Secret of Chimneys - Agatha Christie [80]
He seized his overcoat, which lay across the back of a chair. Battle went round to the front of the house, and a few minutes later Anthony and Virginia heard the sound of a car driving away.
Battle rejoined them, carrying in his hand the half-sheet of paper which the Professor had given him.
‘He’s always like that,’ said Battle, referring to the departed professor. ‘In the very deuce of a hurry. Clever man, though. Well, here’s the kernel of Her Majesty’s letter. Care to have a look at it?’
Virginia stretched out a hand, and Anthony read it over her shoulder. It had been, he remembered, a long epistle, breathing mingled passion and despair. The genius of Professor Wynwood had transformed it into an essentially business-like communication.
Operations carried out successfully, but S double-crossed us. Has removed stone from hiding-place. Not in his room. I have searched. Found following memorandum which I think refers to it: RICHMOND SEVEN STRAIGHT EIGHT LEFT THREE RIGHT.
‘S?’ said Anthony. ‘Stylptitch, of course. Cunning old dog. He changed the hiding-place.’
‘Richmond,’ said Virginia thoughtfully. ‘Is the diamond concealed somewhere at Richmond, I wonder?’
‘It’s a favourite spot for royalties,’ agreed Anthony.
Battle shook his head.
‘I still think it’s a reference to something in this house.’
‘I know,’ cried Virginia suddenly.
Both men turned to look at her.
‘The Holbein portrait in the Council Chamber. They were tapping on the wall just below it. And it’s a portrait of the Earl of Richmond!’
‘You’ve got it,’ said Battle, and slapped his leg.
He spoke with an animation quite unwonted.
‘That’s the starting-point, the picture, and the crooks know no more than we do what the figures refer to. Those two men in armour stand directly underneath the picture, and their first idea was that the diamond was hidden in one of them. The measurements might have been inches. That failed, and their next idea was a secret passage or stairway, or a sliding panel. Do you know of any such thing, Mrs Revel?’
Virginia shook her head.
‘There’s a priest’s hole, and at least one secret passage, I know,’ she said. ‘I believe I’ve been shown them once, but I can’t remember much about them now. Here’s Bundle, she’ll know.’
Bundle was coming quickly along the terrace towards them.
‘I’m taking the Panhard up to town after lunch,’ she remarked. ‘Anyone want a lift? Wouldn’t you like to come, Mr Cade? We’ll be back by dinnertime.’
‘No, thanks,’ said Anthony. ‘I’m quite happy and busy down here.’
‘The man fears me,’ said Bundle. ‘Either my driving or my fatal fascination! Which is it?’
‘The latter,’ said Anthony. ‘Every time.’
‘Bundle, dear,’ said Virginia, ‘is there any secret passage leading out of the Council Chamber?’
‘Rather. But it’s only a mouldy one. Supposed to lead from Chimneys to Wyvern Abbey. So it did in the old, old days, but it’s all blocked up now. You can only get along it for about a hundred yards from this end. The one upstairs in the White Gallery is ever so much more amusing, and the priest’s hole isn’t half bad.’
‘We’re not regarding them from an artistic standpoint,’ explained Virginia. ‘It’s business. How do you get into the Council Chamber one?’
‘Hinged panel. I’ll show it you after lunch if you like.’
‘Thank you,’ said Superintendent Battle. ‘Shall we say at 2.30?’
Bundle looked at him with lifted eyebrows.
‘Crook stuff?’ she inquired.
Tredwell appeared on the terrace.
Luncheon is served, my lady,’ he announced.
Chapter 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 someone 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