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door which was threatened。 〃Audrey！ Elsie！ Don't let him in！〃
〃Damn it； open the door！〃 came the voice again。
〃We're all going to be murdered in our beds；〃 she quavered。 Terrified；
the two girls huddled closer； and with an arm round each； Mrs。 Stevens sat
there； waiting。
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The Red House Mystery
CHAPTER II
Mr。 Gillingham Gets Out at the Wrong Station
Whether Mark Ablett was a bore or not depended on the point of
view； but it may be said at once that he never bored his company on the
subject of his early life。 However； stories get about。 There is always
somebody who knows。 It was understood … and this； anyhow； on Mark's
own authority … that his father had been a country clergyman。 It was said
that； as a boy； Mark had attracted the notice； and patronage； of some rich
old spinster of the neighbourhood； who had paid for his education； both at
school and university。 At about the time when he was coming down from
Cambridge； his father had died； leaving behind him a few debts； as a
warning to his family； and a reputation for short sermons； as an example to
his successor。 Neither warning nor example seems to have been effective。
Mark went to London； with an allowance from his patron； and （it is
generally agreed） made acquaintance with the money…lenders。 He was
supposed； by his patron and any others who inquired； to be 〃writing〃； but
what he wrote； other than letters asking for more time to pay； has never
been discovered。 However； he attended the theatres and music halls very
regularly … no doubt with a view to some serious articles in the 〃Spectator〃
on the decadence of the English stage。
Fortunately （from Mark's point of view） his patron died during his
third year in London； and left him all the money he wanted。 From that
moment his life loses its legendary character； and becomes more a matter
of history。 He settled accounts with the money…lenders； abandoned his
crop of wild oats to the harvesting of others； and became in his turn a
patron。 He patronized the Arts。 It was not only usurers who discovered
that Mark Ablett no longer wrote for money； editors were now offered free
contributions as well as free lunches； publishers were given agreements
for an occasional slender volume； in which the author paid all expenses
and waived all royalties； promising young painters and poets dined with
him； and he even took a theatrical company on tour； playing host and
〃lead〃 with equal lavishness。
He was not what most people call a snob。 A snob has been defined
10
The Red House Mystery
carelessly as a man who loves a lord； and； more carefully； as a mean lover
of mean things … which would be a little unkind to the peerage if the first
definition were true。 Mark had his vanities undoubtedly； but he would
sooner have met an actor…manager than an earl； he would have spoken of
his friendship with Dante … had that been possible … more glibly than of his
friendship with the Duke。 Call him a snob if you like； but not the worst
kind of snob； a hanger…on； but to the skirts of Art； not Society； a climber；
but in the neighbourhood of Parnassus； not Hay Hill。
His patronage did not stop at the Arts。 It also included Matthew
Cayley； a small cousin of thirteen； whose circumstances were as limited as
had been Mark's own before his patron had rescued him。 He sent the
Cayley cousin to school and Cambridge。 His motives； no doubt； were
unworldly enough at first； a mere repaying to his account in the Recording
Angel's book of the generosity which had been lavished on himself； a
laying…up of treasure in heaven。 But it is probable that； as the boy grew
up； Mark's designs for his future were based on his own interests as much
as those of his cousin； and that a suitably educated Matthew Cayley of
twenty…three was felt by him to be a useful property for a man in his
position； a man； that is to say； whose vanities left him so little time for his
affairs。
Cayley； then； at twenty…three； looked after his cousin's affairs。 By this
time Mark had bought The Red House and the considerable amount of
land which went with it。 Cayley superintended the necessary staff。 His
duties； indeed； were many。 He was not quite secretary； not quite land…
agent； not quite business…adviser； not quite companion； but something of
all four。 Mark leant upon him and called him 〃Cay；〃 objecting quite
rightly in the circumstances to the name of Matthew。 Cay； he felt was；
above all； dependable； a big； heavy…jawed； solid fellow； who didn't bother
you with unnecessary talk … a boon to a man who liked to do most of the
talking himself。
Cayley was now twenty…eight； but had all the appearance of forty；
which was his patron's age。 Spasmodically they entertained a good deal
at The Red House； and Mark's preference … call it kindliness or vanity； as
you please … was for guests who were not in a position to repay his
11
The Red House Mystery
hospitality。 Let us have a look at them as they came down to that
breakfast； of which Stevens； the parlourmaid； has already given us a
glimpse。
The first to appear was Major Rumbold； a tall； grey…haired； grey…
moustached； silent man； wearing a Norfolk coat and grey flannel trousers；
who lived on his retired pay and wrote natural history articles for the
papers。 He inspected the dishes on the side…table； decided carefully on
kedgeree； and got to work on it。 He had passed on to a sausage by the
time of the next arrival。 This was Bill Beverly； a cheerful young man in
white flannel trousers and a blazer。
〃Hallo； Major；〃 he said as he came in； 〃how's the gout？〃
〃It isn't gout；〃 said the Major gruffly。
〃Well； whatever it is。〃
The Major grunted。
〃I make a point of being polite at breakfast；〃 said Bill； helping himself
largely to porridge。 〃Most people are so rude。 That's why I asked you。
But don't tell me if it's a secret。 Coffee？〃 he added； as he poured himself
out a cup。
〃No； thanks。 I never drink till I've finished eating。〃
〃Quite right； Major； it's only manners。〃 He sat down opposite to the
other。 〃Well； we've got a good day for our game。 It's going to be
dashed hot； but that's where Betty and I score。 On the fifth green； your
old wound； the one you got in that frontier skirmish in '43； will begin to
trouble you； on the eighth； your liver； undermined by years of curry； will
drop to pieces； on the twelfth…〃
〃Oh； shut up； you ass！〃
〃Well； I'm only warning you。 Hallo； good morning； Miss Norris。 I
was just telling the Major what was going to happen to you and him this
morning。 Do you want any assistance； or do you prefer choosing your
own breakfast？〃
〃Please don't get up；〃 said Miss Norris。 〃I'll help myself。 Good
morning； Major。〃 She smiled pleasantly at him。 The Major nodded。
〃Good morning。 Going to be hot。〃
〃As I was telling him；〃 began Bill； 〃that's where… Hallo； here's Betty。
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The Red House Mystery
Morning； Cayley。〃
Betty Calladine and Cayley had come in together。 Betty was the
eighteen…year…old daughter of Mrs。 John Calladine； widow of the painter；
who was acting hostess o