Chapter Twenty-Three

Because the front rooms of the inn looked east, the bright sunlight woke me early. It was not a problem. I had just enjoyed my first good sleep in several days. As I prepared to dress, I heard the train taking passengers to Dover for the morning packet to France. It made a stop at the station across from the hotel. Two men dressed in heavy coats, with the collars turned up, got down from the train. In a matter of minutes a coach pulled up, and they both climbed aboard. The coach drove out of town in the same direction Blathers and I had gone on the previous day.

I joined Blathers in the taproom, and we breakfasted on kippers and scrambled eggs. Blathers finished his meal before I did. He said, “I’m goin’ ta step out and see that hostler about gettin’ a better horse fer today.”

“Very good idea. I will be along shortly. I require more tea, and I doubt Squod will be up too early. We should still be able to catch him before he passes out.”

****

The new horse was a great improvement. Blathers said, “I picked her out meself. That hostler tried to stick me wi’ another nag, but I wouldn’t have it.” Blathers did know about horses. We proceeded along without incident until we saw a coach coming toward us at a dangerous pace. Fortunately, Blathers’ driving skills saved us from what could have been a serious accident.

“Them fellas was sure in a rush.”

“I think it was the coach I saw leaving the village before breakfast this morning. It was carrying two men who just arrived on the Dover train.”

“Wonder whats they was up to.”

“Blathers, you should still try to speak as Miss Martin has taught you, even though she is not present. You will never get in the habit of speaking properly unless you try all of the time.”

“I knows, I mean, I know. I’ll try.”

I believe Blathers was doing his best, but it was clear he would let down unless he could actually see Miss Martin. Perhaps he felt no one else cared. I wanted to show him I cared.

He got the gig back on the road, and within a few minutes Squod’s cottage was in view. He was apparently expecting us because the door was open. While Blathers saw to the horse, I knocked on the open door. “Mr. Squod, it’s Blathers and Duff back, as you suggested yesterday.” As I stuck my head into the room I was hoping he remembered yesterday. That’s when I discovered he not only would not remember yesterday, but he would not have a tomorrow.

Blathers was now right behind me. “Holy, will ya look at that, now!”

Squod’s head, or what was left of it, was in the fireplace. There must have been some embers still smoldering from last night’s fire, for I could smell burning hair. His arms were bent in all different directions. I thought they were no longer attached to the body. It must have been a brutal beating. Squod was clutching a paper in his right hand. Blathers opened the fist and took out the paper. He started to hand it to me when he remembered he could read.

“There’s one of them, those Maltese crosses on the paper, just like on the coded message. All it says is ‘Traitor.’ Look at that, all the fingers on his left hand are broken backward. The poor slob didn’t die easy.”

I told Blathers, “I think those men in the coach did this. They must have found out Squod was going to talk to us. We should get out of here and not return to the village. They might be looking for us there.”

“Ah, let’s look around here for a bit before we take off, then, There must be something about we can use to our advantage. Do you want to stand guard while I look, or do you want to look while I guard?”

“Let’s take turns.”

“Good idea.” Blathers went looking through the cottage while I stood by the door watching for anyone approaching. It would not do for us to be accused of another murder. When he finally came to the door, he carried a small sack. “What do you have there?”

“Diamonds! I’ll show you when we get away from here. Now hurry. Take a look around and remember everything you see.” Blathers calls my excellent memory for details my “mind’s eye.”