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Updated: July 18, 2025
It was from a firm of solicitors in Lincoln's Inn, and it informed me, in a few precise sentences, that they had the authority of their client, Sir Michael Trogoldy, to pay me yearly the sum of five hundred pounds. There came no summons from Rowchester, and I dined alone. I must have dozed over my after-dinner cigarette, for at first that soft rapping seemed to come to me from a long way off.
I caught a slow train, and after four hours of jolting, cold, and the usual third-class miseries, alighted at Rowchester Junction. Already I had started on the three mile tramp home, my coat collar turned up as some slight protection against the drizzling rain, when a two-wheeled trap overtook me, and Mr. Moyat shouted out a gruff greeting.
"If he hasn't lost money," Mrs. Moyat demanded, "why is Rowchester Castle let to that American millionaire? Why doesn't he live there himself?" "Prefers the East Coast," Mr. Moyat declared cheerfully. "More bracing, and suits his constitution better. I've heard him say so himself." "That is all very well," Mrs. Moyat said, "but I can't see that Rowchester is a fit country house for a nobleman.
"Go back to Rowchester and wait," Ray said. "I shall tell you nothing. Depend upon it that his business with you, if he had any, was evil business. He and his whole brood left their mark for evil wherever they crawled." "His name?" I asked. "Were there no papers upon him?" Ray demanded. "None." "So much the better," Ray declared grimly.
I was told to report myself immediately on arrival at Rowchester House, and to my surprise was informed by the servant who answered my inquiries that a room was reserved for me there. I had no sooner reached it than Lady Angela's own maid arrived with a message. Her ladyship would be glad if I could spare her a few moments in the drawing-room as soon as possible.
"I am not going to take you any farther," she declared, "especially as you are coming up to-night. Eight o'clock, remember. Go and salve your conscience with some work." I protested, but she was firm. So I stood by the gate and watched her slim young figure disappear in the gathering shadows. I dined that night at Rowchester. Lord Blenavon was sulky, and Lady Angela was only fitfully gay.
He was toiling up the side of the highest cliff in the neighbourhood, and once we saw him turn seaward and take off his hat as though enjoying the breeze. Just as he neared the summit he looked round. Lord Chelsford waved his hand and shouted. "Rowchester," he cried. "Hi! Wait for me." The Duke waved his hand as though in salute, and turned apparently with the object of coming to meet us.
"The fact is, Lady Angela is very anxious about her brother, who did not return to Rowchester last night, and she has sent us out as a search party. Of course, if you were able to help us she would be very gratified." The doctor hesitated. "The Duke and, in fact, all the family have always been exceedingly kind to me," he remarked, looking straight between his horse's ears.
Again I saw that contraction of her eyes, but she never winced or changed her tone. "You have employment?" she asked, as though surprised. "Yes. As you doubtless know, I am in the service of the Duke of Rowchester," I told her. "It is news to me," she replied. "You will forgive me at least for being interested, Guy. But when you say in the service of the Duke of Rowchester you puzzle me.
But I tell you that the man's face haunts me. He asked for me in the village. I feel that he came to Rowchester to see me. And he is dead. Whatever he came to say or to tell me will be buried with him. Who was he? Tell me that?" Ray smoked on for a few moments reflectively. "Sit down, sit down!" he said gruffly, "and do abandon that tragical aspect. The creature was not worth all this agitation.
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