Part 16 (1/2)
SEVEN.
The Governor was strong upon The Regulations Act: The Doctor said that Death was but A scientific fact: And twice a day the Chaplain called, And left a little tract.
-OSCAR WILDE
Rose wondered what on earth was going on. Her father had put down his newspaper and had stared to look through the morning post. He slit open a square manila envelope. He drew out a photograph. He goggled at it, thrust it back in the envelope and shouted, ”Get Cathcart. Now!”
Despite wondering frantically what had been in that photograph, Rose felt a surge of pleasure at the thought she might see Harry again.
”What on earth is going on?” she asked her mother.
”I am sure your father will cope with whatever it is. Eat your breakfast,” said Lady Polly.
”Pervert,” muttered the earl.
”What did you say?” demanded Rose.
”Hey, what? Oh, I said peris.h.i.+ng newspapers.”
Rose had never seen her father look so upset. His face was scarlet. At last he said to his wife, ”A word with you, dear.”
Rose and Daisy picked at their food. Then Rose heard her mother scream.
They ran to the office. The earl shouted at them, ”Get out of here! Go to your rooms and don't come out until I tell you.”
They went upstairs and stood by the window. At last they saw Harry arriving. Becket was not with him.
”Now what?” asked Rose.
Daisy gave a dismal little shrug. She had been expecting to see Becket.
Harry looked at the photograph. ”Nasty,” he said. ”Sir Peter was entrapped.”
”You can't be entrapped unless you're a ... you're a ...”
”Quite,” said Harry. ”Will you leave this with me? I think perhaps I might be able to get the negative and any prints. Petrey will go abroad for an extended period and it will all blow over.”
”Rose will need to cancel the engagement!”
”Not yet. I have a feeling that that was just what someone wanted her to do. Leave it to me.”
”Usual fee?” asked the earl glumly.
”No, you may have my researches as a present, for it will be my pleasure to deal with whoever did this.”
”What do we say to Rose?” asked Lady Polly.
”I think you will find out that your daughter knew of Peter's tastes.”
”What?”
”I do not for a moment think she believed that men actually had s.e.xual intercourse-”
”Lady present,” growled the earl.
”But that she thought their love was platonic. She craved an arranged marriage.”
”Why?”
”Because she does not want to be s.h.i.+pped off to India. If you threaten her with that, she will find someone else.”
The earl mopped his brow.
”And I thought you were the worst thing that could have happened to her.”
”Thank you for the compliment. Now, leave this with me.”
Harry did not go back to his office but returned to Chelsea to ask Becket's advice. He told his manservant about the incriminating photograph. ”Do you know anything about the h.o.m.os.e.xual underworld, Becket?”
”There is that brothel in Westminster that no one is supposed to know about. Who do you suspect, sir?”
”I suspect Berrow and Banks.”
”Perhaps they hired a youth from there.”
”I am sure a place like that would give me no information whatsoever. I wonder why the police haven't raided the place.”
”Possibly there are too many important people who visit there.”
”Where exactly is it?”
”Verney Street. I've heard servants gossiping about it.”
”I'll go down tonight and watch who comes and goes. I'll visit Petrey first.”
Harry went to Petrey's home and knocked as arranged. Petrey himself answered the door, looking haggard.