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but embracing a small and fairly deep bay where the
lobster yield was good in most seasons。 There was a
bleak little house on the property； and for those who
liked lobsters and solitude； and were able to accept an
Irish cook's ideas as to what might be perpetrated in the
name of mayonnaise； Innisgluther was a tolerable exile
during the summer months。 Lulu seldom went there
herself； but she lent the house lavishly to friends and
relations。 She put it now at Vasco's disposal。
〃It will be the very place to practise and
experiment with the salvage apparatus；〃 she said； 〃the
bay is quite deep in places； and you will be able to test
everything thoroughly before starting on the treasure
hunt。〃
In less than three weeks Vasco turned up in town to
report progress。
〃The apparatus works beautifully；〃 he informed his
aunt； 〃the deeper one got the clearer everything grew。
We found something in the way of a sunken wreck to
operate on； too！〃
〃A wreck in Innisgluther Bay！〃 exclaimed Lulu。
〃A submerged motor…boat； the SUB…ROSA；〃 said Vasco。
〃No！ really？〃 said Lulu； 〃poor Billy Yuttley's boat。
I remember it went down somewhere off that coast some
three years ago。 His body was washed ashore at the
Point。 People said at the time that the boat was
capsized intentionally … a case of suicide； you know。
People always say that sort of thing when anything tragic
happens。〃
〃In this case they were right；〃 said Vasco。
〃What do you mean？〃 asked the Duchess hurriedly。
〃What makes you think so？〃
〃I know；〃 said Vasco simply。
〃Know？ How can you know？ How can anyone know？ The
thing happened three years ago。〃
〃In a locker of the SUB…ROSA I found a water…tight
strong…box。 It contained papers。〃 Vasco paused with
dramatic effect and searched for a moment in the inner
breast…pocket of his coat。 He drew out a folded slip of
paper。 The Duchess snatched at it in almost indecent
haste and moved appreciably nearer the fireplace。
〃Was this in the SUB…ROSA'S strong…box？〃 she asked。
〃Oh no；〃 said Vasco carelessly； 〃that is a list of
the well…known people who would be involved in a very
disagreeable scandal if the SUB…ROSA'S papers were made
public。 I've put you at the head of it； otherwise it
follows alphabetical order。〃
The Duchess gazed helplessly at the string of names；
which seemed for the moment to include nearly every one
she knew。 As a matter of fact； her own name at the head
of the list exercised an almost paralysing effect on her
thinking faculties。
〃Of course you have destroyed the papers？〃 she
asked； when she had somewhat recovered herself。 She was
conscious that she made the remark with an entire lack of
conviction。
Vasco shook his head。
〃But you should have；〃 said Lulu angrily； 〃if； as
you say； they are highly compromising … 〃
〃Oh； they are； I assure you of that；〃 interposed the
young man。
〃Then you should put them out of harm's way at once。
Supposing anything should leak out； think of all these
poor； unfortunate people who would be involved in the
disclosures；〃 and Lulu tapped the list with an agitated
gesture。
〃Unfortunate； perhaps； but not poor；〃 corrected
Vasco； 〃if you read the list carefully you'll notice that
I haven't troubled to include anyone whose financial
standing isn't above question。〃
Lulu glared at her nephew for some moments in
silence。 Then she asked hoarsely： 〃What are you going to
do？〃
〃Nothing … for the remainder of my life；〃 he
answered meaningly。 〃A little hunting； perhaps；〃 he
continued； 〃and I shall have a villa at Florence。 The
Villa Sub…Rosa would sound rather quaint and picturesque；
don't you think； and quite a lot of people would be able
to attach a meaning to the name。 And I suppose I must
have a hobby； I shall probably collect Raeburns。〃
Lulu's relative； who lived at the Court of Monaco；
got quite a snappish answer when she wrote recommending
some further invention in the realm of marine research。
THE COBWEB
THE farmhouse kitchen probably stood where it did as
a matter of accident or haphazard choice； yet its
situation might have been planned by a master…strategist
in farmhouse architecture。 Dairy and poultry…yard； and
herb garden； and all the busy places of the farm seemed
to lead by easy access into its wide flagged haven； where
there was room for everything and where muddy boots left
traces that were easily swept away。 And yet； for all
that it stood so well in the centre of human bustle； its
long； latticed window； with the wide window…seat； built
into an embrasure beyond the huge fireplace； looked out
on a wild spreading view of hill and heather and wooded
combe。 The window nook made almost a little room in
itself； quite the pleasantest room in the farm as far as
situation and capabilities went。 Young Mrs。 Ladbruk；
whose husband had just come into the farm by way of
inheritance； cast covetous eyes on this snug corner； and
her fingers itched to make it bright and cosy with chintz
curtains and bowls of flowers； and a shelf or two of old
china。 The musty farm parlour； looking out on to a prim；
cheerless garden imprisoned within high； blank walls； was
not a room that lent itself readily either to comfort or
decoration。
〃When we are more settled I shall work wonders in
the way of making the kitchen habitable；〃 said the young
woman to her occasional visitors。 There was an unspoken
wish in those words； a wish which was unconfessed as well
as unspoken。 Emma Ladbruk was the mistress of the farm；
jointly with her husband she might have her say； and to a
certain extent her way； in ordering its affairs。 But she
was not mistress of the kitchen。
On one of the shelves of an old dresser； in company
with chipped sauce…boats； pewter jugs； cheese…graters；
and paid bills； rested a worn and ragged Bible； on whose
front page was the record； in faded ink； of a baptism
dated ninety…four years ago。 〃Martha Crale〃 was the name
written on that yellow page。 The yellow； wrinkled old
dame who hobbled and muttered about the kitchen； looking
like a dead autumn leaf which the winter winds still
pushed hither and thither； had once been Martha Crale；
for seventy odd years she had been Martha Mountjoy。 For
longer than anyone could remember she had pattered to and
fro between oven and wash…house and dairy； and out to
chicken…run and garden； grumbling and muttering and
scolding； but working unceasingly。 Emma Ladbruk； of
whose coming she took as little notice as she would of a
bee wandering in at a window on a summer's day； used at
first to watch her with a kind of frightened curiosity。
She was so old and so much a part of the place； it was
difficult to think of her exactly as a living thing。 Old
Shep； the white…nozzled