“New markets are opening up in London. There’s a growing demand there for black Australian opals. Naturally we want to exploit that.”
“So you are proposing to go to England?”
“Nothing definite yet. It’s just something that may well be necessary.”
I felt deflated and wretched. It was so easy to understand. Isa was going to England, so he would go too. I dare say it would be very discreet. She would leave and then he would discover that he had to go too. He was already paving the way.
I no longer had any appetite, and as soon as we left the table I made an excuse to go to my room. I had noticed the way in which Joss had looked at me when he had made the announcement that he was about to go to England. It seemed as though he were waiting for me to protest.
I won’t give him that satisfaction, I thought. But I shall let him know that I am aware that the reason for his sudden desire to leave for England is not due to business but to Isa.
***
I had made up my mind that when Jeremy Dickson returned I would tell him about my discovery of the red purse. I could talk to him freely. Then I told myself that I could do no such thing because it was an implied accusation against Joss. How could I bring myself to talk about the red purse?
I had never felt so alone in the whole of my life.
I came home one afternoon to a quiet house and went to my room. As I stood there, my hand on the door handle, I heard again that ghostly touch on the spinet keys.
I ran upstairs as fast as I could. It was the same procedure. The music stopped and there was no one seated at the spinet.
Someone was playing tricks on me. And as I looked around the gallery I noticed that there was a difference. One of the curtains which hung at intervals along the walls in the manner of the gallery at Oakland was disarranged. I went to it and drew it right back. I had disclosed a door which I had never known was there before. A light shone through the mist now. Someone had been playing the spinet and stepped behind the curtain and left the gallery before I arrived by way of that door.
This must be the answer, for the door was not quite shut. That time the trickster had had to escape in too much of a hurry to disguise his escape.
I pushed open the door and peered into darkness. I felt with my foot. It was a stair. Cautiously—for I was in complete darkness—I stepped down two steps. Then something shifted under me. There was a clatter and I felt as though I were sailing in midair. I clutched at something to save myself. It was a banister, but I couldn’t see it. I felt my feet slide from under me and I was seated on something dank and cold.
So shocked was I that I was unable to move for some moments. I was aware of the sound of heavy objects falling, with bumping sounds, as though they were falling downstairs.
I called out: “Help. Help,” and tried to stand up. My eyes were growing accustomed to the darkness and I could make out this staircase which seemed to go down into the gloom.
Then I heard someone shouting from below. “What is it? What’s wrong?” It was Mrs. Laud’s voice.
I called out: “I’m here, Mrs. Laud. I’ve fallen.”
“Did you come from the gallery? I’ll come up there…”
I sat there waiting. I realized what had happened. I had started down a staircase which was blocked in some way. I had had a narrow escape for I should have had a very bad fall if I had not found the banister in time and been able to save myself.
Mrs. Laud appeared behind me.
“Whatever’s happened? Let me help you, Mrs. Madden. Just a moment, I’ll get a candle. It’s that old staircase.”
I stood up gingerly and she half dragged me back into the gallery.
“I saw the door open,” I said. “I’d no idea there was a door there.”
“It was hidden by that curtain. There’s a stairway between this floor and the one below. It hasn’t been used for years. Someone must have put boxes in there at some time and used it as a sort of cupboard.”
“It’s very dangerous,” I said.
“I don’t remember anyone’s using it for years. Just stand up will you, Mrs. Madden. I don’t think you’ve broken anything. How do you feel?”
“Stiff and sore and rather shaken. I thought I’d broken a leg or something.”
“You could have done yourself some real damage. Perhaps I should help you to your room. I could get you something. They say a cup of tea with plenty of sugar is good for that sort of shock.”
“I just want to sit here for a moment and think. I heard the playing this afternoon.”
She looked uneasy. “Did you really, Mrs. Madden?”
“You think I imagined it, don’t you?”
“Well, people do imagine things when they’re a bit wrought up, don’t they?”
“I didn’t know I was wrought up.”
“Well,” she flapped her hand vaguely. “Everything…”
“Everything?” I insisted.
“Well, Mr. Madden talking of going off like that and the way things are.”
It was impossible to keep secrets from people who shared one’s household. I dare say there was a great deal of talk about my relationship with Joss.
I said: “What I should like to know is why that door was open. No one has used that staircase for years, you say. But someone has been using it lately, I think, someone who has been playing the spinet and escaping that way. I think that today, whoever it was, didn’t forget to shut that door but left it open for a purpose.”
“Who could have used the staircase with all those things on the stairs?”
“Someone who knew they were there…someone who put them there…knowing that I should see the open door and investigate.”
“Oh no, Mrs. Madden, he wouldn’t go as far as that.”
“He? Who?”
“Whoever it is who is playing these tricks with the spinet…That’s what you said, isn’t it? It’s someone playing tricks.”
“I have got to get to the bottom of this, Mrs. Laud. Don’t move anything on that staircase. I’m going to see what is actually there.”
“Well, Mrs. Madden, there’s a door on the landing below this. It’s so unobtrusive you’d hardly notice it’s there. I put a curtain over it, since no one uses it as a staircase. As you’ve seen, it’s dark and dangerous. It looks to me as if someone used it as a cupboard and piled boxes on the stairs.”
“Anyone would see on opening the door down there that it was a staircase and not a cupboard surely.”
“I can’t think how it happened,” said Mrs. Laud helplessly.
I took a candle, lighted it, and peered down the staircase. I could see the huddle of boxes on the lower stairs.
“We’d better clear it out and open it,” I said. “I don’t like the idea of these secret places.”
And as I was speaking I knew that someone had lured me onto that staircase, had put the boxes there to trap me, someone who had hoped that I would have an accident…or perhaps break my neck. I knew it was not the spirit of my mother—or anyone who cared for me—who had lured me to the gallery with the spinet playing.
It was someone who wished me out of the way.
***
I rode into the town next morning, for I had suffered little physical effect from yesterday’s adventure.
I said to Joss: “Did you know there was a staircase connecting the gallery with the corridor on the lower floor?”
I watched him carefully as I asked the question. His expression did not change as he said: “Oh yes, I remember. I used to play hide and seek a lot when I was a boy. It was one of my favorite games, and I remember using that staircase.”
“You haven’t used it lately?”
“I’d forgotten about it. What made you mention it?”
“I discovered it yesterday.”
“We ought to open it and use it.”
; “That’s what I said. Did you ever play the spinet?”
“What makes you ask?”
“Just curiosity.”
“As a matter of fact, I did.”
I laughed.
“What’s amusing?”
“The thought of your sitting at that dainty stool rendering a Chopin nocturne.”
“I wasn’t bad at it. I’ll show you one day.”
“Have you played recently?”
“Haven’t touched it for years. I expect it’s out of tune. We ought to get someone to look at it. I can’t think who. Spinet care would hardly be a profitable profession in these parts. I can’t think why Ben ever brought it out here.”
“For sentimental reasons, I believe.”
“And they are rarely sound ones.”
How could he be so calm, so matter-of-fact? He didn’t want me. I was well aware of that, but would he really play the spinet and try to make me break my neck? Ruthless I knew him to be, in love with Isa and making little secret of it. There were people in the town who suspected him of murdering Ezra—Mrs. Laud had hinted at it—and what was the use of getting rid of Ezra if nothing was to be done to remove the other encumbrance.
I must face the facts. If I did not exist, he could marry Isa. They had been lovers for a long time without contemplating marriage, so why should they suddenly desire it?
I realized that it was not so much that I believed Joss would not dispatch me but that I could not believe he would have used such a method. Why not? Above all my death must appear natural. It would be too much of a coincidence if I were supposed to be shot by a bushranger.
In Fancy Town Joss was a great power; people were afraid of him. But even he would have to be careful how he committed murder.
In the Haunted Mine
The next morning, when one of the maids came in with my hot water, she brought a letter for me. I was astonished, because we collected our mail from Fancy Town when it came in from Sydney every Wednesday, and for a letter to be delivered at the house was unheard of.
“How did it come?” I asked, turning it over in my hand.
“It was found in the hall, Mrs. Madden. One of the servants saw it lying there and it was addressed to you, so I brought it up.”
It had obviously been delivered by hand and the writing on the envelope was vaguely familiar. I opened it.
My dear Mrs. Madden, [I read]
I have made a discovery as I hoped I might. I rode in late last night to drop this letter at Peacocks. I must see you alone and in secret. My inquiries have revealed so much and it would be very unwise for us to meet openly at this stage. You are in danger. So am I. I have something to show you and it is known that I have it. I hope you won’t think this is too melodramatic, but I assure you there is something melodramatic about the whole matter and both our lives could be in jeopardy. Therefore I am going to ask you to meet me tomorrow…that will be today when you get this letter. I have tried to think of a suitable meeting place, for I assure you it must be very secret, and I have decided that the best would be Grover’s Gully. Could you be there at three o’clock? There should be no one about at that time, but we must be very careful. I’m going to suggest that we meet in the underground chambers of the mine. There is nothing to fear and descent is easy by means of the old ladder there.
Please don’t show this letter to anyone. That’s very important. You will understand the reason for this when we meet.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Dickson
The words danced before my eyes. It sounded wildly dramatic, but then everything connected with the Green Flash was—and I was certain that this was connected with that stone.
Of course I would do it. I was not afraid, although the mine was said to be haunted. I had always liked and trusted Jeremy Dickson.
I could scarcely wait for three o’clock.
I did not want anything to be different, so I went as usual with Joss in the morning. If I was more silent than usual, so was he. We left each other at the doors of the offices and I went into Jimson Laud’s department.
I could concentrate on nothing that morning.
I had seen some of the chambers of disused mines, and I would take a candle with me so that I should be able to find my way through the passages.
I left just after midday and went back to Peacocks, which I had to pass on my way to the Gully. In my room I picked up the candle and matches and set out, confident that no one had seen me leave.
There, was not a touch of wind nor a cloud in the sky.
The day was at its hottest. I rode fast so eager was I to reach our rendezvous in time.
The sun was high in the sky—a white, blazing light—and as I rode I left a cloud of dust behind me. The song of cicadas filled the air, but I was so accustomed to it that I scarcely noticed it. Away on the horizon a kangaroo leaped in his ungainly progress among the clumps of mulga. Overhead the inevitable kookaburras laughed together, and never before had I felt so conscious of the loneliness of the Bush.
I went through the pass and there was the mine. There was no sign of anyone there. I looked at my watch. It was five minutes to three. Shading my eyes, I studied the landscape. I could see no one. Jeremy had said in the underground chambers and he must be there already although I wondered whether he had hidden his mount. I slipped off Wattle, who showed no objection and seemed perfectly at peace. I tethered her to a bush and went to the mine.
I stood at the head of the shaft for some moments, looking around me. Just utter loneliness. Could it really be that Jeremy had found the Green Flash and had it to show me? If so, where was his horse? Perhaps he had not yet come and in a few moments I should make out his figure riding towards me. But he had stressed the time. Three o’clock, and it was almost that now.
I descended the iron rungs; they were very rusty and looked as though they had not been used for a very long time. I reached the bottom and stepped into a cavern which led into another and from that one several passages had been hewn out of the rock.
I peered into them and could see very little.
I called softly: “I’m here.”
There was no answer.
I lighted my candle and started to explore the first chamber, but I had only taken a few steps when the flame flickered. I advanced and as I did so it went out altogether. I relighted it, but it flickered faintly and again went out.
I could not understand what was wrong. The passage had turned at right angles and I was in complete darkness so once more I tried to light the candle. This time there was no flame at all.
A sudden cold fear possessed me. It was as though every sense I possessed was calling out a warning. I did not know what it meant except that I was in acute danger. It was as though a flash of inspiration came to me. Jeremy did not write that letter. But it was in his handwriting. How well did I know his handwriting? I had only glanced casually at it once or twice. Other people would know that handwriting. Would it be so difficult to copy it in order to deceive me?
“Jeremy?” I called.
There was no answer.
Someone had lured me here and it was not Jeremy. I would know very soon…Right at the end I should know.
What a fool I have been to step right into the trap.
“No, Joss,” I said aloud. “Oh no, Joss…not you.”
I had never known fear like this. It was the strangeness of everything…the silence…the darkness closing in on me…and most of all the silence, the terrible silence.
Get out, I commanded myself. Why do you wait here? Why don’t you get out? There may still be time to escape.
But an odd lethargy was creeping over me…it was something that was completely alien to me. It was as though I were being slowly paralyzed.
I stumbled through the passage out to where I could see a faint shaft of light, but I could scarcely lift my limbs,
and slowly, it seemed, for it was as though time had stopped, I sank to the ground.
***
“Joss?”
Yes, Joss had come. He was holding me in his arms.
“So…you came to kill me,” I murmured. “So it was you. You want Isa. It’s all clear now. I guessed…”
Joss did not answer, but I could vaguely hear a lot of shouting voices and I realized that I was no longer in the mine.
I was lying on the ground and Joss was bending over me. I heard him say: “She’s got rid of the poison, I think. Give her air…don’t crowd round…Plenty of air…”
I opened my eyes and I heard him say “Jessica” in a way he had never said my name before, half reproachful, half tender. Something about the way in which he said my name made me feel very happy.
Then I heard him say: “You’ve got the buggy?”
He lifted me tenderly.
“I’ll take her back,” he said.
I was lying in the buggy and Joss was driving it. We stopped and he lifted me out.
I seemed to be only half conscious and the voices seemed very far off.
“Trouble at the mine. Mrs. Laud…hot bricks, please, and milk.”
“Oh, Mr. Madden, how terrible.”
“Never mind. She’s safe. I got her out in time.”
He put me on my bed. My eyes were shut, but I was aware of him. He bent down and kissed my forehead.
When I opened my eyes he was sitting by my bed.
He smiled at me. “It’s all right,” he said. “I got you out in time.”
I closed them again, not wanting to know more just then. I wanted merely to revel in the knowledge that he had saved me and that he cared about what happened to me.
***
It was dark when I awoke. There were candles in the room, and Joss was still sitting by my bed.
“Still here?” I said.
“I wanted to be here when you woke up.”
“What happened?”
“You did a very foolish thing.” He was the old Joss again.
“I was going to meet Jeremy Dickson.”
“We’re going to get him. We’re going to find out what he’s after.”