The Secret of Chimneys (1925)

23 Encounter in the Rose Garden

At 2.30 a little party met together in the Council Chamber: Bundle, Virginia, Superintendent Battle, M. Lemoine and Anthony Cade.

"No good waiting until we can get hold of Mr. Lomax," said Battle. "This is the kind of business one wants to get on with quickly."

"If you've got any idea that Prince Michael was murdered by some one who got in this way, you're wrong," said Bundle. "It can't be done. The other end's blocked completely."

"There is no question of that, milady," said Lemoine quickly. "It is quite a different search that we make."

"Looking for something, are you?" asked Bundle quickly. "Not the historic what-not, by any chance?"

Lemoine looked puzzled.

"Explain yourself, Bundle," said Virginia encouragingly. "You can when you try."

"The thingummybob," said Bundle. "The historic diamond of purple princes that was pinched in the dark ages before I grew to years of discretion."

"Who told you this, Lady Eileen?" asked Battle.

"I've always known. One of the footmen told me when I was twelve years old."

"A footman," said Battle. "Lord! I'd like Mr. Lomax to have heard that!"

"Is it one of George's closely guarded secrets?" asked Bundle. "How perfectly screaming! I never really thought it was true. George always was an ass—he must know that servants always know everything."

She went across to the Holbein portrait, touched a spring concealed somewhere at the side of it, and immediately, with a creaking noise, a section of the panelling swung inward, revealing a dark opening.

"Entrez, Messieurs et Mesdames," said Bundle dramatically. "Walk up, walk up, dearies. Best show of the season, and only a tanner."

Both Lemoine and Battle were provided with torches. They entered the dark aperture first, the others close on their heels.

"Air's nice and fresh," remarked Battle. "Must be ventilated somehow."

He walked on ahead. The floor was of rough uneven stone, but the walls were bricked. As Bundle had said, the passage extended for a bare hundred yards. Then it came to an abrupt end with a fallen heap of masonry. Battle satisfied himself that there was no way of egress beyond, and then spoke over his shoulder.

"We'll go back, if you please. I wanted just to spy out the land, so to speak."

In a few minutes they were back again at the panelled entrance.

"We'll start from here," said Battle. "Seven straight, eight left, three right. Take the first as paces."

He paced seven steps carefully, and bending down examined the ground.

"About right, I should fancy. At one time or another, there's been a chalk mark made here. Now then, eight left. That's not paces, the passage is only wide enough to go Indian file anyway."

"Say it in bricks," suggested Anthony.

"Quite right, Mr. Cade. Eight bricks from the bottom or the top on the left-hand side. Try from the bottom first—it's easier."

He counted up eight bricks.

"Now three to the right of that. One, two, three—Hullo—— Hullo, what's this?"

"I shall scream in a minute," said Bundle, "I know I shall. What is it?"

Superintendent Battle was working at the brick with the point of his knife. His practised eye had quickly seen that this particular brick was different from the rest. A minute or two's work, and he was able to pull it right out. Behind was a small dark cavity. Battle thrust in his hand.