For the sake of making their tale complete, they waited until the six men returned up the alleyway, pushing the empty cart, and turned once again towards Magdalen Street and the Fye Bridge. There the group had parted, some going further along Magdalen Street and some crossing the bridge towards Tombland. The cart had been taken by the group heading along Magdalen Street where they had turned after perhaps a hundred yards into the entrance to one of the tumbledown courts there.
At that point, the street children had stopped watching them, as they had been instructed, and hurried back to the marketplace, hoping to get a few hours of sleep in the various entrances and church porches where they usually spent the night.
‘I am delighted with what all of you have done, especially you, Sidney,’ Foxe told the two children. ‘Here is a whole shilling for your trouble.’ He gave the coin to Sidney and another three shillings to Betty to share out amongst the others.
‘Now, Betty, I expect those men will return tonight to steal more, since they know the opportunity for their thefts will very soon be taken from them. I will go to Alderman Halloran and ask him to arrange for a number of constables to be available tonight so that we may catch the thieves in the act. However, the constables are usually large, clumsy men, unused to concealing themselves and moving silently. I will therefore need a group of you children to keep watch and warn us when the men approach. Sidney, you mentioned an alleyway off the street outside Belton’s yard, going down to the river. Are there any others or perhaps openings into other yards or warehouses where I could tell the constables to wait until I call them?’
‘I didn’t see no other alleys, Mr Foxe, but I didn’t go no further along the street than the entrance to Belton’s yard. I ‘spects there must be entries into yards and like, all big enough to ‘ide a good many men, provided as they stays still and quiet.’
‘Good,’ Foxe replied. ‘Here is what we will do. We’ll meet outside Belton’s Yard well before the time these men are likely to come. I’ll tell the constables to wait silently in two groups, one on either side of the doors into the yard itself. I’ll also instruct them to keep well back. That way they’ll be safe from being seen. The only danger point will be when the men come down from Magdalen Street, assuming they come that way. You and some of the other children should be waiting near the top of the street to warn us of the men’s approach. I’ll make sure the constables on that side stay well back from the street itself and stay silent until the men have gone well past. We’ll let the men go inside and collect what they have come for. Then, when we seize them, they won’t be able to deny what they are doing. Can you help to arrange the necessary children, Betty?’
‘’Course, Mr Foxe. Maybe I’ll bring one or two of the girls too. We can loiter openly in Magdalen Street, looking as if we are ‘oping for trade. No one will suspect us of any other reason for being there.’
‘That’s a good idea,’ Foxe said. ‘You have a quick mind, Betty, and it’s wasted in your present circumstance. Would you be willing to consider another life, if I find a suitable kind of work for you?’
‘Something where there are horses?’ the girl said hopefully.
‘That I cannot promise,’ Foxe said. ‘Nearly all grooms and stable lads are male, obviously. Still, I’ll see what I can think of.’
‘I’ll consider anythin’ you suggest,’ Betty said. ‘I’m sick and tired of bein’ groped and pawed by dirty men, then expected to pretend I’m enjoyin’ the grunts and thrusts that passes for making love. I may look the typical tart, but I know I could do better for meself.’
‘Very well,’ Foxe replied. ‘Be patient and I’ll do my best for you. Now, I suggest you and Sidney come back with me to my kitchen. I’ll see Florence behaves herself while Mrs Whitbread finds you something suitable to eat.’
‘Bread ‘n’ drippin’?’ Sidney said hopefully. ‘I loves that.’
‘I’ll see if she can find you any,’ Foxe said, laughing. He hadn’t eaten such homely fare in many years but he still remembered it as an occasional childhood treat.
13
About an hour later, Foxe left and headed for Colegate. At more or less the same time, Mrs Dobbins returned from Mistress Tabby’s by a slightly different route and hurried up to the back door. She was still finding what Mistress Tabby had told her hard to accept. Still, she had little doubt that the Wise Woman knew what she was saying was correct. The others would doubtless press her for news, but they would have to be patient until the master had gone out. Then they could all congregate in the servants’ hall to hear what she had learned.
Finding that Foxe had left already, she summoned the other servants at once, including Henry the groom. Within moments she was facing the whole household, all eager to hear what she could tell them.
‘I need to be brief,’ she said as she began. ‘We all have work to do and it would never do for the master to come back and find we had neglected our duties. He’s been far less regular in his daily habits recently. Sometimes he disappears for hours on end and on other days he’s back before you hardly know he’s gone. So, not too many questions. Agreed? We can talk it all through fully tonight, after we’ve eaten.’
Heads nodded solemnly all round.
‘Mistress Tabby says Mr Foxe is in love.’
The news was greeted with stunned silence. People looked at each other and shook their heads in disbelief.
‘In love?’ Molly protested. ‘Is she sure? This is Mr Foxe we’re talking about. In love?’
‘That’s what she told me,’ Mrs Dobbins said. ‘I’m finding it hard to credit as well. Indeed, Mistress Tabby said she couldn’t quite believe it herself at first, since it was Mr Foxe.’
‘Who is he in love with?’ Mrs Whitbread demanded. ‘Did she say? I mean, he’s already been with more women than most men and never shown the slightest sign of being attached to any of them in any romantic way.’
‘That’s right,’ Florence protested. ‘’Sides, he hasn’t brought a woman back here for ages. Not since that Lady Cockerton treated him so badly.’
‘I haven’t taken him to any woman’s house since Lady Cockerton left,’ Henry said. ‘I would surely have known if he’d suddenly taken to visiting a new lady.’
‘He hasn’t been asking me to get out his best clothes in the evening either,’ Alfred added. ‘He always did that when he expected to meet one of his lady friends.’
‘Did you ask Mistress Tabby if she knows who he’s set his heart on?’ Molly asked. ‘She can’t just say he’s in love and leave it at that!’
‘I did ask her,’ Mrs Dobbins said, ‘but she wouldn’t say. So far as she knows, the lady concerned doesn’t return the master’s affections. Mistress Tabby thinks she’s rejected all his advances to date.’
‘Rejected all his advances?’ Molly cried. ‘She can’t be in her right mind! Every woman Mr Foxe ever encounters falls for him right away.’
‘Not this one, it seems. Mistress Tabby says her attitude is making Mr Foxe quite wretched.’
‘I’d like to scratch her eyes out,’ Florence said loudly. ‘Hurting the master like that is positively wicked. If he does love her, she plainly doesn’t deserve it. Doesn’t she realise he’s the nicest, kindest person in the whole world?’
There was general agreement with that sentiment. None of them would tolerate anyone hurting Mr Foxe, if they could prevent it.
‘Now, all of you,’ Mrs Dobbins said firmly. ‘About your work. We’ll talk about it again this evening. By the way, does anyone know where the master has gone this time?’
Heads were shaken all round.
‘Very well. I suggest we agree to treat the master with special kindness and tolerance and take no notice of any odd moods for the moment. It’s bad enough that this mystery of the lost mayor he’s been asked to solve appears to be going so badly. If any of you add to his problems in any way, you’ll have me to deal with. He’s the best master in the city and don’t any of you forget that!’
With that fi
nal injunction, she sent them all about their business and tried to get on with her own work, despite the turmoil in her mind. Suppose this woman, whoever she was, broke the master’s heart? She could hardly bear the thought. As Molly had said, the nasty creature couldn’t be sane to treat poor Mr Foxe in such a way. If she could get to her, she’d soon give her a piece of her mind and with no punches pulled either!
UNAWARE AT THE fury stirred up in his household, Foxe strode up to the alderman’s door feeling far more light hearted than he had been on most of his recent visits. He knew Lucy was not at home. She had told him as much earlier. He could therefore concentrate on what he had come to tell Halloran without feeling nervous about how Lucy might react to his presence.
Perkins let him in, took his hat and coat and directed him at once to the library, saying he knew his master would wish to see him. Mr Foxe would find him amongst his books as usual. Foxe knocked politely at the door and, on hearing a cry of “Come in,” stepped inside.
‘Ah, Foxe,’ Halloran said. ‘I hoped it would be you. By the way, Lucy’s out, you know.’
‘I did know, but it’s you I’ve come to see, Halloran. I think there may have been a breakthrough in sorting out the mystery of what’s happened to our mayor.’
‘Splendid!’ Halloran replied. ‘Some light on the matter is sorely needed. My fellow aldermen are becoming fractious to say the least. Managing without a mayor, while delaying the necessary steps to replace him in case he returns, is trying everyone’s patience to the limit. Come and sit down. I’ll call for some coffee, then you can tell me all that you have found out.’
Halloran’s coffee was uncommonly good and Foxe was more than grateful for a cup or two after what was quite a long walk from his own house. The two of them passed the time in small talk about books until the coffee was finished, then Foxe got down to business.
As he explained what the street children had discovered, the alderman couldn’t help becoming angry.
‘Damned rogues!’ he exclaimed. ‘They deserve what they’ll get if we can catch them. Still, it seems Belton was even more of a fool that I took him for, if such a thing is possible. Negligence on that scale positively invites others to take advantage of the opportunity. Do you think we can round up the villains, Foxe, and see them face the judge at the assize?’
‘That’s what I’ve come to discuss with you,’ Foxe replied. ‘I believe we can, if you and your colleagues can lend me enough constables to make the arrests.’
‘When I tell the others, they’ll find you a regiment, if you want one.’
‘Five or six should be enough,’ Foxe said laughing. ‘The children said there were six men with the barrow. Add in the nightwatchman who lets them in and the fellow on the wherry and that makes eight in total. When we’ve finished here, I’ll ask Mistress Tabby to lend me her servant, Bart, as well. He’s worth three men on his own.’
‘Very good, Foxe,’ Halloran cried in delight. ‘You have it all worked out. When will you want these people?’
‘Tonight. I feel sure the gang of thieves will be in a great hurry to take what they can before Mrs Belton’s stocktaking and the establishment of proper records brings their criminal enterprise to an end for good. The longer we wait, the greater the risk that the lady will hasten her changes and stop any chance of catching the wretches in the act.’
‘Tonight it shall be!’ Halloran exclaimed. ‘I’ll go to the guildhall at once and send the sword bearer and some of the clerks to gather as many of the aldermen together as they can. There’s another person to help you, by the way; the mayor’s official sword bearer. One of his jobs is to help the mayor execute justice by arresting wrongdoers.’
‘Make sure everyone understands that it’s imperative that word of our plans doesn’t leak out,’ Foxe said earnestly. ‘If the gang gets wind of it, we’ll be wasting our time.’
‘Tell you what, Foxe,’ the alderman said. ‘I’ll just say that you need the constables to help you follow up a fresh idea about where the mayor might be being held captive. That you’ve heard a whisper that it might be somewhere in some tumbledown sheds and buildings on the other side of the river beyond the Bishop’s Bridge. That should make the thieves believe you’ll be far away, should any word of what you’re doing leak out.’
‘Very good,’ Foxe replied. ‘You can never be sure something will be kept secret when a fair number of people have to be involved. Let’s arrange for me to meet the constables and the sword bearer at the gate into Cathedral Close. That will make the false story sound correct, while having them close enough to Belton’s yard to walk there quickly.’
‘I’ll be off to the guildhall, then,’ Halloran said.
‘And I’ll go to Tabby’s house,’ Foxe added. ‘I only hope she’s at home. But, before you go, Miss Lucy told me of two important discoveries she has made. I think you should hear them.’
‘On her own?’
‘Entirely on her own. She’s put me to shame, since one of them was right under my nose and I still missed it. I’ll leave that one for her to tell you about herself. I gather she and the rest of your family are taking tea with the bishop and his wife. As soon as they return, be prepared for a considerable surprise. I told you Miss Lucy is bright and capable and her help has been invaluable to me. Now you’ll be able to see it for yourself.’
‘What’s the other discovery she’s made?’ Halloran asked.
‘That Mrs Belton and her father have been plotting to find a way of taking control of Belton’s Worsteds away from the mayor.’
‘Have they, by God! Can’t say I blame them, but it’s still a difficult thing to do, legally.’
‘Not if the fellow is either dead or has disappeared for good.’
‘Now you really have shaken me, Foxe. Old Madley was one of the leading cloth merchants in this city in his time. Everyone looked up to him. Do you really think he would stoop to aiding kidnapping or murder, just to get rid of his daughter’s incompetent husband?’
‘I admit it’s hard to imagine, but we don’t have to go quite that far. Suppose he and his daughter were conspiring with Johnson to find enough evidence of Belton’s erratic dealings to have him declared unfit to run any business due to mental weakness? I thought at first that Johnson might have been trying to prevent his master being removed and dealt with accordingly. But that brings us back to murder by Belton’s wife and father-in-law, which seems almost incredible. If Johnson was on the other side and thought Belton really was losing his mind, it might have been Belton who attacked him in a fit of anger. Not to kill him, you understand, but simply because his fury got the better of him.’
‘I’m still struggling with how Mr Madley and his daughter hoped to remove her husband from having any say in the running of his own business,’ Halloran said. ‘If we rule out murder—which I’m sure we should—what does that leave?’
‘Let’s go back to the notion of having Belton confined as insane, if only temporarily,’ Foxe suggested. ‘Do you think Belton’s actions and decisions were erratic and irrational?’
‘Not to the extent of insanity.’
‘But the description fits nonetheless.’
‘It does. He’d start some weird idea, then lose interest and drop it. His speeches were rambling and almost impossible to follow. He also seemed to think he was all-powerful as mayor, which was a ludicrous idea from the start.’
‘If you repeated those last statements to a compliant physician, I have little doubt that he would find it easy to diagnose insanity. Then there is the added fact that Belton often refused for days or weeks to have any truck with what he called “boring administrative matters”, even though his business suffered badly as a result. He took on being mayor and tried to push through all kinds of ideas without any consultation. Blocked, he lost interest in that and rushed back to his office in a fresh fit of enthusiasm, only to lose interest again after a week or two. His wife and her father might also draw attention to his habit of wandering about talking to trees and
shrubs.’
‘What? You aren’t serious, Foxe!’
‘I am perfectly serious. I had a long discussion with Mrs Crombie the other day on business matters and was just about to leave when she called me back. It was to tell me of another piece of gossip which had reached her about the mayor but had slipped her mind earlier. Several people had told her that Belton had been seen roaming about in several of the pleasure grounds in the city, either talking loudly to himself or standing and addressing trees or bushes. I’m going to go to the Chapel Gardens as soon as I can to check the stories for myself.’
‘You’ve proved your point, Foxe. Belton’s own actions could easily be taken to suggest madness. So, what happened? Did someone else step in and murder Belton or spirit him away, before his wife and her father were ready with their plan?’
‘Maybe. But think about this. Belton disappears without warning, leaving his office of mayor and his own business in confusion. Nothing is heard from him for several weeks. Then his wife tells the world that he reappeared at his house just as suddenly, dirty, dishevelled and confused. She has consulted her father and a physician and both have agreed that her husband should be confined in a private asylum for his own protection. How would the other aldermen respond to the news?’
‘I have to say they would probably feel considerable relief at being freed from the man.’
‘Would they argue and say they were certain Belton was of sound mind?’
‘No, they would not,’ Halloran said sadly. ‘They would be surprised at first, but all would find such a story easy to believe. A few might briefly feel sorry for the man, but that would be all.’
‘I’ve met Mrs Belton several times and talked with her at length. She has never expressed the slightest concern for her husband’s safety, nor any hope that he would return speedily. Might that not be because she knows he is perfectly safe and she wants to put herself firmly in control first?’
Foxe and the Path into Darkness Page 14