"If I want to collect a hundred pounds from Mr Bradley, yes."

"You'll do that if it's the last thing you ever do. Are you staying on with Rhoda?" with Rhoda?"

"For a bit. Then I'll move on to Bournemouth. You're to ring me every day, mind, or I'll ring you - that's better. I'm ringing from the every day, mind, or I'll ring you - that's better. I'm ringing from the vicarage now." vicarage now."

"How's Mrs Dane Calthrop?"

"In great form. I told her all about it, by the way."

"I thought you would. Well, good-bye for now. Life is going to be very boring for the next week or two. I've brought some work with very boring for the next week or two. I've brought some work with me to do - and a good many of the books that one always means to me to do - and a good many of the books that one always means to read but never has the time to." read but never has the time to."

"What does your gallery think?"

"That I'm on a cruise."

"Don't you wish you were?"

"Not really," said Ginger... Her voice was a little odd.

"No suspicious characters approached you?"

"Only what you might expect. The milkman, the man to read the gas meter, a woman asking me what patent medicines and cosmetics I meter, a woman asking me what patent medicines and cosmetics I used, someone asking me to sign a petition to abolish nuclear used, someone asking me to sign a petition to abolish nuclear bombs and a woman who wanted a subscription for the blind. Oh, bombs and a woman who wanted a subscription for the blind. Oh, and the various flat porters, of course. Very helpful. One of them and the various flat porters, of course. Very helpful. One of them mended a fuse for me." mended a fuse for me."

"Seems harmless enough," I commented.

"What were you expecting?"

"I don't really know."

I had wished, I suppose, for something overt that I could tackle.

But the victims of the Pale Horse died of their own free will... no, the word free was not the one to use. Seeds of physical weakness in word free was not the one to use. Seeds of physical weakness in them were developed by a process that I did not understand. them were developed by a process that I did not understand.

Ginger rebuffed a weak suggestion of mine about a false gas meter man. man.

"He had genuine credentials," she said. "I asked for them! He was only the man who gets up on a ladder inside the bathroom and only the man who gets up on a ladder inside the bathroom and reads off the figures and writes them down. He's far too grand to reads off the figures and writes them down. He's far too grand to touch pipes or gas jets. And I can assure you he hasn't arranged an touch pipes or gas jets. And I can assure you he hasn't arranged an escape of gas in my bedroom." escape of gas in my bedroom."

No, the Pale Horse did not deal with accidental gas escapes - nothing so concrete! nothing so concrete!

"Oh! I had one other visitor," said Ginger. "Your friend Dr Corrigan. He's nice." He's nice."

"I suppose Lejeune sent him."

"He seemed to think he ought to rally to a namesake. Up the Corrigans!" Corrigans!"

I rang off, much relieved in mind.

I got back to find Rhoda busy on the lawn with one of her dogs. She was anointing it with some unguent. was anointing it with some unguent.

"The vet's just gone," she said. "He says it's ringworm. It's frightfully catching, I believe. I don't want the children getting it - or frightfully catching, I believe. I don't want the children getting it - or the other dogs." the other dogs."

"Or even adult human beings," I suggested.

"Oh, it's usually children who get it. Thank goodness they're away at school all day - keep quiet, Sheila. Don't wriggle. at school all day - keep quiet, Sheila. Don't wriggle.

"This stuff makes the hair fall out," she went on. "It leaves bald spots for a bit but it grows again." spots for a bit but it grows again."

I nodded, offered to help, was refused, for which I was thankful, and wandered off again. wandered off again.

The curse of the country, I have always thought, is that there are seldom more than three directions in which you can go for a walk. seldom more than three directions in which you can go for a walk. In Much Deeping, you could either take the Garsington road, or the In Much Deeping, you could either take the Garsington road, or the road to Long Cottenham, or you could go up Shadhanger Lane to road to Long Cottenham, or you could go up Shadhanger Lane to the main London - Bournemouth road two miles away. the main London - Bournemouth road two miles away.

By the following day at lunchtime, I had sampled both the Garsington and the Long Cottenham roads. Shadhanger Lane was Garsington and the Long Cottenham roads. Shadhanger Lane was the next prospect. the next prospect.

I started off, and on my way was struck by an idea. The entrance to Priors Court opened off Shadhanger Lane. Why should I not go and Priors Court opened off Shadhanger Lane. Why should I not go and call on Mr Venables? call on Mr Venables?

The more I considered the idea, the more I liked it. There would be nothing suspicious about my doing so. When I had been staying nothing suspicious about my doing so. When I had been staying down here before, Rhoda had taken me over there. It would be easy down here before, Rhoda had taken me over there. It would be easy and natural to call and ask if I might be shown again some and natural to call and ask if I might be shown again some particular object that I had not had time really to look at and enjoy particular object that I had not had time really to look at and enjoy on that occasion. on that occasion.

The recognition of Venables by this chemist - what was his name - Ogden? - Osborne? - was interesting, to say the least of it. Granted Ogden? - Osborne? - was interesting, to say the least of it. Granted that, according to Lejeune, it would have been quite impossible for that, according to Lejeune, it would have been quite impossible for the man in question to have been Venables owing to the latter's the man in question to have been Venables owing to the latter's disability, yet it was intriguing that a mistake should have been disability, yet it was intriguing that a mistake should have been made about a man living in this particular neighbourhood - and a made about a man living in this particular neighbourhood - and a man, one had to admit, who fitted in so well in character. man, one had to admit, who fitted in so well in character.

There was something mysterious about Venables. I had felt it from the first. He had, I was sure, first-class brains. And there was the first. He had, I was sure, first-class brains. And there was something about him - what word could I use? - the word vulpine something about him - what word could I use? - the word vulpine came to me. Predatory - destructive. A man, perhaps, too clever to came to me. Predatory - destructive. A man, perhaps, too clever to be a killer himself - but a man who could organize killing very well if be a killer himself - but a man who could organize killing very well if he wanted to. he wanted to.

As far as all that went, I could fit Venables into the part perfectly. The mastermind behind the scenes. But this chemist, Osborne, had The mastermind behind the scenes. But this chemist, Osborne, had claimed that he had seen Venables walking along a London street. claimed that he had seen Venables walking along a London street. Since that was impossible, then the identification was worthless, Since that was impossible, then the identification was worthless, and the fact that Venables lived in the vicinity of the Pale Horse and the fact that Venables lived in the vicinity of the Pale Horse meant nothing. meant nothing.

All the same, I thought, I would like to have another look at Mr Venables. So in due course I turned in at the gates of Priors Court Venables. So in due course I turned in at the gates of Priors Court and walked up the quarter mile of winding drive. and walked up the quarter mile of winding drive.

The same manservant answered the door, and said that Mr Venables was at home. Excusing himself for leaving me in the hall, Venables was at home. Excusing himself for leaving me in the hall, "Mr Venables is not always well enough to see visitors," he went away, returning a few moments later with the information that Mr away, returning a few moments later with the information that Mr Venables would be delighted to see me. Venables would be delighted to see me.

Venables gave me a most cordial welcome, wheeling his chair forward and greeting me quite as an old friend. forward and greeting me quite as an old friend.

"Very nice of you to look me up, my dear fellow. I heard you were down here again, and was going to ring up our dear Rhoda this down here again, and was going to ring up our dear Rhoda this evening and suggest you all come over for lunch or dinner." evening and suggest you all come over for lunch or dinner."

I apologized for dropping in as I had, but said that it was a sudden impulse. I had gone for a walk, found that I was passing his gate, impulse. I had gone for a walk, found that I was passing his gate, and decided to gate-crash. and decided to gate-crash.

"As a matter of fact," I said, "I'd love to have another look at your Mogul miniatures. I hadn't nearly enough time to see them properly Mogul miniatures. I hadn't nearly enough time to see them properly the other day." the other day."

"Of course you hadn't. I'm glad you appreciate them. Such exquisite detail." detail."

Our talk was entirely technical after this. I must admit that I enjoyed enormously having a closer look at some of the really wonderful enormously having a closer look at some of the really wonderful things he had in his possession. things he had in his possession.

Tea was brought in and he insisted that I partake of it.

Tea is not one of my favourite meals but I appreciated the smoky China tea, and the delicate cups in which it was served. There was China tea, and the delicate cups in which it was served. There was hot buttered anchovy toast, and a plum cake of the luscious old- hot buttered anchovy toast, and a plum cake of the luscious old- fashioned kind that took me back to teatime at my grandmother's fashioned kind that took me back to teatime at my grandmother's house when I was a little boy. house when I was a little boy.

"Homemade," I said approvingly.

"Naturally! A bought cake never comes into this house."

"You have a wonderful cook, I know. Don't you find it difficult to keep a staff in the country, as far away from things as you are keep a staff in the country, as far away from things as you are here?" here?"

Venables shrugged his shoulders. "I must have the best. I insist upon it. Naturally - one has to pay! I pay." upon it. Naturally - one has to pay! I pay."

All the natural arrogance of the man showed here. I said dryly: "If one is fortunate enough to be able to do that, it certainly solves one is fortunate enough to be able to do that, it certainly solves many problems." many problems."

"It all depends, you know, on what one wants out of life. If one's desires are strong enough - that is what matters. So many people desires are strong enough - that is what matters. So many people make money without a notion of what they want it to do for them! As make money without a notion of what they want it to do for them! As a result they get entangled in what one might call the money- a result they get entangled in what one might call the money- making machine. They are slaves. They go to their offices early and making machine. They are slaves. They go to their offices early and leave late; they never stop to enjoy. And what do they get for it? leave late; they never stop to enjoy. And what do they get for it?

Larger cars, bigger houses, more expensive mistresses or wives - and, let me say, bigger headaches." and, let me say, bigger headaches."

He leaned forward.

"Just the getting of money - that is really the be-all and end-all for most rich men. Plough it back into bigger enterprises, make more most rich men. Plough it back into bigger enterprises, make more money still. But why? Do they ever stop to ask themselves why? money still. But why? Do they ever stop to ask themselves why?

They don't know."

"And you?" I asked.

"I -" He smiled. "I knew what I wanted. Infinite leisure in which to contemplate the beautiful things of this world, natural and artificial. contemplate the beautiful things of this world, natural and artificial. Since to go and see them in their natural surroundings has of late Since to go and see them in their natural surroundings has of late years been denied me, I have them brought from all over the world years been denied me, I have them brought from all over the world to me." to me."

"But money still has to be got before that can happen."

"Yes, one must plan one's coups - and that involves quite a lot of planning - but there is no need, really no need nowadays, to serve planning - but there is no need, really no need nowadays, to serve any sordid apprenticeship." any sordid apprenticeship."

"I don't know if I quite understand you."

"It's a changing world, Easterbrook. It always has been, but now the changes come more rapidly. The tempo has quickened - one the changes come more rapidly. The tempo has quickened - one must take advantage of that." must take advantage of that."

"A changing world," I said thoughtfully.

"It opens up new vistas."

I said apologetically: "I'm afraid, you know, that you're talking to a man who's face is set in the opposite direction - towards the past - not towards the in the opposite direction - towards the past - not towards the future." future."

Venables shrugged his shoulders.

"The future? Who can foresee that? I speak of today - now - the immediate moment! I take no account of anything else. The new immediate moment! I take no account of anything else. The new techniques are here to use. Already we have machines that can techniques are here to use. Already we have machines that can supply us with the answer to questions in seconds - compared to supply us with the answer to questions in seconds - compared to hours or days of human labour." hours or days of human labour."

"Computers? The electronic brain?"

"Things of that kind."

"Will machines take the place of men eventually?"

"Of men, yes. Men who are only units of manpower - that is. But Man, no. There has to be Man the Controller, Man the Thinker, who Man, no. There has to be Man the Controller, Man the Thinker, who works out the questions to ask the machines." works out the questions to ask the machines."

I shook my head doubtfully.

"Man, the Superman?" I put a faint inflection of ridicule into my voice. voice.

"Why not, Easterbrook? Why not? Remember, we know - or are beginning to know - something about Man the human animal. The beginning to know - something about Man the human animal. The practice of what is, sometimes incorrectly, called brainwashing has practice of what is, sometimes incorrectly, called brainwashing has opened up enormously interesting possibilities in that direction. Not opened up enormously interesting possibilities in that direction. Not only the body, but the mind of man, responds to certain stimuli." only the body, but the mind of man, responds to certain stimuli."

"A dangerous doctrine," I said.

"Dangerous?"

"Dangerous to the doctored man."

Venables shrugged his shoulders.

"All life is dangerous. We forget that, we who have been reared in one of the small pockets of civilization. For that is all that civilization one of the small pockets of civilization. For that is all that civilization really is. Easterbrook. Small pockets of men here and there who really is. Easterbrook. Small pockets of men here and there who have gathered together for mutual protection and who thereby are have gathered together for mutual protection and who thereby are able to outwit and control Nature. They have beaten the jungle - but able to outwit and control Nature. They have beaten the jungle - but that victory is only temporary. At any moment, the jungle will once that victory is only temporary. At any moment, the jungle will once more take command. Proud cities that were, are now mere mounds more take command. Proud cities that were, are now mere mounds of earth, overgrown with rank vegetation, and the poor hovels of men who just manage to keep alive, no more. Life is always men who just manage to keep alive, no more. Life is always dangerous - never forget that. In the end, perhaps, not only great dangerous - never forget that. In the end, perhaps, not only great natural forces, but the work of our own hands may destroy it. We natural forces, but the work of our own hands may destroy it. We are very near to that happening at this moment." are very near to that happening at this moment."

"No one can deny that, certainly. But I'm interested in your theory of power - power over mind." of power - power over mind."

"Oh, that -" Venables looked suddenly embarrassed. "Probably I exaggerated." exaggerated."

I found his embarrassment and partial withdrawal of his former claim interesting. Venables was a man who lived much alone. A claim interesting. Venables was a man who lived much alone. A man who is alone develops the need to talk - to someone - anyone. man who is alone develops the need to talk - to someone - anyone. Venables had talked to me - and perhaps not wisely. Venables had talked to me - and perhaps not wisely.

"Man, the Superman," I said. "You've rather sold me on some modern version of the idea, you know." modern version of the idea, you know."

"There's nothing new about it, certainly. The formula of the Superman goes back a long way. Whole philosophies have been Superman goes back a long way. Whole philosophies have been built on it." built on it."

"Of course. But it seems to me that your Superman is a Superman with a difference... a man who could wield power - and never be with a difference... a man who could wield power - and never be known to wield power. A man who sits in his chair and pulls the known to wield power. A man who sits in his chair and pulls the strings." strings."

I looked at him as I spoke. He smiled.

"Are you casting me for the part. Easterbrook? I wish it were indeed so. One needs something to compensate for - this!" indeed so. One needs something to compensate for - this!"

His hand struck down on the rug across his knees, and I heard the sudden sharp bitterness of his voice. sudden sharp bitterness of his voice.

"I won't offer you my sympathy," I said. "Sympathy is very little good to a man in your position. But let me say that if we are good to a man in your position. But let me say that if we are imagining such a character - a man who can turn unforeseen imagining such a character - a man who can turn unforeseen disaster into triumph - you would be, in my opinion, exactly that disaster into triumph - you would be, in my opinion, exactly that type of man." type of man."

He laughed easily.

"You're flattering me."

But he was pleased, I saw that.

"No," I said. "I have met enough people in my life to recognize the unusual, the extra-gifted man, when I meet him." unusual, the extra-gifted man, when I meet him."

I was afraid of going too far, but can one ever, really, go too far with flattery? A depressing thought! One must take it to heart and avoid flattery? A depressing thought! One must take it to heart and avoid the pitfall oneself. the pitfall oneself.

"I wonder," he said thoughtfully, "what actually makes you say that? All this?" He swept a careless hand round the room. that? All this?" He swept a careless hand round the room.

"That is a proof," I said, "that you are a rich man who knows how to buy wisely, who has appreciation and taste. But I feel that there is buy wisely, who has appreciation and taste. But I feel that there is more to it than mere possession. You set out to acquire beautiful more to it than mere possession. You set out to acquire beautiful and interesting things - and you have practically hinted that they and interesting things - and you have practically hinted that they were not acquired through the medium of laborious toil." were not acquired through the medium of laborious toil."

"Quite right, Easterbrook, quite right. As I said, only the fool toils. One must think, plan the campaign in every detail. The secret of all One must think, plan the campaign in every detail. The secret of all success is something quite simple - but it has to be thought of! success is something quite simple - but it has to be thought of!

Something simple. One thinks of it, one puts it into execution - and there you are!" there you are!"

I stared at him. Something simple - something as simple as the removal of unwanted persons? Fulfilling a need. An action removal of unwanted persons? Fulfilling a need. An action performed without danger to anybody except the victim. Planned by performed without danger to anybody except the victim. Planned by Mr Venables sitting in his wheelchair, with his great hooked nose Mr Venables sitting in his wheelchair, with his great hooked nose like the beak of a bird of prey, and his prominent Adam's apple like the beak of a bird of prey, and his prominent Adam's apple moving up and down. Executed by whom? moving up and down. Executed by whom?