocking back his drink. “While I’m standing next to ‘is Lordship this foreign bloke starts asking about Mr Archie and what ‘e’s up to. ‘Is Lordship says ‘is fool son has run off trying to find ‘is lost brother. I’m watching this foreign bloke and ‘e sort of perks up when ‘e hears this.”
“What does he do then?” Stephens asks.
“’E starts asking his Lordship all these questions about the trip.”
“What sort of questions?”
“Umm, about what plane Mr Archie is using, where they’re going, what stops they are going to make. Oh, and one other question I thought was strange.”
“What was that?”
“’E asks his Lordship if that’s all they’re looking for.”
“That’s all they’re looking for?” Stephens said repeating the words. “Is Master Archie’s brother not enough?”
“That’s what is Lordship said after the foreign feller was gone. Right peeved about it ‘e was. Called ‘im a nosey bugger. Here’s the really distrbin’ thing though.” Croppy added, looking grim.
“What’s that?” Stephens asked.
“Well, when I handed ‘im a gun I noticed ‘e had a ring on the same as the one I got off that chap in the scuffle the other day.”
Stephens choked on the whisky half way down his throat, then coughed and spat it up.
“You alright?” Croppy asked, whacking him on the back to help clear the blockage. “Damned shame to waste such fine whisky like that.”
“Are you absolutely sure the rings were the same Croppy?” Stephens said as he wiped his face.
“Yes,” Croppy said. “Or I wouldn’t ‘ave bothered you.”
“And how much did his Lordship tell him?”
“Like I said, ‘e told that feller as much as ‘e knew which seemed to be a reasonable bit. I saw ‘is Lordship coming out of ‘ere very early the other morning when you and Mr. Archie and the boy was out.”
“Cunning old fox. He must still have a key to keep tabs on us,” Stephens said. “The early bird gets the worm eh.”
“The early bird may get the worm,” Croppy said knocking back another whisky. “But it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese.”
Stephens laughed.
“What on earth do you mean by that?” he asked.
“Don’t rightly know,” Croppy said. “It’s just my standard reply to the early bird gets the worm thing. But if I was to ‘ave a stab at it I’d say it means don’t rush in. If it looks dangerous, let some other fool put ‘is head on the line.”
Stephens was impressed. Croppy had summed up his dilemma perfectly. Should he go up to the manor and talk to his Lordship about the suspicious guest. If so he would have to answer a lot of difficult questions, the answers to which may get him fired. He would much rather Archie was the one to put his head on the block, but Archie was gone. He sighed and guessed it was up to him.
Croppy had emptied his glass again and was looking at the drinks cabinet like a hungry dog.
“Croppy,” Stephens said. “You stay here and look after the cottage. Enjoy a drink if you want, but not too much. I need you to keep your wits about you.”
He was already at the front door getting his coat on.
“Where are you going?” Croppy asked.
“Up to the manor to speak to his Lordship. I’m going to tell him the whole story about what has been going on.”
Croppy had already made his way over to the liquor cabinet and was pouring another drink.
“I don’t fancy your chore,” he said. “If Mr Archie ‘as been up to anything then sure as the good Lord made little white lambs there’ll be trouble from it. I’ve known ‘im since ‘e was a boy and if anyone can make ‘is Lordship’s blood boil it’s ‘im.”
“Yes I know, but Master Archie and Andy don’t know these people are now aware of their plans. If I don’t convince his Lordship of the danger they’re in and enlist his help, then things could take a bad turn for the worse.”
“What can ‘is Lordship do from here?”
Stephens stopped and pondered what Croppy had said. It was a good question.
“To be honest Croppy I don’t know, but you would be surprised at the contacts the old man has and the strings he can pull when he needs to.”
“Good luck then,” Croppy called as Stephens made his way out the door.
It was a chilly night as Stephens crunched his way down the shingle driveway towards the manor. His mind was churning through the details. How much of the truth to tell the old man; all, some, none? Even as he banged on the service door by the kitchen he still didn’t know. The old man’s reactions would probably dictate how much he’d tell him. The door opened and Stephens squinted as the light flooded out from inside.
“Mr Stephens!” the maid said. “What on earth do you want to be banging on doors at this hour of the night?”
Stephens didn’t wait to be invited and stepped past the maid.
“I need to talk to his Lordship Sarah,” he said. “Please tell him immediately.”
“His Lordship has retired to bed early Mr Stephens,” she said. “I’ll not raise him. It wouldn’t be worth my job.”
“Then find someone who has the courage to!” Stephens snapped. “Then go and make a strong pot of tea. I think we may both need it!”