"But it was absolutely no use. Of course Tom wouldn't allow her to be actually rude to me, but she sailed as near the wind as she be actually rude to me, but she sailed as near the wind as she could. She really made life quite impossible. In a way it was a relief could. She really made life quite impossible. In a way it was a relief to me when she insisted on leaving home, but I could quite to me when she insisted on leaving home, but I could quite understand how Tom felt about it. She got in with a most understand how Tom felt about it. She got in with a most undesirable set." undesirable set."

"I - rather gathered that," I said.

"Poor Thomasina." said Mrs Tuckerton. She adjusted a stray lock of blonde hair. Then she looked at me. "Oh, but perhaps you don't blonde hair. Then she looked at me. "Oh, but perhaps you don't know. She died about a month ago. Encephalitis - very sudden. It's know. She died about a month ago. Encephalitis - very sudden. It's a disease that attacks young people, I believe - so sad." a disease that attacks young people, I believe - so sad."

"I did know she was dead," I said.

I got up.

"Thank you, Mrs Tuckerton, very much indeed for showing me your house." I shook hands. house." I shook hands.

Then as I moved away, I turned back.

"By the way," I said. "I think you know the Pale Horse, don't you?"

There wasn't any doubt of the reaction. Panic, sheer panic, showed in those pale eyes. Beneath the makeup, her face was suddenly in those pale eyes. Beneath the makeup, her face was suddenly white and afraid. white and afraid.

Her voice came shrill and high: "Pale Horse? What do you mean by the Pale Horse? I don't know anything about the Pale Horse." anything about the Pale Horse."

I let mild surprise show in my eyes.

"Oh, my mistake. There's a very interesting old pub, in Much Deeping. I was down there the other day and was taken to see it. Deeping. I was down there the other day and was taken to see it. It's been charmingly converted, keeping all the atmosphere. I It's been charmingly converted, keeping all the atmosphere. I certainly thought your name was mentioned - but perhaps it was certainly thought your name was mentioned - but perhaps it was your stepdaughter who had been down there - or someone else of your stepdaughter who had been down there - or someone else of the same name." I paused. "The place has got - quite a reputation." the same name." I paused. "The place has got - quite a reputation."

I enjoyed my exit line. In one of the mirrors on the wall I saw Mrs Tuckerton's face reflected. She was staring after me. She was very, Tuckerton's face reflected. She was staring after me. She was very, very frightened and I saw just how she would look in years to come. very frightened and I saw just how she would look in years to come. It was not a pleasant sight. It was not a pleasant sight.

Chapter 14.

"So now we're quite sure," said Ginger.

"We were sure before."

"Yes - reasonably so. But this does clinch it."

I was silent for a moment or two. I was visualizing Mrs Tuckerton journeying to Birmingham. Entering the Municipal Square Buildings journeying to Birmingham. Entering the Municipal Square Buildings -meeting Mr Bradley. Her nervous apprehension... his reassuring bonhomie. His skilful underlining of the lack of risk. (He would have bonhomie. His skilful underlining of the lack of risk. (He would have had to underline that very hard with Mrs Tuckerton.) I could see her had to underline that very hard with Mrs Tuckerton.) I could see her going away, not committing herself. Letting the idea take root in her going away, not committing herself. Letting the idea take root in her mind. Perhaps she went to see her stepdaughter, or her mind. Perhaps she went to see her stepdaughter, or her stepdaughter came home for a weekend. There could have been stepdaughter came home for a weekend. There could have been talk, hints of marriage. And all the time the thought of the money - talk, hints of marriage. And all the time the thought of the money - not just a little money, not a miserly pittance - but lots of money, big not just a little money, not a miserly pittance - but lots of money, big money, money that enabled you to do everything you had ever money, money that enabled you to do everything you had ever wanted! And all going to this degenerate, ill-mannered girl, wanted! And all going to this degenerate, ill-mannered girl, slouching about in the coffee bars of Chelsea in her jeans and her slouching about in the coffee bars of Chelsea in her jeans and her sloppy jumpers, with her undesirable degenerate friends. Why sloppy jumpers, with her undesirable degenerate friends. Why should a girl like that, a girl who was no good and would never be should a girl like that, a girl who was no good and would never be any good, have all that beautiful money? any good, have all that beautiful money?

And so, another visit to Birmingham. More caution, more reassurance. Finally, a discussion on terms. I smiled involuntarily. reassurance. Finally, a discussion on terms. I smiled involuntarily. Mr Bradley would not have had it all his own way. She would have Mr Bradley would not have had it all his own way. She would have been a hard bargainer. But in the end, the terms had been agreed, been a hard bargainer. But in the end, the terms had been agreed, some document duly signed, and then what? some document duly signed, and then what?

That was where imagination stopped. That was what we didn't know. know.

I came out of my meditation to see Ginger watching me.

She asked: "Got it all worked out?"

"How did you know what I was doing?"

"I'm beginning to know the way your mind works. You were working it out, weren't you, following her - to Birmingham and all the rest of it out, weren't you, following her - to Birmingham and all the rest of it?" it?"

"Yes. But I was brought up short. At the moment when she had settled things in Birmingham - What happens next?" settled things in Birmingham - What happens next?"

We looked at each other.

"Sooner or later," said Ginger, "someone has got to find out exactly what happens at the Pale Horse." what happens at the Pale Horse."

"How?"

"I don't know... it won't be easy. Nobody who's actually been there, who's actually done it, will ever tell. At the same time, they're the who's actually done it, will ever tell. At the same time, they're the only people who can tell. It's difficult... I wonder..." only people who can tell. It's difficult... I wonder..."

"We could go to the police?" I suggested.

"Yes. After all, we've got something fairly definite now. Enough to act upon, do you think?" act upon, do you think?"

I shook my head doubtfully.

"Evidence of intent. But is that enough? It's this death-wish nonsense. Oh," I forestalled her interruption, "it mayn't be nonsense. Oh," I forestalled her interruption, "it mayn't be nonsense, but it would sound like it in court. We've no idea, even, of nonsense, but it would sound like it in court. We've no idea, even, of what the actual procedure is." what the actual procedure is."

"Well then, we've got to know. But how?"

"One would have to see - or hear - with one's own eyes and ears. But there's absolutely no place one could hide oneself in that great But there's absolutely no place one could hide oneself in that great barn of a room - and I suppose that's where it - whatever 'it' is - barn of a room - and I suppose that's where it - whatever 'it' is - must take place." must take place."

Ginger sat up very straight, gave her head a kind of toss, rather like an energetic terrier, and said: an energetic terrier, and said: "There's only one way to find out what does really happen. You've got to be a genuine client." got to be a genuine client."

I stared at her.

"A genuine client?"

"Yes. You or I, it doesn't matter which, has got to want somebody put out of the way. One of us has got to go to Bradley and fix it up." put out of the way. One of us has got to go to Bradley and fix it up."

"I don't like it," I said sharply.

"Why?"

"Well - it opens up dangerous possibilities."

"For us?"

"Perhaps. But I was really thinking about the victim. We've got to have a victim - we've got to give him a name. It can't be just have a victim - we've got to give him a name. It can't be just invention. They might check up - in fact, they'd almost certainly invention. They might check up - in fact, they'd almost certainly check up, don't you agree?" check up, don't you agree?"

Ginger thought a minute and then nodded.

"Yes. The victim's got to be a real person with a real address."

"That's what I don't like," I said.

"And we've got to have a real reason for getting rid of him."

We were silent a moment, considering this aspect of the situation.

"The person, whoever it was, would have to agree," I said slowly.

"It's a lot to ask."

"The whole setup has got to be good," said Ginger, thinking it out.

"But there's one thing, you were absolutely right in what you were saying the other day. The weakness of the whole thing is that saying the other day. The weakness of the whole thing is that they're in a cleft stick. This business has got to be secret - but not they're in a cleft stick. This business has got to be secret - but not too secret. Possible clients have got to be able to hear about it." too secret. Possible clients have got to be able to hear about it."

"What puzzles me," I said, "is that the police don't seem to have heard about it. After all, they're usually aware of what kind of heard about it. After all, they're usually aware of what kind of criminal activities are going on." criminal activities are going on."

"Yes, but I think that the reason for that is, that this is in every sense of the word, an amateur show. It's not professional. No sense of the word, an amateur show. It's not professional. No professional criminals are employed or involved. It's not like hiring professional criminals are employed or involved. It's not like hiring gangsters to bump people off. It's all - private." gangsters to bump people off. It's all - private."

I said that I thought she had something there.

Ginger went on: "Suppose now that you, or I (we'll examine both possibilities), are desperate to get rid of someone. Now who is there that you and I desperate to get rid of someone. Now who is there that you and I could want to do away with? There's my dear old Uncle Mervyn - I'll could want to do away with? There's my dear old Uncle Mervyn - I'll come into a very nice packet when he pops off. I and some cousin in come into a very nice packet when he pops off. I and some cousin in Australia are the only ones left of the family. So there's a motive Australia are the only ones left of the family. So there's a motive there. But he's over seventy and more or less ga-ga, so it would there. But he's over seventy and more or less ga-ga, so it would really seem more sensible for me to wait for natural causes - unless really seem more sensible for me to wait for natural causes - unless I was in some terrible hole for money - and that really would be I was in some terrible hole for money - and that really would be quite difficult to fake. Besides, he's a pet, and I'm very fond of him, quite difficult to fake. Besides, he's a pet, and I'm very fond of him, and ga-ga or not ga-ga, he quite enjoys life, and I wouldn't want to and ga-ga or not ga-ga, he quite enjoys life, and I wouldn't want to deprive him of a minute of it - or even risk such a thing! What about deprive him of a minute of it - or even risk such a thing! What about you? Have you got any relatives who are going to leave you you? Have you got any relatives who are going to leave you money?" money?"

I shook my head.

"No one at all."

"Bother. It could be blackmail, perhaps? That would take a lot of fixing, though. You're not really vulnerable enough. If you were an fixing, though. You're not really vulnerable enough. If you were an M.P., or in the Foreign Office, or an up-and-coming Minister it would M.P., or in the Foreign Office, or an up-and-coming Minister it would be different. The same with me. Fifty years ago it would have been be different. The same with me. Fifty years ago it would have been easy. Compromising letters, or photographs in the altogether, but easy. Compromising letters, or photographs in the altogether, but really nowadays, who cares? One can be like the Duke of really nowadays, who cares? One can be like the Duke of Wellington and say 'Publish and be damned!' Well, now, what else is Wellington and say 'Publish and be damned!' Well, now, what else is there? Bigamy?" She fixed me with a reproachful stare. "What a there? Bigamy?" She fixed me with a reproachful stare. "What a pity it is you've never been married. We could have cooked pity it is you've never been married. We could have cooked something up if you had." something up if you had."

Some expression on my face must have given me away. Ginger was quick.

"I'm sorry," she said. "Have I raked up something that hurts?"

"No," I said. "It doesn't hurt. It was a long time ago. I rather doubt if there's anyone now who knows about it." there's anyone now who knows about it."

"You married someone?"

"Yes. While I was at the University. We kept it dark. She wasn't - well, my people would have cut up rough. I wasn't even of age. We well, my people would have cut up rough. I wasn't even of age. We lied about our ages." lied about our ages."

I was silent a moment or two, reliving the past.

"It wouldn't have lasted," I said slowly. "I know that now. She was pretty and she could be very sweet... ut..." pretty and she could be very sweet... ut..."

"What happened?"

"We went to Italy in the long vacation. There was an accident - a car accident. She was killed outright." accident. She was killed outright."

"And you?"

"I wasn't in the car. She was - with a friend."

Ginger gave me a quick glance. I think she understood the way it had been. The shock of my discovery that the girl I had married was had been. The shock of my discovery that the girl I had married was not the kind who makes a faithful wife. not the kind who makes a faithful wife.

Ginger reverted to practical matters.

"You were married in England?"

"Yes. Registry office in Peterborough."

"But she died in Italy?"

"Yes."

"So there will be no record of her death in England?"

"No."

"Then what more do you want? It's an answer to prayer! Nothing could be simpler! You're desperately in love with someone and you could be simpler! You're desperately in love with someone and you want to marry her - but you don't know whether your wife is still want to marry her - but you don't know whether your wife is still alive. You've parted years ago and never heard from her since. alive. You've parted years ago and never heard from her since. Dare you risk it? While you're thinking it out, sudden reappearance Dare you risk it? While you're thinking it out, sudden reappearance of the wife! She turns up out of the blue, refuses to give you a of the wife! She turns up out of the blue, refuses to give you a divorce, and threatens to go to your young woman and spill the divorce, and threatens to go to your young woman and spill the beans." beans."

"Who's my young woman?" I asked, slightly confused. "You?"

Ginger looked shocked.

"Certainly not. I'm quite the wrong type - I'd probably go and live in sin with you. No, you know quite well who I mean - and she'll be sin with you. No, you know quite well who I mean - and she'll be exactly right, I should say. That statuesque brunette you go around exactly right, I should say. That statuesque brunette you go around with. Very highbrow and serious." with. Very highbrow and serious."

"Hermia Redcliffe?"

"That's right. Your steady."

"Who told you about her?"

"Poppy of course. She's rich, too, isn't she?"

"She's extremely well off. But really -"

"All right, all right. I'm not saying you're marrying her for her money. You're not the kind. But nasty minds like Bradley's could money. You're not the kind. But nasty minds like Bradley's could easily think so... very well then. Here's the position. You are about easily think so... very well then. Here's the position. You are about to pop the question to Hermia when up turns the unwanted wife to pop the question to Hermia when up turns the unwanted wife from the past. She arrives in London and the fat's in the fire. You from the past. She arrives in London and the fat's in the fire. You urge a divorce - she won't play. She's vindictive. And then - you urge a divorce - she won't play. She's vindictive. And then - you hear of the Pale Horse. I'll bet anything you like that Thyrza, and hear of the Pale Horse. I'll bet anything you like that Thyrza, and that half-witted peasant Bella, thought that that was why you came that half-witted peasant Bella, thought that that was why you came that day. They took it as a tentative approach, and that's why that day. They took it as a tentative approach, and that's why Thyrza was so forthcoming. It was a sales talk they were giving Thyrza was so forthcoming. It was a sales talk they were giving you." you."

"It could have been, I suppose." I went over that day in my mind.

"And your going to Bradley soon after fits in perfectly. You're hooked! You're a prospect." hooked! You're a prospect."

She paused triumphantly. There was something in what she said - but I didn't quite see... but I didn't quite see...

"I still think," I said, "that they'll investigate very carefully."

"Sure to," Ginger agreed.

"It's all very well to invent a fictitious wife, resurrected from the past - but they'll want details - where she lives - all that. And when I past - but they'll want details - where she lives - all that. And when I try to hedge -" try to hedge -"

"You won't need to hedge. To do the thing properly the wife has got to be there - and she will be there! to be there - and she will be there!

"Brace yourself," said Ginger. "I'm your wife!"