While the Light Lasts - Agatha Christie [40]
‘We were so busy,’ said Fenella, apologetically.
‘Of course, of course. You must have run across the thing more or less by accident. Lucky young people, aren’t you? Well, what’s the next programme? Will Mrs Skillicorn oblige us with the new clues?’
But it seemed that this third set of clues had been deposited with the lawyers, and we all three repaired to the lawyer’s office, where the sealed envelopes were handed over to us.
The contents were simple. A map with a certain area marked off on it, and a paper of directions attached.†
In ’85, this place made history.
Ten paces from the landmark to
The east, then an equal ten
Paces north. Stand there
Looking east. Two trees are in the
Line of vision. One of them
Was sacred in this island. Draw
A circle five feet from
The Spanish chestnut and,
With head bent, walk round. Look well. You’ll find.
‘Looks as though we were going to tread on each other’s toes a bit today,’ commented the doctor.
True to my policy of apparent friendliness, I offered him a lift in our car, which he accepted. We had lunch at Port Erin, and then started on our search.
I had debated in my own mind the reason of my uncle’s depositing this particular set of clues with his lawyer. Had he foreseen the possibility of a theft? And had he determined that not more than one set of clues should fall into the thief’s possession?
The treasure hunt this afternoon was not without its humour. The area of search was limited, and we were continually in sight of each other. We eyed each other suspiciously, each trying to determine whether the other was farther on or had had a brain-wave.
‘This is all part of Uncle Myles’s plan,’ said Fenella. ‘He wanted us to watch each other and go through all the agonies of thinking the other person was getting there.’
‘Come,’ I said. ‘Let’s get down to it scientifically. We’ve got one definite clue to start on. “In ’85 this place made history.” Look up the reference books we’ve got with us and see if we can’t hunt that down. Once we get that–’
‘He’s looking in that hedge,’ interrupted Fenella. ‘Oh! I can’t bear it. If he’s got it–’
‘Attend to me,’ I said firmly. ‘There’s really only one way to go about it–the proper way.’
‘There are so few trees on the Island that it would be much simpler just to look for a chestnut tree!’ said Fenella.
I pass over the next hour. We grew hot and despondent–and all the time we were tortured with fear that Fayll might be succeeding whilst we failed.
‘I remember once reading in a detective story,’ I said, ‘how a fellow stuck a paper of writing in a bath of acid–and all sorts of other words came out.’
‘Do you think–but we haven’t got a bath of acid!’
‘I don’t think Uncle Myles could expect expert chemical knowledge. But there’s common-or-garden heat–’
We slipped round the corner of a hedge and in a minute or two I had kindled a few twigs. I held the paper as close to the blaze as I dared. Almost at once I was rewarded by seeing characters begin to appear at the foot of the sheet. There were just two words.
‘Kirkhill Station,’ read out Fenella.
Just at that moment Fayll came round the corner. Whether he had heard or not we had no means of judging. He showed nothing.
‘But, Juan,’ said Fenella, when he moved away, ‘there isn’t a Kirkhill Station!’ She held out the map as she spoke.
‘No,’ I said, examining it, ‘but look here.’
And with a pencil I drew a line on it.
‘Of course! And somewhere on that line–’
‘Exactly.’
‘But I wish we knew the exact spot.’
It was then that my second brain-wave came to me.
‘We do!’ I cried, and, seizing the pencil again, I said: ‘Look!’
Fenella uttered a cry.
‘How idiotic!’ she cried. ‘And how marvellous! What a sell! Really, Uncle Myles was a most ingenious old gentleman!’
VII
The time had come for the last clue. This, the lawyer had informed us, was not in his keeping. It was to be posted to us on receipt of a postcard sent by him. He would impart no further information.
Nothing arrived, however, on the morning it should have done, and Fenella