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Updated: June 23, 2025
"Except for odd people, friends, I suppose, of the Colonel's, we have had so few visitors since we have been at Cray's Folly. Apart from all sorts of queer happenings which really" she laughed nervously "may have no significance whatever, the crowning mystery to my mind is why Colonel Menendez should have leased this huge house." "He does not entertain very much, then?" "Scarcely at all.
When at last my watch told me that the hour for dressing was arrived, I heaved a sigh of relief. I cannot say that I was bored, my ill-temper sprang from a deeper source than this. The mysterious disappearance of the inmates of Cray's Folly, and a sort of brooding stillness which lay over the great house, had utterly oppressed me.
Never had the shadow lain so darkly upon the house as it lay this morning with the sun blazing gladly out of a serene sky. The birds, the flowers, and Mother Earth herself bespoke the joy of summer. But beneath the roof of Cray's Folly dwelt a spirit of unrest, of apprehension.
The right-hand window, beneath which there was a permanent wooden seat, commanded an unobstructed view of the Tudor garden in the grounds of Cray's Folly. Clearly I could detect the speck of high-light upon the top of the sun-dial. The Inspector stepped into the hut. It contained a bookshelf upon which a number of books remained, a table and a chair, with some few other dilapidated appointments.
I felt that Miss Beverley needed protection of some kind, and I was conscious of a keen desire to afford her that protection. In her glance I had read, or thought I had read, an appeal for sympathy. Not the least mystery of Cray's Folly was the presence of this girl. Only toward the end of luncheon had I made up my mind upon a point which had been puzzling me. Val Beverley's gaiety was a cloak.
I was requested by the late Colonel Menendez to visit Cray's Folly." "Professionally?" "To endeavour to trace the origin of certain occurrences which had led him to believe his life to be in danger." Harley paused, staring hard at Colin Camber.
The beauty of the night called to me, although as I stepped out upon the terrace I realized with a sort of shock that the gathering dusk held a menace, so that I found myself questioning the shadows and doubting the rustle of every leaf. Something invisible, intangible yet potent, brooded over Cray's Folly. I began to think more kindly of the disappearance of Val Beverley during the afternoon.
"To what do you refer, Harley?" "You remember the silken rope-ladder with bamboo rungs which I brought from Hongkong on one occasion?" "Yes " "Well, I have it in my bag now." "But, my dear fellow, what possible use can it be to you at Cray's Folly?" "It has been of great use," he returned, shortly.
Upon the sorrow of Madame de Staemer I naturally did not intrude, nor did I seek to learn if she had carried out her project of looking upon the dead man. About mid-day the body was removed, after which an oppressive and awesome stillness seemed to descend upon Cray's Folly.
"You mean whether or not she had visited Cray's Folly?" "Exactly." "Then you still consider my theory to be correct?" I asked eagerly. "Up to a point it has been proved to be," he returned. "I must congratulate you upon a piece of really brilliant reasoning, Knox. But respecting the most crucial moment of all, we are still without information, unfortunately.
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