The Talisman Ring

‘I did not!’ said Ludovic indignantly.

‘You know nothing of the matter, my dear boy. You and Chance between you showed Basil how he could be rid of you. You became enraged with the man whose name Eustacie cannot remember (or I, for that matter), and I dare say you were drinking heavily, and –’

‘He was,’ said Sir Tristram.

‘Of course. He was in a mood for violence. I’ve no doubt he talked very wildly, and swore he would be avenged. Now you must think, Ludovic, if you please! Did not Basil know that you meant to waylay that man upon – upon the fatal night?’

‘I don’t know. I think I made no secret of it. Basil knew the whole story.’

‘I am quite sure he did,’ said Miss Thane. ‘Now you see, do you not, how easy it was for him? It needed no planning at all. He had only to lie in wait for the man in the spinney, to leave a handkerchief of yours beside the body, and to steal the ring. Afterwards he had nothing to do but enact the rôle of champion. I perceive that he must have a very subtle brain.’ She closed her eyes, and said in a seer-like voice: ‘He is, I am sure, a sinister person.’

‘The Beau?’ said Ludovic. ‘No, he isn’t!’

Miss Thane frowned. ‘Nonsense, he must be!’

‘Yes,’ said Eustacie regretfully, ‘but truly he is not.’

Miss Thane opened her eyes again. ‘You put me out. What then is he like?’

‘He is very civil,’ said Eustacie. ‘He has manners of the most polished.’

Miss Thane readjusted her ideas. ‘I will allow him to be smooth-spoken. I think he smiles.’

‘Yes, he does,’ admitted Eustacie.

Miss Thane gave a shudder. ‘His smile hides a wolfish soul!’ she announced.

Ludovic burst out laughing. ‘Devil a bit! There’s nothing wolfish about him. He’s a mighty pleasant fellow, and I’d have sworn not one to wish anybody harm.’

‘Alas, it is true!’ said Eustacie sadly. ‘He is just nothing.’

Sir Tristram’s eyebrows went up a shade. Miss Thane pointed a triumphant finger at him, and said: ‘Sir Tristram knows better! A wolf, sir?’

He shook his head. ‘No, I don’t think I should put it quite like that, Miss Thane. He is pleasant enough – a little too pleasant. He purrs like a cat.’

‘He does,’ agreed Ludovic. ‘But do you know any ill of him? I don’t.’

‘One thing,’ replied Shield. ‘I know that Sylvester mistrusted him.’

‘Sylvester!’ said Ludovic scornfully.

‘Oh, Sylvester was no fool,’ answered Shield.

‘Good God, he mistrusted scores of people, me amongst them!’

‘So little did he mistrust you,’ said Shield, putting his hand into his waistcoat-pocket, ‘that he bade me give you that if ever I should see you again, and tell you not to pledge it.’

Ludovic stared at the great ruby. ‘Thunder and Turf, did he leave me that ?’

‘As you see. He asked me just before he died whether I thought your story had been true after all.’

‘I dare swear you told him No,’ remarked Ludovic, slipping the ring on to his finger.

‘I did,’ said Shield calmly. ‘You remember that I heard that shot not ten minutes after I had parted from you, and I knew what sort of a humour you were in.’

Ludovic shot him a fiery glance. ‘You thought me capable of murder, in fact!’

‘I thought you three-parts drunk,’ said Shield. ‘I also thought you a rash young fool. I still think that. What possessed you to turn smuggler? Have you been sailing off the coast of Sussex all this time?’