"King's Arms?" I asked sharply.

"Our local, darling," said Rhoda.

"Isn't there another pub round here? The - Pale Horse, didn't you say," I asked, turning to Mrs Oliver. say," I asked, turning to Mrs Oliver.

There was no such reaction here as I had half expected. The faces turned toward me were vague and uninterested. turned toward me were vague and uninterested.

"The Pale Horse isn't a pub," said Rhoda. "I mean, not now."

"It was an old inn," said Despard. "Mostly sixteenth-century I'd say. But it's just an ordinary house now. I always think they should have But it's just an ordinary house now. I always think they should have changed the name." changed the name."

"Oh, no," exclaimed Ginger. "It would have been awfully silly to call it Wayside, or Fairview. I think the Pale Horse is much nicer, and it Wayside, or Fairview. I think the Pale Horse is much nicer, and there's a lovely old inn sign. They've got it framed in the hall." there's a lovely old inn sign. They've got it framed in the hall."

"Who's they?" I asked.

"It belongs to Thyrza Grey," said Rhoda. "I don't know if you saw her today? Tall woman with short grey hair." her today? Tall woman with short grey hair."

"She's very occult," said Despard. "Goes in for spiritualism and trances, and magic. Not quite black masses, but that sort of thing." trances, and magic. Not quite black masses, but that sort of thing."

Ginger gave a sudden peal of laughter.

"I'm sorry," she said apologetically. "I was just thinking of Miss Grey as Madame de Montespan on a black velvet altar." Grey as Madame de Montespan on a black velvet altar."

"Ginger!" said Rhoda. "Not in front of the vicar."

"Sorry, Mr Dane Calthrop."

"Not at all," said the vicar beaming. "As the ancients put it -" he continued for some time in Greek. After a respectful silence of continued for some time in Greek. After a respectful silence of appreciation, I returned to the attack. appreciation, I returned to the attack.

"I still want to know who are 'they'? Miss Grey and who else?"

"Oh, there's a friend who lives with her. Sybil Stamfordis. She acts as medium, I believe. You must have seen her about. Lots of as medium, I believe. You must have seen her about. Lots of scarabs and beads - and sometimes she puts on a sari. I can't think scarabs and beads - and sometimes she puts on a sari. I can't think why - she's never been in India -" why - she's never been in India -"

"And then there's Bella," said Mrs Dane Calthrop. "She's their cook," she explained. "And she's also a witch. She comes from the cook," she explained. "And she's also a witch. She comes from the village of Little Dunning. She had quite a reputation for witchcraft village of Little Dunning. She had quite a reputation for witchcraft there. It runs in the family. Her mother was a witch, too." there. It runs in the family. Her mother was a witch, too."

She spoke in a matter-of-fact way.

"You sound as though you believe in witchcraft, Mrs Dane Calthrop," I said. Calthrop," I said.

"But of course! There's nothing mysterious or secretive about it. It's all quite matter-of-fact. It's a family asset that you inherit. Children all quite matter-of-fact. It's a family asset that you inherit. Children are told not to tease your cat, and people give you a cottage cheese are told not to tease your cat, and people give you a cottage cheese or a pot of homemade jam from time to time." or a pot of homemade jam from time to time."

I looked at her doubtfully. She appeared to be quite serious.

"Sybil helped us today by telling fortunes," said Rhoda. "She was in the green tent. She's quite good at it, I believe." the green tent. She's quite good at it, I believe."

"She gave me a lovely fortune," said Ginger. "Money in my hand. A handsome dark stranger from overseas, two husbands and six handsome dark stranger from overseas, two husbands and six children. Really very generous." children. Really very generous."

"I saw the Curtis girl come out giggling," said Rhoda. "And she was very coy with her young man afterwards. Told him not to think he very coy with her young man afterwards. Told him not to think he was the only pebble on the beach." was the only pebble on the beach."

"Poor Tom," said her husband. "Did he make any comeback?"

"Oh yes. 'I'm not telling you what she promised me,' he said. 'Mebbe you wouldn't like it too well, my girl!'" you wouldn't like it too well, my girl!'"

"Good for Tom."

"Old Mrs Parker was quite sour," said Ginger laughing. "'Tis all foolishness,' that's what she said. 'Don't you believe none of it, you foolishness,' that's what she said. 'Don't you believe none of it, you two.' But then Mrs Cripps piped up and said, 'You know, Lizzie, as two.' But then Mrs Cripps piped up and said, 'You know, Lizzie, as well as I do, that Miss Stamfordis sees things as others can't see, well as I do, that Miss Stamfordis sees things as others can't see, and Miss Grey knows to a day when there's going to be a death. and Miss Grey knows to a day when there's going to be a death. Never wrong, she is! Fairly gives me the creeps sometimes.' And Never wrong, she is! Fairly gives me the creeps sometimes.' And Mrs Parker said 'Death - that's different. It's a gift.' And Mrs Cripps Mrs Parker said 'Death - that's different. It's a gift.' And Mrs Cripps said: 'Anyway I wouldn't like to offend none of those three, that I said: 'Anyway I wouldn't like to offend none of those three, that I wouldn't!'" wouldn't!'"

"It does all sound exciting. I'd love to meet them," said Mrs Oliver wistfully. wistfully.

"We'll take you over there tomorrow," Colonel Despard promised.

"That old inn is really worth seeing. They've been very clever in making it comfortable without spoiling its character." making it comfortable without spoiling its character."

"I'll ring up Thyrza tomorrow morning," said Rhoda.

I must admit that I went to bed with a slight feeling of deflation.

The Pale Horse which had loomed in my mind as a symbol of something unknown and sinister had turned out to be nothing of the something unknown and sinister had turned out to be nothing of the sort. sort.

Unless, of course, there was another Pale Horse somewhere else?

I considered that idea until I fell asleep.

II.

There was a feeling of relaxation next day, which was a Sunday. An after-the-party feeling. On the lawn the marquee and tents flapped after-the-party feeling. On the lawn the marquee and tents flapped limply in a damp breeze, awaiting removal by the caterer's men at limply in a damp breeze, awaiting removal by the caterer's men at early dawn on the morrow. On Monday we would all set to work to early dawn on the morrow. On Monday we would all set to work to take stock of what damage had been done, and clear things up. take stock of what damage had been done, and clear things up. Today, Rhoda had wisely decided, it would be better to go out as Today, Rhoda had wisely decided, it would be better to go out as much as possible. We all went to church, and listened respectfully much as possible. We all went to church, and listened respectfully to Mr Dane Calthrop's scholarly sermon on a text taken from Isaiah to Mr Dane Calthrop's scholarly sermon on a text taken from Isaiah which seemed to deal less with religion than with Persian history. which seemed to deal less with religion than with Persian history.

"We're going to lunch with Mr Venables," explained Rhoda afterwards. "You'll like him, Mark. He's really a most interesting afterwards. "You'll like him, Mark. He's really a most interesting man. Been everywhere and done everything. Knows all sorts of out- man. Been everywhere and done everything. Knows all sorts of out- of-the-way things. He bought Priors Court about three years ago. of-the-way things. He bought Priors Court about three years ago. And the things he's done to it must have cost him a fortune. He had And the things he's done to it must have cost him a fortune. He had polio and is semi-crippled, so he has to go about in a wheelchair. polio and is semi-crippled, so he has to go about in a wheelchair. It's very sad for him because up to then he was a great traveller, I It's very sad for him because up to then he was a great traveller, I believe. Of course he's rolling in money, and, as I say, he's done up believe. Of course he's rolling in money, and, as I say, he's done up the house in a wonderful way - it was an absolute ruin, falling to the house in a wonderful way - it was an absolute ruin, falling to pieces. It's full of the most gorgeous stuff. The sale rooms are his pieces. It's full of the most gorgeous stuff. The sale rooms are his principal interest nowadays, I believe." principal interest nowadays, I believe."

Priors Court was only a few miles away. We drove there and our host came wheeling himself along the hall to meet us. host came wheeling himself along the hall to meet us.

"Nice of you all to come," he said heartily. "You must be exhausted after yesterday. The whole thing was a great success, Rhoda." after yesterday. The whole thing was a great success, Rhoda."

Mr Venables was a man of about fifty, with a thin hawk-like face and a beaked nose that stood out from it arrogantly. He wore an open- a beaked nose that stood out from it arrogantly. He wore an open- wing collar which gave him a faintly old-fashioned air. wing collar which gave him a faintly old-fashioned air.

Rhoda made introductions.

Venables smiled at Mrs Oliver.

"I met this lady yesterday in her professional capacity," he said.

"Six of her books with signatures. Takes care of six presents for Christmas. Great stuff you write, Mrs Oliver. Give us more of it. Christmas. Great stuff you write, Mrs Oliver. Give us more of it. Can't have too much of it." He grinned at Ginger. "You nearly Can't have too much of it." He grinned at Ginger. "You nearly landed me with a live duck, young woman." Then he turned to me. "I landed me with a live duck, young woman." Then he turned to me. "I enjoyed your article in the Review last month," he said. enjoyed your article in the Review last month," he said.

"It was awfully good of you to come to our fte, Mr Venables," said Rhoda. "After that generous check you sent us, I didn't really hope Rhoda. "After that generous check you sent us, I didn't really hope that you'd turn up in person." that you'd turn up in person."

"Oh, I enjoy that kind of thing. Part of English rural life, isn't it? I came home clasping a most terrible Kewpie doll from the hoopla, came home clasping a most terrible Kewpie doll from the hoopla, and had a splendid but unrealistic future prophesied me by Our and had a splendid but unrealistic future prophesied me by Our Sybil, all dressed up in a tinsel turban with about a ton of fake Sybil, all dressed up in a tinsel turban with about a ton of fake Egyptian beads slung over her torso." Egyptian beads slung over her torso."

"Good old Sybil," said Colonel Despard. "We're going there to tea with Thyrza this afternoon. It's an interesting old place." with Thyrza this afternoon. It's an interesting old place."

"The Pale Horse? Yes. I rather wish it had been left as an inn. I always feel that that place had had a mysterious and unusually always feel that that place had had a mysterious and unusually wicked past history. It can't have been smuggling; we're not near wicked past history. It can't have been smuggling; we're not near enough to the sea for that. A resort for highwaymen, perhaps? Or enough to the sea for that. A resort for highwaymen, perhaps? Or rich travellers spent the night there and were never seen again. It rich travellers spent the night there and were never seen again. It seems, somehow, rather tame to have turned it into a desirable seems, somehow, rather tame to have turned it into a desirable residence for three old maids." residence for three old maids."

"Oh - I never think of them like that!" cried Rhoda. "Sybil Stamfordis, perhaps, with her saris and her scarabs, and always Stamfordis, perhaps, with her saris and her scarabs, and always seeing auras round people's heads - she is rather ridiculous. But seeing auras round people's heads - she is rather ridiculous. But there's something really awe-inspiring about Thyrza, don't you there's something really awe-inspiring about Thyrza, don't you agree? You feel she knows just what you're thinking. She doesn't agree? You feel she knows just what you're thinking. She doesn't talk about having second sight - but everyone says that she has got talk about having second sight - but everyone says that she has got it." it."

"And Bella, far from being an old maid, has buried two husbands," added Colonel Despard. added Colonel Despard.

"I sincerely beg her pardon," said Venables laughing.

"With sinister interpretations of the deaths from the neighbours," added Despard. "It's said they displeased her, so she just turned added Despard. "It's said they displeased her, so she just turned her eyes on them, and they slowly sickened and pined away!" her eyes on them, and they slowly sickened and pined away!"

"Of course, I forgot, she is the local witch?"

"So Mrs Dane Calthrop says."

"Interesting thing, witchcraft," said Venables thoughtfully. "All over the world you get variations of it - I remember when I was in East the world you get variations of it - I remember when I was in East Africa -" Africa -"

He talked easily, and entertainingly, on the subject He spoke of medicine men in Africa; of little known cults in Borneo. He promised medicine men in Africa; of little known cults in Borneo. He promised that, after lunch, he would show us some West African sorcerers' that, after lunch, he would show us some West African sorcerers'

masks.

"There's everything in this house," declared Rhoda with a laugh.

"Oh, well -" he shrugged his shoulders - "if you can't go out to everything, then everything must be made to come to you." everything, then everything must be made to come to you."

Just for a moment there was a sudden bitterness in his voice. He gave a swift glance downwards towards his paralyzed legs. gave a swift glance downwards towards his paralyzed legs.

"'The world is so full of a number of things,'" he quoted. "I think that's always been my undoing. There's so much I want to know that's always been my undoing. There's so much I want to know about - to see! Oh, well, I haven't done too badly in my time. And about - to see! Oh, well, I haven't done too badly in my time. And even now life has its consolations." even now life has its consolations."

"Why here?" asked Mrs Oliver suddenly.

The others had been slightly ill at ease, as people become when a hint of tragedy looms in the air. Mrs Oliver alone had been hint of tragedy looms in the air. Mrs Oliver alone had been unaffected. She asked because she wanted to know. And her frank unaffected. She asked because she wanted to know. And her frank curiosity restored the lighthearted atmosphere. curiosity restored the lighthearted atmosphere.

Venables looked towards her inquiringly.

"I mean," said Mrs Oliver. "Why did you come to live here, in this neighbourhood? So far away from things that are going on. Was it neighbourhood? So far away from things that are going on. Was it because you had friends here?" because you had friends here?"

"No. I chose this part of the world, since you are interested, because I had no friends here." because I had no friends here."

A faint ironical smile touched his lips.

How deeply, I wondered, had his disability affected him? Had the loss of unfettered movement, of liberty to explore the world, bitten loss of unfettered movement, of liberty to explore the world, bitten deep into his soul? Or had he managed to adapt himself to altered deep into his soul? Or had he managed to adapt himself to altered circumstances with comparative equanimity - with a real greatness circumstances with comparative equanimity - with a real greatness of spirit. of spirit.

As though Venables had read my thoughts, he said: "In your article you questioned the meaning of the term 'greatness'

-you compared the different meanings attached to it - in the East and the West. But what do we all mean nowadays, here in England, and the West. But what do we all mean nowadays, here in England, when we use the term 'a great man'?" when we use the term 'a great man'?"

"Greatness of intellect, certainly," I said, "and surely, moral strength as well?" strength as well?"

He looked at me, his eyes bright and shining.

"Is there no such thing as an evil man, then, who can be described as great?" he asked. as great?" he asked.

"Of course there is," cried Rhoda. "Napoleon and Hitler and oh, lots of people. They were all great men." of people. They were all great men."

"Because of the effect they produced?" said Despard. "But if one had known them personally, I wonder if one would have been had known them personally, I wonder if one would have been impressed." impressed."

Ginger leaned forward and ran her fingers through her carroty mop of hair. of hair.

"That's an interesting thought," she said. "Mightn't they, perhaps, have seemed pathetic, undersized little figures. Strutting, have seemed pathetic, undersized little figures. Strutting, posturing, feeling inadequate, determined to be someone, even if posturing, feeling inadequate, determined to be someone, even if they pulled the world down round them?" they pulled the world down round them?"

"Oh, no," said Rhoda vehemently. "They couldn't have produced the results they did if they had been like that" the results they did if they had been like that"

"I don't know," said Mrs Oliver. "After all, the stupidest child can set a house on fire quite easily." a house on fire quite easily."

"Come, come," said Venables. "I really can't go along with this modern playing down of evil as something that doesn't really exist. modern playing down of evil as something that doesn't really exist. There is evil. And evil is powerful. Sometimes more powerful than There is evil. And evil is powerful. Sometimes more powerful than good. It's there. It has to be recognised - and fought. Otherwise -" good. It's there. It has to be recognised - and fought. Otherwise -" he spread out his hands. "We go down to darkness." he spread out his hands. "We go down to darkness."

"Of course I was brought up on the devil," said Mrs Oliver, apologetically. "Believing in him, I mean. But you know he always apologetically. "Believing in him, I mean. But you know he always did seem to me so silly. With hoofs and a tail and all that. Capering did seem to me so silly. With hoofs and a tail and all that. Capering about like a ham actor. Of course I often have a master criminal in about like a ham actor. Of course I often have a master criminal in my stories - people like it - but really he gets harder and harder to my stories - people like it - but really he gets harder and harder to do. So long as one doesn't know who he is, I can keep him do. So long as one doesn't know who he is, I can keep him impressive. But when it all comes out, he seems, somehow, so impressive. But when it all comes out, he seems, somehow, so inadequate. A kind of anticlimax. It's much easier if you just have a inadequate. A kind of anticlimax. It's much easier if you just have a bank manager who's embezzled the funds, or a husband who wants bank manager who's embezzled the funds, or a husband who wants to get rid of his wife and marry the children's governess. So much more natural - if you know what I mean." more natural - if you know what I mean."

Everyone laughed and Mrs Oliver said apologetically: "I know I haven't put it very well - but you do see what I mean?"

We all said that we knew exactly what she meant.

Chapter 6.

It was after four o'clock when we left Priors Court. After a particularly delicious lunch, Venables had taken us on a tour of the particularly delicious lunch, Venables had taken us on a tour of the house. He had taken a real pleasure in showing us his various house. He had taken a real pleasure in showing us his various possessions. A veritable treasure house the place was. possessions. A veritable treasure house the place was.

"He must be rolling in money," I said when we had finally departed.

"Those jades - and the African sculpture - to say nothing of all his Meissen and Bow. You're lucky to have such a neighbour." Meissen and Bow. You're lucky to have such a neighbour."

"Don't we know it?" said Rhoda. "Most of the people down here are nice enough - but definitely on the dull side. Mr Venables is nice enough - but definitely on the dull side. Mr Venables is positively exotic by comparison." positively exotic by comparison."

"How did he make his money?" asked Mrs Oliver. "Or has he always had it?" had it?"

Despard remarked wryly that nobody nowadays could boast of such a thing as a large inherited income. Death duties and taxation such a thing as a large inherited income. Death duties and taxation had seen to that. had seen to that.

"Someone told me," he added, "that he started life as a stevedore but it seems most unlikely. He never talks about his boyhood or his but it seems most unlikely. He never talks about his boyhood or his family." He turned towards Mrs Oliver. "A Mystery Man for you." family." He turned towards Mrs Oliver. "A Mystery Man for you."

Mrs Oliver said that people were always offering her things she didn't want - didn't want - The Pale Horse was a half-timbered building (genuine half- timbering, not faked). It was set back a little way from the village timbering, not faked). It was set back a little way from the village street. A walled garden could be glimpsed behind it, which gave it a street. A walled garden could be glimpsed behind it, which gave it a pleasant Old-World look. pleasant Old-World look.

I was disappointed in it, and said so.