II.

"It doesn't ring," said Mrs Dane Calthrop, appearing at the door with the unexpectedness of a genie. with the unexpectedness of a genie.

I had already suspected that fact "They've mended it twice," said Mrs Dane Calthrop. "But it never lasts. So I have to keep alert. In case it's something important. It's lasts. So I have to keep alert. In case it's something important. It's important with you, isn't it?" important with you, isn't it?"

"It - well - yes, it is important - to me, I mean."

"That's what I meant, too." She looked at me thoughtfully. "Yes, it's quite bad, I can see - Who do you want? The vicar?" quite bad, I can see - Who do you want? The vicar?"

"I - I'm not sure -"

It had been the vicar I came to see - but now, unexpectedly, I was doubtful. I didn't quite know why. But immediately Mrs Dane doubtful. I didn't quite know why. But immediately Mrs Dane Calthrop told me. Calthrop told me.

"My husband's a very good man," she said. "Besides being the vicar, I mean. And that makes things difficult sometimes. Good vicar, I mean. And that makes things difficult sometimes. Good people, you see, don't really understand evil." She paused and then people, you see, don't really understand evil." She paused and then said with a kind of brisk efficiency, "I think it had better be me." said with a kind of brisk efficiency, "I think it had better be me."

A faint smile came to my lips. "Is evil your department?" I asked.

"Yes, it is. It's important in a parish to know all about the various - well - sins that are going on." well - sins that are going on."

"Isn't sin your husband's province? His official business, so to speak." speak."

"The forgiveness of sins," she corrected me. "He can give absolution. I can't. But I," said Mrs Dane Calthrop with the utmost absolution. I can't. But I," said Mrs Dane Calthrop with the utmost cheerfulness, "can get sin arranged and classified for him. And if cheerfulness, "can get sin arranged and classified for him. And if one knows about it one can help to prevent its harming other one knows about it one can help to prevent its harming other people. One can't help the people themselves. I can't, I mean. Only people. One can't help the people themselves. I can't, I mean. Only God can call to repentance, you know - or perhaps you don't know. God can call to repentance, you know - or perhaps you don't know. A lot of people don't nowadays." A lot of people don't nowadays."

"I can't compete with your expert knowledge," I said, "but I would like to prevent people being harmed." like to prevent people being harmed."

She shot me a quick glance.

"It's like that, is it? You'd better come in and we'll be comfortable."

The vicarage sitting room was big and shabby. It was much shaded by a gargantuan Victorian shrubbery that no one seemed to have by a gargantuan Victorian shrubbery that no one seemed to have had the energy to curb. But the dimness was not gloomy for some had the energy to curb. But the dimness was not gloomy for some peculiar reason. It was, on the contrary, restful. All the large peculiar reason. It was, on the contrary, restful. All the large shabby chairs bore the impress of resting bodies in them over the shabby chairs bore the impress of resting bodies in them over the years. A fat clock on the chimney-piece ticked with a heavy years. A fat clock on the chimney-piece ticked with a heavy comfortable regularity. Here there would always be time to talk, to comfortable regularity. Here there would always be time to talk, to say what you wanted to say, to relax from the cares brought about say what you wanted to say, to relax from the cares brought about by the bright day outside. by the bright day outside.

Here, I felt, round-eyed girls who had tearfully discovered themselves to be prospective mothers, had confided their troubles themselves to be prospective mothers, had confided their troubles to Mrs Dane Calthrop and received sound, if not always orthodox, to Mrs Dane Calthrop and received sound, if not always orthodox, advice; here angry relatives had unburdened themselves of their advice; here angry relatives had unburdened themselves of their resentment over their inlaws; here mothers had explained that their resentment over their inlaws; here mothers had explained that their Bob was not a bad boy, just high-spirited, and that to send him Bob was not a bad boy, just high-spirited, and that to send him away to an approved school was absurd. Husbands and wives had away to an approved school was absurd. Husbands and wives had disclosed marital difficulties.

And here was I, Mark Easterbrook, scholar, author, man of the world, confronting a grey-haired weather-beaten woman with fine world, confronting a grey-haired weather-beaten woman with fine eyes, prepared to lay my troubles in her lap. Why? I didn't know. I eyes, prepared to lay my troubles in her lap. Why? I didn't know. I only had that odd surety that she was the right person. only had that odd surety that she was the right person.

"We've just had tea with Thyrza Grey," I began.

Explaining things to Mrs Dane Calthrop was never difficult. She leaped to meet you. leaped to meet you.

"Oh I see. It's upset you? Those three are a bit much to take, I agree. I've wondered myself. So much boasting. As a rule, in my agree. I've wondered myself. So much boasting. As a rule, in my experience, the really wicked don't boast. They can keep quiet experience, the really wicked don't boast. They can keep quiet about their wickedness. It's if your sins aren't really bad that you about their wickedness. It's if your sins aren't really bad that you want so much to talk about them. Sin's such a wretched, mean, want so much to talk about them. Sin's such a wretched, mean, ignoble little thing. It's terribly necessary to make it seem grand ignoble little thing. It's terribly necessary to make it seem grand and important. Village witches are usually silly ill-natured old and important. Village witches are usually silly ill-natured old women who like frightening people and getting something for women who like frightening people and getting something for nothing that way. Terribly easy to do, of course. When Mrs Brown's nothing that way. Terribly easy to do, of course. When Mrs Brown's hens die all you have to do is nod your head and say darkly: 'Ah, her hens die all you have to do is nod your head and say darkly: 'Ah, her Billy teased my Pussy last Tuesday week.' Bella Webb might be only Billy teased my Pussy last Tuesday week.' Bella Webb might be only a witch of that kind. But she might, she just might, be something a witch of that kind. But she might, she just might, be something more... something that's lasted on from a very early age and which more... something that's lasted on from a very early age and which crops up now and then in country places. It's frightening when it crops up now and then in country places. It's frightening when it does, because there's real malevolence - not just a desire to does, because there's real malevolence - not just a desire to impress. Sybil Stamfordis is one of the silliest women I've ever met - impress. Sybil Stamfordis is one of the silliest women I've ever met - but she really is a medium - whatever a medium may be. Thyrza - I but she really is a medium - whatever a medium may be. Thyrza - I don't know. What did she say to you? It was something that she said don't know. What did she say to you? It was something that she said that's upset you, I suppose?" that's upset you, I suppose?"

"You have great experience, Mrs Dane Calthrop. Would you say, from all you know and have heard, that a human being could be from all you know and have heard, that a human being could be destroyed from a distance, without visible connection, by another destroyed from a distance, without visible connection, by another human being?" human being?"

Mrs Dane Calthrop's eyes opened a little wider.

"When you say destroyed, you mean, I take it, killed? A plain physical fact?" physical fact?"

"Yes."

"I should say it was nonsense," said Mrs Dane Calthrop robustly.

"Ah!" I said, relieved.

"But of course I might be quite wrong," said Mrs Dane Calthrop.

"My father said that airships were nonsense, and my great- grandfather probably said that railway trains were nonsense. They grandfather probably said that railway trains were nonsense. They were both quite right. At that time they both were impossible. But were both quite right. At that time they both were impossible. But they're not impossible now. What does Thyrza do, activate a death they're not impossible now. What does Thyrza do, activate a death ray or something? Or do they all three draw pentagrams and wish?" ray or something? Or do they all three draw pentagrams and wish?"

I smiled.

"You're making things come into focus," I said. "I must have let that woman hypnotize me." woman hypnotize me."

"Oh no," said Mrs Dane Calthrop. "You wouldn't do that. You're not really the suggestible type. There must have been something else. really the suggestible type. There must have been something else. Something that happened first. Before all this." Something that happened first. Before all this."

"You're quite right." I told, then, as simply as I could with an economy of words, of the murder of Father Gorman, and of the economy of words, of the murder of Father Gorman, and of the casual mention in the night club of the Pale Horse. Then I took from casual mention in the night club of the Pale Horse. Then I took from my pocket the list of names I had copied from the paper Dr my pocket the list of names I had copied from the paper Dr Corrigan had shown me. Corrigan had shown me.

Mrs Dane Calthrop looked down at it, frowning.

"I see," she said. "And these people? What have they all in common?" common?"

"We're not sure. It might be blackmail - or dope -"

"Nonsense," said Mrs Dane Calthrop. "That's not what's worrying you. What you really believe is - that they're all dead?" you. What you really believe is - that they're all dead?"

I gave a deep sigh.

"Yes," I said. "That's what I believe. But I don't really know that that is so. Three of them are dead. Minnie Hesketh-Dubois, Thomasina is so. Three of them are dead. Minnie Hesketh-Dubois, Thomasina Tuckerton, Mary Delafontaine. All three died in their beds from Tuckerton, Mary Delafontaine. All three died in their beds from natural causes. Which is what Thyrza Grey claims would happen." natural causes. Which is what Thyrza Grey claims would happen."

"You mean she claims she made it happen?"

"No, no. She wasn't speaking of any actual people.

She was expounding what she believes to be a scientific possibility." possibility."

"Which appears on the face of it to be nonsense," said Mrs Dane Calthrop thoughtfully. Calthrop thoughtfully.

"I know. I would just have been polite about it and laughed to myself, if it hadn't been for that curious mention of the Pale Horse." myself, if it hadn't been for that curious mention of the Pale Horse."

"Yes," said Mrs Dane Calthrop musingly. "The Pale Horse. That's suggestive." suggestive."

She was silent a moment. Then she raised her head.

"It's bad," she said. "It's very bad. Whatever is behind it, it's got to be stopped. But you know that." be stopped. But you know that."

"Well, yes... but what can one do?"

"That you'll have to find out. But there's no time to be lost." Mrs Dane Calthrop rose to her feet, a whirlwind of activity. "You must Dane Calthrop rose to her feet, a whirlwind of activity. "You must get down to it - at once." She considered. "Haven't you got some get down to it - at once." She considered. "Haven't you got some friend who could help you?" friend who could help you?"

I thought. Jim Corrigan? A busy man with little time, and already probably doing all he could. David Ardingly - but would David probably doing all he could. David Ardingly - but would David believe a word? Hermia? Yes, there was Hermia. A clear brain, believe a word? Hermia? Yes, there was Hermia. A clear brain, admirable logic. A tower of strength if she could be persuaded to admirable logic. A tower of strength if she could be persuaded to become an ally. After all, she and I - I did not finish the sentence. become an ally. After all, she and I - I did not finish the sentence. Hermia was my steady - Hermia was the person. Hermia was my steady - Hermia was the person.

"You've thought of someone? Good."

Mrs Dane Calthrop was brisk and businesslike.

"I'll keep an eye on the three witches. I still feel that they are - somehow - not really the answer. It's like when the Stamfordis somehow - not really the answer. It's like when the Stamfordis woman dishes out a lot of idiocy about Egyptian mysteries and woman dishes out a lot of idiocy about Egyptian mysteries and prophecies from the Pyramid texts. All she says is plain balderdash, prophecies from the Pyramid texts. All she says is plain balderdash, but there are pyramids and texts and temple mysteries. I can't help but there are pyramids and texts and temple mysteries. I can't help feeling that Thyrza Grey has got hold of something, found out about feeling that Thyrza Grey has got hold of something, found out about it, or heard it talked about, and is using it in a kind of wild it, or heard it talked about, and is using it in a kind of wild hodgepodge to boost her own importance and control of occult hodgepodge to boost her own importance and control of occult powers. People are so proud of wickedness. Odd, isn't it, that powers. People are so proud of wickedness. Odd, isn't it, that people who are good are never proud of it? That's where Christian people who are good are never proud of it? That's where Christian humility comes in, I suppose. They don't even know they are good." humility comes in, I suppose. They don't even know they are good."

She was silent for a moment and then said: "What we really need is a link of some kind. A link between one of these names and the Pale Horse. Something tangible." these names and the Pale Horse. Something tangible."

Chapter 8.

Detective-Inspector Lejeune heard the well-known tune "Father O'Flynn" being whistled outside in the passage and raised his head O'Flynn" being whistled outside in the passage and raised his head as Dr Corrigan came in. as Dr Corrigan came in.

"Sorry to disoblige everybody," said Corrigan, "but the driver of that Jaguar hadn't any alcohol in him at all. What P.C. Ellis smelled that Jaguar hadn't any alcohol in him at all. What P.C. Ellis smelled on his breath must have been Ellis's imagination or halitosis." on his breath must have been Ellis's imagination or halitosis."

But Lejeune at the moment was uninterested in the daily run of motorists' offences. motorists' offences.

"Come and take a look at this," he said.

Corrigan took the letter handed to him. It was written in a small neat script. The heading was Everest, Glendower Close, Bournemouth. script. The heading was Everest, Glendower Close, Bournemouth.

Dear Inspector Lejeune, You may remember that you asked me to get in touch with you if I should happen to see the man who was following Father Gorman on should happen to see the man who was following Father Gorman on the night that he was killed. I kept a good lookout in the the night that he was killed. I kept a good lookout in the neighbourhood of my establishment, but never caught a glimpse of neighbourhood of my establishment, but never caught a glimpse of him again. him again.

Yesterday, however, I attended a church fte in a village about twenty miles from here. I was attracted by the fact that Mrs Oliver, twenty miles from here. I was attracted by the fact that Mrs Oliver, the well-known detective writer, was going to be there the well-known detective writer, was going to be there autographing her own books. I am a great reader of detective stories and I was quite curious to see the lady. stories and I was quite curious to see the lady.

What I did see, to my great surprise, was the man I described to you as having passed my shop the night Father Gorman was killed. as having passed my shop the night Father Gorman was killed. Since then, it would seem, he must have met with an accident, as Since then, it would seem, he must have met with an accident, as on this occasion he was propelling himself in a wheelchair. I made on this occasion he was propelling himself in a wheelchair. I made some discreet inquiries as to who he might be, and it seems he is a some discreet inquiries as to who he might be, and it seems he is a local resident of the name of Venables. His place of residence is local resident of the name of Venables. His place of residence is Priors Court, Much Deeping. He is said to be a man of considerable Priors Court, Much Deeping. He is said to be a man of considerable means. means.

Hoping these details may be of some service to you, Yours truly Zachariah Osborne "Well?" said Lejeune.

"Sounds most unlikely," said Corrigan dampingly.

"On the face of it, perhaps. But I'm not so sure."

"This Osborne fellow - he couldn't really have seen anyone's face very clearly on a foggy night like that. I expect this is just a chance very clearly on a foggy night like that. I expect this is just a chance resemblance. You know what people are. Ring up all over the resemblance. You know what people are. Ring up all over the country to say they've seen a missing person, and nine times out of country to say they've seen a missing person, and nine times out of ten there's no resemblance even to the printed description!" ten there's no resemblance even to the printed description!"

"Osborne's not like that," said Lejeune.

"What is he like?"

"He's a respectable dapper little chemist, old-fashioned, quite a character, and a great observer of persons. One of the dreams of character, and a great observer of persons. One of the dreams of his life is to be able to come forward and identify a wife poisoner his life is to be able to come forward and identify a wife poisoner who has purchased arsenic at his shop." who has purchased arsenic at his shop."

Corrigan laughed.

"In that case, this is clearly an example of wishful thinking."

"Perhaps."

Corrigan looked at him curiously.

"So you think there may be something in it? What are you going to do about it?" do about it?"

"There will be no harm, in any case, in making a few discreet inquiries about this Mr Venables of -" he referred to the letter - "of inquiries about this Mr Venables of -" he referred to the letter - "of Priors Court, Much Deeping." Priors Court, Much Deeping."

Chapter 9.

"What exciting things happen in the country!" said Hermia lightly.

We had just finished dinner. A pot of black coffee was in front of us.

I looked at her. The words were not quite what I had expected. I had spent the last quarter of an hour in telling her my story. She had spent the last quarter of an hour in telling her my story. She had listened intelligently and with interest. But her response was not at listened intelligently and with interest. But her response was not at all what I had expected. The tone of her voice was indulgent - she all what I had expected. The tone of her voice was indulgent - she seemed neither shocked nor stirred. seemed neither shocked nor stirred.

"People who say that the country is dull and the towns full of excitement don't know what they are talking about," she went on. excitement don't know what they are talking about," she went on.

"The last of the witches have gone to cover in the tumble-down cottage, black masses are celebrated in remote manor houses by cottage, black masses are celebrated in remote manor houses by decadent young men. Superstition runs rife in isolated hamlets. decadent young men. Superstition runs rife in isolated hamlets. Middle-aged spinsters clank their false scarabs and hold s Middle-aged spinsters clank their false scarabs and hold sances and planchettes run luridly over sheets of blank paper. One could and planchettes run luridly over sheets of blank paper. One could really write a very amusing series of articles on it all. Why don't you really write a very amusing series of articles on it all. Why don't you try your hand?" try your hand?"

"I don't think you really understand what I've been telling you, Hermia." Hermia."

"But I do, Mark! I think it's all tremendously interesting. It's a page out of history, all the lingering forgotten lore of the Middle Ages." out of history, all the lingering forgotten lore of the Middle Ages."

"I'm not interested historically," I said irritably. "I'm interested in the facts. In a list of names on a sheet of paper. I know what has the facts. In a list of names on a sheet of paper. I know what has happened to some of those people. What's going to happen or has happened to some of those people. What's going to happen or has happened to the rest?" happened to the rest?"

"Aren't you letting yourself get rather carried away?"

"No," I said obstinately. "I don't think so. I think the menace is real. And I'm not alone in thinking so. The vicar's wife agrees with me." And I'm not alone in thinking so. The vicar's wife agrees with me."

"Oh, the vicar's wife!" Hermia's voice was scornful.

"No, not 'the vicar's wife' like that! She's a very unusual woman. This whole thing is real, Hermia." This whole thing is real, Hermia."

Hermia shrugged her shoulders.

"Perhaps."

"But you don't think so?"

"I think your imagination is running away with you a little, Mark. I dare say your middle-aged pussies are quite genuine in believing it dare say your middle-aged pussies are quite genuine in believing it all themselves. I'm sure they're very nasty old pussies!" all themselves. I'm sure they're very nasty old pussies!"

"But not really sinister?"