IT WAS AFTER nine when Vickers at last put in an appearance in the taproom of the Cap and Balls. By this time I had almost assumed he would not arrive that night, and was on the point of going to my damp and unpleasant little room, and so was not as fully prepared to deal with the man as I had been rather earlier.
“Did you achieve your goal today, Mister Jeffries?” asked Vickers without any salutation whatever. He had obtained a glass of his port from Holt, and had taken up the same place he had occupied the night before.
“I found a solicitor who is willing to undertake my case, if that’s what you mean. For thirty pounds.” I spat this last out, making a show of my anger.
“A goodly sum, but surely worth it if he can expedite securing the funds your father left you?” He lifted his glass in my direction, and I had to hide the qualms he gave me by this civility.
“It’s robbery, and no mistake about it. Just because he may have to dodge around the terms of the will a little.” I scoffed as I laughed. “That’s what lawyers are supposed to do, isn’t it?”
“There are those who think so,” said Vickers. He watched me for a short while in a silence as stretched and miserable as a miser’s purse strings. “You have had supper, or so I gather.”
“I was hungry,” I grumbled.
“But with so little... pardon me for mentioning your straitened circumstances, but it is not what I would expect, this dining.” He showed me his teeth. “You must have had unexpected good fortune today.”
“I... came across a little money, and I decided to eat,” I told him, doing my best to appear boastful about it and sly at the same time.
“And how did you... er... come across it, pray?” Vickers persisted.
It was an effort to answer as he stared at me. “I saw a gent leave a pouch. In the solicitor’s chamber. He didn’t look back for it, so I picked it up when he was gone. There weren’t much in it.” I was able to sound ill used by this unfortunate trick of fate.
“Still, to have a few shillings just now must be welcome.” Vickers met my look with his own, far more predatory stare.
“Amen to that, Mister Vickers,” I said, lifting my half-empty glass of gin to him.
He sprang his trap. “And I imagine you are not above undertaking something not quite within the law in order to—”
“Hey, now, Mister Vickers. I won’t risk no Brixton holiday for a handful of shillings.” I shook my head emphatically.
“No, of course, not for a few shillings,” Vickers agreed. “But if you could gain, say, thirty pounds, what then?”
“Thirty pounds,” I said as if the amount were new to me; I used Vickers’ own words back at him. “A good piece of money is thirty pounds.”
“Good enough to pay a solicitor named James to break your father’s will, which is what must be done for you to touch a penny of what he left you. You would need to have your family here to come by the inheritance legitimately,” said Vickers smoothly. “Last night I offered to help you out of your current... shall we say embarrassments? I have given the matter a great deal of thought, and it strikes me that you are the sort of man who would not tend to be overly nice in his requirements of employment. Surely I am not in error?”
My shock was only partly false. “How’d you know about the will?” I demanded, hoping my indignation rang true for August Jeffries. “I won’t say as you’re wrong about me, but I don’t like anyone messing about in my affairs.”
“I am interested in you, Mister Jeffries,” Vickers assured me. “When someone interests me, I am at pains to learn all I may about them.”
“But I said nothing of the terms, at least not—” My bluster had the right undertone of desperation to it, which pleased me.
“Some of my men have taken it upon themselves to discover how truthful your accounts have been.” He smiled at me again, and I knew how a deer felt when the wolf crossed its path.
“How did you get into the records of the law courts?” I demanded, aware that he must have bribed someone in an important post to secure the information in so little time. “It is no easy thing to get the terms of inheritance revealed if you are not party to it.”
“And so quickly, too,” added Vickers. “I went to those who are able to help me and inclined to do this for me.” He saw my glass was empty and ordered another glass of that appalling gin for me.
“It weren’t right of you to do that,” I complained, but softly, to show that I was momentarily cowed by this sinister fellow.
“But I needed to assure myself that you had not lied overmuch to me. I thought a few of your statements in regard to the terms of your father’s will sounded a bit questionable, and now I have my suppositions confirmed.” He leaned forward, his expression growing more lupine than it had been earlier. “I would think you would be willing to undertake the commission I propose in order to lay your hands on thirty pounds.” He rubbed the tips of his fingers together, an expression of malicious anticipation on his sharp features. “Shall I sweeten the pot by, say, another fifteen pounds, plus the expenses of your travel?”
“That’d be near fifty pounds,” I said, as if I had been offered the Crown Jewels.
“So it would,” Vickers agreed. “To journey to a place near Munich, in Bavaria.”
“Bavaria,” I repeated, thinking of what I had learned earlier that day. “What is in Bavaria?”
“There is a man there who is bringing a document from there to England. The man is married to a German noblewoman, but is, himself, a Scotsman. It would be his second marriage. What I propose is a ruse of sorts. I must know what is in that document, what it says and how it is to be enforced.” He was growing restless with purpose. “I will pay you forty-five pounds as well as all your costs of travel to obtain that information for me before the document reaches England.”
I shook my head. “How do you expect the likes of me to do that?” I asked. “I can’t think of any reason such a man would permit me to get near him.”
“He might take you to help him if his own valet should meet with an... accident.” The real meaning of that last word was dreadfully plain; the accident was expected to be fatal.
“You mean you expect me to kill a man for thirty pounds?” I exclaimed, my dinner settling like clods behind my belt.
“Forty-five, Mister Jeffries. Forty-five pounds, at the least. Given the expense of your travel, I would think that it may well be closer to sixty pounds before the venture is done.” He chuckled. “Don’t tell me a man of your cut would balk at a murder?”
“I never killed no one before,” I said, making it sound as if the notion was truly offensive. “And not for such a sum.”
Vickers looked thoroughly amused. “Then this will be a new experience for you, no doubt,” he said, and settled back in his chair. “I want your answer tonight, Jeffries. I do not want you to spend the night fretting over your decision, for that will always lead to the circumspection that is not welcome to me.” He steepled his fingers once again, and looked at me over that peak. “It would be folly for you to hesitate, for even with thirty pounds, your solicitor may find his work scrutinized by the courts and your machinations could be discovered, which would have severe consequences for you.”
I glowered. “I can’t have that.”
“No, you certainly cannot. So it would be worthwhile for you to give me an answer in the affirmative.” He watched me closely, though he made it appear he had no interest in me at the moment.
“This man, then, the Scotsman. What would I have to do?” I begrudged the question as if I disliked having my hand exposed.
“Read the document he carries and return here in advance of him with all the details I have stipulated. I will need to know before the Prime Minister has read it what is contained in it.” His answer was swift.
“And the Scotsman would not have to have an... accident?” I was pleased at how avaricious I sounded, and how unprincipled.
“No; in fact he must not be allowed to suspect anything. If he has the least suspicion that his mission has been compromised, he will make this known to those around him and that would be worse for my purpose than having the document arrive here without benefit of discovering its contents.”
“What sort of document is it?” I asked, anticipating a lie for my answer. I was not disappointed.
“I have no idea,” said Vickers, making no effort to hide his mendacity. “And that is the source of my trouble.”
“I see. You may need to act if there are certain proposals within the document which would not favor you. That is why you want it examined and your questions about it answered,” I said, as if grasping the whole of the problem.
“Yes. You see, if it turns out that certain enterprises of mine are at risk because of the terms of the document, I must have advance warning of it in order to minimize the losses I would suffer because of it. Surely in your factoring for cotton buyers, there have been times when a little advance knowledge has saved you from serious difficulties.” This last was another open appeal to Jeffries’ capacity for larceny.
“It would be a challenge to try to discover the details of the document,” I said, as if warming to the prospect. “It might even be that some of the information could be turned to my advantage.”
“It is possible,” seconded Vickers, again offering his temptation.
I took more of the gin in the glass Holt brought than was prudent, and hoped as I did that it would not go to my head. “Fifty pounds, perhaps sixty, to go to Bavaria and deal with this Scotsman and the document he carries.”
“That is the enterprise, yes,” said Vickers. “And if you can turn your labor to your advantage, so much the better.”
It struck me then that Vickers was planning to have me—as Jeffries—killed at the conclusion of the venture; he had no other reason to be so expansive and helpful as he made himself appear if his intentions were less fatal; I tried to look more fuddled than I was, and slurred my words when I said, “Then you had better tell me when you expect me to leave, so I can be ready betimes.”
“I think there is a packet leaving tomorrow evening for Amsterdam. If you take the train down tomorrow, you will arrive in plenty of time to be aboard her.” He clapped his hands together. “The sooner you begin, the sooner the money is yours.”
“Amsterdam is a strange port for Bavaria,” I remarked.
“You do not want to go the obvious way,” said Vickers. “In case your actions are traced later, you would not like the destination and purpose of your travels to be too readily apparent.”
“Yes, I take your meaning. Very well, Amsterdam it is,” I agreed, doing my best to seem eager for the work. “But I will have to call upon solicitor James in the morning, to inform him I will shortly have the money he has demanded of me.”
“Of course,” Vickers agreed, so quickly that I was certain that my impression of his intentions where I was concerned were correct. “Do that. And prepare a note for any relative you might want to be alerted to your whereabouts. Your half-brother, for instance, may want to know where you have gone. To say nothing of your wife; you would not want her to worry.” He put his hands on the arms of the chair. “I will see that they are delivered at once.”
“Good of you,” I said, lifting the glass to him and steeling myself for the hideous stuff.
“I will meet you here at eleven in the morning. I will accompany you to your train and I will give you your instructions then, and all the money you will need for your traveling.” He rose from his chair in a single energetic movement. “Until then, let me congratulate you on your decision. You have made a wise bargain.” He held out his hand, and I did my best to hide my reluctance as I took it.
“It’s a privilege to be doing work for a fine gentleman like yourself, Mister Vickers. You won’t have any cause to regret it; my word on it.” I tried to make it sound as if I was completely won over, but I feared that my inward consternation was not adequately disguised.
“Sleep well, Mister Jeffries,” said Vickers. “You will need to be alert tomorrow.”
“I’ll take myself off at once, if it please you, sir.” I bowed my head slightly to him and made myself smile ingratiatingly.
When Vickers strolled out of the taproom, I felt a pall had been lifted from the place. The fire seemed to burn more brightly, the lamps were cheerier than they had been while Vickers occupied the place.
I glanced toward Holt and saw him shake his head once as if in sympathy or unhappiness. I discovered in myself an urge to tell the man I was not deceived by the blandishments and tantalization offered by Vickers, but I was able to stop myself in time. I tossed him a thr’penny bit and left the taproom whistling.
Once in my room, I began to make a number of notes to myself, which I quickly destroyed as it occurred to me that I might well still be observed and subject to unwelcome scrutiny by Vickers’ agents; if I were foolish enough to make a record of my impressions and thoughts, I might not be alive come morning. As I burned the last of these notes in the candle, I heard a sharp rap at my door. “A moment,” I called out, and put the ashes into the pocket of my coat so as not to draw attention to what I had been doing. I made a point of taking my pistol as I went to the door.
The elderly man with the Devonshire accent stood in the doorway, a cordial smile on his pinched features. He wore a hacking jacket of west-country weave, as if he had just come to town for the day. His breeches were chestnut-colored and his shirt was so white he could not have ridden here directly. The waistcoat was of a tapestry brocade. The country squire-scholar to the life. “Good evening, Mister Jeffries. I am informed that you have agreed to undertake a short journey on Mister Vickers’ behalf.”
“That I have,” I said, making no move to invite him into the room, or to apologize for my pistol. “Though I don’t know what business it is of yours.”
“Ah, Mister Jeffries,” said the Devon man, “I don’t mean to intrude in your affairs, but I would appreciate a minute of your time. You follow the stars, and when a man commits himself to a venture of so uncertain a nature, I would hope he would allow his stars to guide him.” He moved nearer so that I would be forced to admit him or close the door in his face.
I was curious about the man and his purpose for coming, so I gracelessly held the door open for him, and indicated the single chair in the room; I went and sat on the corner of the bed. “What’s this about, then? And tell me quickly. I don’t have hours to spare.”
“I have reviewed the information you provided me in regard to your birth, and I wished to remind you that there is a very powerful transit coming up in regard to your natal sun.” He continued to smile at me as if he were a painted puppet.
“Yes,” I said, wondering what this man was actually looking for, as it certainly was not to inform me of what I presumably already knew. “And they will be most powerful on the eleventh of next month.”
“And the twelfth,” said the Devon man. “I hope you will let me offer you a little advice in this regard.” He folded his hands, looking for all the world like a small, earnest, nearsighted animal with glasses perched on his nose.
“What do you want to tell me?” I asked, beginning to think the man’s naiveté was genuine.
“That it would be folly for you to suppose you may use the favorable conditions of the stars to push for advantage with Mister Vickers. He has much more at his command than the influences of Jupiter and Mars. He will not excuse any lapse on your part, once he has entrusted you with a task.” He scowled and looked down at the toe of his polished boot. “Play him false and you will suffer for it as you have never imagined possible.”
“Very well,” I said. So this was what the man was doing—delivering a threat for Vickers.
“He has many servants in this world; some of them are in Germany as well as France. Do not think you will be unobserved while you are on this mission for him. And if you think to escape him, you will discover that there is no place on earth he cannot reach you and exact vengeance for your betrayal.”
“I will strive to remember that,” I said, as a grue slid down my spine. I had no doubt that this last was true.
“He is a very powerful force in the world,” the Devon man said, for emphasis. “Keep that in mind.” He rose from the creaking chair. “You might want to read the accounts in the papers two years ago of Henry Gordon-Hughes. There is coverage of the case in the Times. It would be instructive to you to familiarize yourself with the case.” He went to the door and opened it.
“Henry Gordon-Hughes,” I repeated as if the name were strange to me, though I recalled the dreadful matter well enough: Henry Gordon-Hughes was found on a stretch of sand by the North Sea in Holland. He had been flayed alive.
“Yes. He failed to complete a mission for Mister Vickers.” And with that, the man with the Devonshire accent was gone, leaving me with a number of distressing thoughts to bedevil my sleep.
FROM THE PERSONAL JOURNAL OF PHILIP TYERS:
M.H. sustained a visit from Miss Roedale of Twyford shortly before noon; she was much distressed that her fiancé has been called away from her at this time. It appears that there is to be an important gathering of her family which G. was supposed to attend and now will not be able to. Miss Roedale informed M.H. that she had not anticipated such disruptions in her life when she learned that G. worked for a member of the government. M.H. did what he could to assure the young woman that this mission could not be helped or set aside, which somewhat mollified the young lady.