Part 18 (1/2)

The house next door was smart and well kept, therefore I resolved to make inquiry there.

Of the tall, thin, old man-servant who answered my ring, I inquired the name of the occupant of Althorp House.

”Well, sir,” he replied, ”there hasn't been an occupant since I've been in service here, and that's ten years last March. An old lady lived there, I've heard--a rather eccentric old lady. They've tried to let it furnished, but n.o.body has taken it. It is said that the old lady left instructions in her will that the furniture was to be left just as it was for twenty years after her death. I expect the place must be fine and dirty! An old woman goes there once every six weeks or so, I believe, just to open the doors and let in a little air. But it's never cleaned.”

”And n.o.body has been over it with a view to renting it?”

”Not to my knowledge, sir.”

”There's never been anybody going in or out--eh?”

”Well, I've never seen them, sir,” was the man's reply.

”But there have been people coming and going, have there not?”

The man hesitated for a moment, apparently slightly puzzled at my question.

”Well, sir, to tell the truth, there's been a very funny story about lately. It is said that some of the old woman's relatives have returned, and they've been seen going in and out--but always in the middle of the night.”

”What sort of people?” I asked quickly.

”Oh! two men and a woman--so they say. But of course I've never seen anybody. I've asked the constables on night duty, and they've never seen any one, or they would, no doubt, have reported it.”

”Then who has seen them?”

”I really don't know. I heard the gossip over in the Royal Oak. How it originated, or whether it had any foundation in fact, I can't find out.”

”I see the board has fallen down.”

”Yes, that's been down for a couple of months or more--blown down by the wind, I suppose.”

”You haven't heard cabs stopping outside at night, for instance?”

”No, sir. I sleep at the back, and should therefore not hear.”

I could see that he was a little uncertain as to the reason of my inquiries, therefore I made an excuse that having been struck by the appearance of the house so long neglected my curiosity had been aroused.

”You've never heard of cabs stopping there at night?” I asked, a few moments later.

”Well, this morning the cook, who sleeps upstairs in front, funnily enough, told me a curious story of how in the night a taxi stopped and a gentleman got out and entered the house. A few minutes later another man came forth from the house, paid the taxi-driver, and he moved off. But,” laughed the man-servant, ”I fancy cook had been dreaming. I'm going to ask the constable when he comes on duty to-night if he saw any strangers here.”

I smiled. The man whom the cook saw had evidently been myself.

Then, after a further chat, I pressed half-a-crown into his ready palm and left.

My next visit was to the estate agents in Pall Mall, where, presenting myself as a possible tenant, the clerk at whose table I had taken a seat said--

”Well, sir, Althorp House is in such a bad, neglected state that we do not now-a-days send clients to view it. Old Mrs. Carpenter died some thirteen years ago, and according to her will the place had to be left undisturbed, and let furnished. The solicitors placed it in our hands, but the property until the twenty years have elapsed, is quite untenantable. The whole place has now gone to rack and ruin. We have a number of other furnished houses which I will be most delighted to give you orders to view.”

In pretence that I wanted a house I allowed him to select three for me, and while doing so learnt some further particulars regarding the dark house in Porchester Terrace. As far as he knew, the story of Mrs.

Carpenter's relatives taking secret possession was a myth.