‘And then one day he starts looking anxious and distracted. Really in a state about something. So I asks him what’s the matter and he says he can’t tell me. It gets worse for a few days until he finally says he needs to talk to someone and would I meet him in a pub down by the Centre after work.
‘So I meets him there and we’re drinking our beers and he suddenly says, “We’re in trouble, Art.” And I says, “What do you mean, trouble? What kind of trouble?” And he says, “It’s Seddons. I’ve found something in the books. Someone’s embezzling. Hundreds. They’ve covered their tracks, or they think they have, but nothing adds up. The firm’s almost bankrupt, Art.” And I says, “Blimey.” Well, what else could I say, really? So I says, “Blimey, have you spoken to Mr Seddon about it?” And he says, “No, do you think I ought.” And I says, “Well you’ve got to, a’n’t you. You’ve got to say something if we’re about to go under.” And he just sits there looking like he’s been poleaxed. Then he says, “You’re right, Art. I’ll go round his house tonight. Drink up and I can get the next train.” And then off we goes.’
‘Langdon mentioned that visit,’ I said. ‘He said he didn’t think it went well.’
‘Mr Seddon’s valet? Nice bloke. No, it didn’t go well. Next day me and Frank found somewhere private to talk and I asked him what had happened. He says, “I told Mr Seddon what I’d found and he just looked at me blank like he didn’t want to believe it. Then he tells me not to breathe a word to anyone. So I asked what we were going to do and he said it was none of my concern and how dare I come to his home in the middle of the evening and start questioning how he runs his business. And I said I was only trying to help and he says I’ve helped quite enough thank you and tells me to get out. So I got out.”’
‘Slamming the door as he went, according to Langdon,’ I said.
‘I shouldn’t be surprised if he did. So then I says, “Well what’s next, Frank?” And he says, “I’ve got to go to the police, a’n’t I?” And I says, “But if it all gets out, the firm will be ruined and we’ll all be out on our ears.” And he says, “And what if it gets out and they find out I knew and didn’t say anything. I i’n’t going to gaol to cover up for no embezzlers.” I begged him to sleep on it, and to his credit he left it a few days, but when we met up at the Dog and Duck that night he says he’s made up his mind and he’s going to the police next day. That was the row. I lost my rag, I can’t deny it. I knew if it all came out I’d lose my job, and who’s going to employ a clerk from a firm that collapsed through embezzlement? I told him not to do it.’
‘And threatened him,’ said Lady Hardcastle.
‘We all say things like that all the time. If everyone who ever threatened to kill someone actually went through with it, you’d be pretty lonely, I reckon. Most of the people you’d ever known would have been murdered and the rest hanged for killing them. But then he grabs me by the shoulders and leans in and says all quiet like, “I know who did it. I worked it out. I’m going to give them one last chance to come clean then I’m going to the law and neither you nor they can stop me. Support me, Art,” he says. “Back me up. You’re my oldest friend there. We’ve got to do the right thing.” Then some of Old Joe’s mates step in and pull us apart. So Frank sits down, then that dizzy trollop Daisy comes over, then he looks at his watch like he’s got an appointment and that’s the last I saw of him.’
Lady Hardcastle looked at each other in silence.
She finally spoke. ‘Mr Tressle, would you like to free an innocent man from gaol?
‘If I can,’ he said.
‘It may mean the financial collapse of your employers.’
‘Now I’ve come to tell the story to someone else, I can see he was probably right. But how will it help free Bill Lovell?’
‘You, my dear Mr Tressle, have just told us who the murderer is. Armstrong, tell Bert to turn the car around. Mr Tressle, fetch your hat. We’re going to pay an unannounced call on Mr Seddon.’
Once we were out of the city the roads were clear and Bert was overjoyed with the opportunity to drive the car as quickly as it would go.
‘Lady Farley-Stroud is a bit nervous of the motor car,’ he called over his shoulder. ‘She doesn’t like me to drive this quickly.’
‘This, my dear Bert,’ shouted Lady Hardcastle over the noise of the straining engine, ‘is a matter of life and death. To the Seddon house in Chipping Bevington and don’t spare the horses.’
As we careered along the Gloucester Road, Lady Hardcastle gave Mr Tressle and me our orders and it wasn’t much longer before we were almost there. When we were about a hundred yards from the house, Lady Hardcastle had Bert stop the car and let her and me out.
‘We’ll wait here for fifteen minutes,’ she told him, ‘and then go in. You two hurry back to Littleton Cotterell and fetch Sergeant Dobson and Constable Hancock. Bring them back to the house as fast as you can.’
We stood hidden behind a large tree beside the road, with Lady Hardcastle consulting her wrist watch every few moments. At last she nodded, and we walked to the gates of the Seddon house. We walked across the drive, then I made my way round the side of the house to the servants’ entrance, leaving Lady Hardcastle to ring the front door bell. I hurried towards the kitchen.
A very surprised Mrs Birch let me in.
‘I’m so sorry to intrude, Mrs Birch. The game, as they say in the stories, is afoot. Might I impose upon the hospitality of your delightful scullery for a few moments until the time comes for me to play my part?’
‘Of course, dear,’ she said, wiping her hands on her apron. ‘But what the deuce is going on?’
‘All will be explained in the fullness of time, Mrs Birch, I promise.’
I stood by the door that led into the main house, listening to what was going on in the entrance hall. As Langdon had already said, it was difficult to hear much from other parts of the house, but I was certain I’d heard Langdon announcing Lady Hardcastle and, after a brief exchange in the hall, their footsteps as they went into one of the rooms. I gave it a few moments more to make sure the way was clear and then slipped out.
‘Thank you, Mrs Birch,’ I whispered over my shoulder. ‘I’ll explain everything as soon as I can.’
I tiptoed along the passageway, listening carefully for sounds of conversation. As promised, Lady Hardcastle had made sure her confrontation was in the dining room and I stood quietly outside the partly open door, listening. Mr Seddon’s voice bristled with indignation.
‘...mean by bursting in here unannounced?’
‘I didn’t think it could wait,’ said Lady Hardcastle, coldly.
‘Didn’t think what could wait. What on earth are you doing here?’