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Updated: May 10, 2025
Wynne has ventured out to try and discover the meaning of the Frozen Flames, Borkins. He'll be back some time this evening or rather morning, I should say, for it's after midnight and the other gentlemen and myself are going to make a move for bed. Keep your ears peeled in case you hear him. I sleep like the very old devil himself, when once I do get off."
Get friendly with 'em!" returned Cleek with a pleased smile. "I've an idea we're going to have a pretty lively time down here, if I'm not much mistaken. Stick to that chap Borkins as you would to glue. Don't let him get away from you. Follow him wherever he goes, but don't let the other servants in the place slip out from your watchful eye, either. Those Frozen Flames want looking into.
They'll bring everything against me; everything that can be twisted or turned or bullied into blackening my name. If ever I get scot-free, I'll kill that man Borkins." West put up his hand suddenly. "Don't," he said, quietly; "or they'll be putting that against you, too. Believe me, Nigel, old boy, the Law's the greatest duffer on earth. By the way, here's a piece of news for you!
The chill of the evening crept into the house in cold breaths, turning the gloomy hall into a good representation of a family vault. "All I can say," said Cleek, chewing a cigar, his hands in his trousers' pockets, and his feet rocking from toe to heel, "is get out of it, Borkins, as soon as you can. I don't mind tellin' you, I'm jolly glad to be clearin' out myself.
Winter's setting in fast, you know. That your man?" He jerked his head in the direction of the closed door, and twitched an enquiring eyebrow. Merriton nodded. "Yes," he said, "that's Borkins. Looks a trustworthy specimen, doesn't he? He's too shifty-eyed for me. What do you think?" "Tell you better when I've had a good look at him," responded Cleek, guardedly.
Nevertheless a cold chill crept over Merriton's bones and he gave a forced, mirthless laugh. "As true as the gospel, Sir Nigel!" said Borkins, solemnly. "That's what always 'appens. Every time any one ventures that way well, they're a-soundin' their own death-knell, so to speak, and you kin see the new light appear.
"Nor mine, sir," he made answer. "Though I must say you gentlemen 'aven't been a bit what I imagined detectives to be. When you first come down, you know, I spotted something different about you, and " "Ought to be on the Force yourself!" supplemented Cleek. "And not such a bad callin' neither!" returned Borkins with a grin.
That part of the Fens in unin'abited and there isn't a soul in the whole village as would venture anywhere near it after dark." "Why?" "Because they never comes back, that's why, sir!" said Borkins. "'Tisn't any old wives' tale neither. There's been cases by the score.
And if we put that to one side altogether can you give me any reason why I should believe this unlikely story in place of the equally unlikely one that your master has told me knowing what I do?" Borkins twitched up his head suddenly, his eyes fear-filled, his face turned suddenly gray.
Merriton was running down the front steps and flung the answer back over his shoulder. "Can't you use your eyes? It's a body, you fool a body!" Borkins gasped a moment, and then stood still, his thin lips sucked in, his face unpleasant to see. He was alone in the hallway, for Doctor Bartholomew's fat figure was waddling in Merriton's wake. He put up his fist and shook it in their direction.
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