Blood From a Stone
Page 28
Sir Philip laughed incredulously. ‘By George, I always thought that séance nonsense was a load of trickery, but it’s remarkable to see how simple the trick is.’
‘It really is remarkable,’ said Lady Rivers. ‘Obviously the blood on Mr Napier’s hands was a trick too, but how did that work?’
‘Again, it’s simple,’ said Jack. ‘Any boy who’s ever played with a chemistry set can make magic blood.’
Arthur smacked his hand on his thigh. ‘I know! I’ve done it! Years ago now, but I’ve done it. What are the chemicals, Jack? Potassium something or other and iron nitrate, aren’t they?’
‘That’s right,’ said Jack. ‘Potassium thiocyanate.’
‘What do you do with potassium thingy?’ asked Isabelle.
Jack held out his hands. ‘If I put potassium thiocyanate, which is colourless, on one palm and iron nitrate, which is also colourless, on the other palm and bring them together, the chemicals mix and produce what looks like deep red blood. Napier was sitting between Evie and Paxton. Evie, say, put a few drops of potassium thiocyanate on her hand and Paxton put iron nitrate on his and, when they touched Napier’s hand, the chemicals mixed and Napier looked as if he were dripping with blood. Wonderful, eh?’
‘Remarkable,’ repeated Aunt Alice.
‘I was really shaken by it,’ said Napier. ‘I’d presumed the séance was a trick but when I saw what I honestly thought was blood on my hands, I’m ashamed to say I wondered if it was a real message from a spirit in the cave, after all.’
‘You haven’t been in the cave, Dad,’ said Isabelle, sensing his scepticism. ‘It’s a lot easier to believe there really was something there, once you’d seen that ghastly altar.’
‘Real or not,’ said Napier, ‘I thought the easiest thing to do was to go along with the game. I was on my guard and hoped I could catch Evie up to no good. Once I’d got some sort of proof, I could convince Frank that Evie was a wrong’ un. All I can say is that I was taken completely unawares. Despite being, as I thought, sceptical, this awful whispering started.’ He nodded towards Isabelle. ‘You know how the altar amplified sound. I couldn’t catch the words but it felt evil.’ He shook his head. ‘You’d have to know the cave to appreciate the effect. Then, without warning, the altar became a white-hot glowing mass of flame, with that ghastly face in the middle of it. You think they used a magnesium flare, don’t you Haldean?’
‘Magnesium fits the bill, certainly.’
‘Sandy must’ve have lit the flare, then got into the cave by the tunnel under the altar. I was gazing thunderstruck at the altar when I sensed something behind me. He must’ve walloped me with a cosh and set the place on fire. And, as I’d firmly stated I was going to be in the cave all night, that should’ve been it.’
‘It should, shouldn’t it?’ agreed Jack. ‘However, when Paxton got back to the house something happened that neither he nor Evie expected.’
‘And that was?’ asked Uncle Philip.
‘Frank Leigh had stolen the sapphires,’ said Jack. ‘Evie was beside herself.’ He grinned. ‘I was standing next to Paxton when he rumbled the sapphires were false and, believe you me, he wasn’t acting.’
‘Neither was Evie,’ said Isabelle with a laugh. ‘She went up like a rocket.’
‘You can see their point of view,’ said Jack, reaching for another cigarette. ‘They’d been to a dickens of a lot of trouble to get those sapphires and they weren’t going to let them go lightly.’
‘Poor Mr Leigh,’ said Isabelle. ‘I’m just glad you were able to stop him coming to harm, Jack, even if Celia didn’t thank you for it at the time.’ She paused, putting her head to one side. ‘He will be all right, won’t he?’ she asked hesitantly.
‘Frank?’ questioned Napier. ‘He will, if I’ve got anything to do with it. I’m not going anywhere until Frank’s sorted out. I’ve already roped Celia in on this.’ He grinned. ‘Frank’s not up to making decisions at the moment but now the Breagan Bounty’s back where it belongs, Celia can have her farm and Ted Marchant and stay in England, which is what she wanted. As for Frank ... Well, once the dust has settled, we’re going to point out to him what’s blindingly obvious to everyone, and that’s Mary Hawker is perfect for him. I want to see Frank safely married.’
‘It seems a little high-handed,’ said Lady Rivers. ‘I presume Mrs Hawker has a say in it?’
‘There’s no problem there, Lady Rivers. Mary Hawker has thought Frank’s the bee’s knees for ages.’
‘You’ll like her, Aunt Alice,’ said Jack. ‘She’s a very sound, trustworthy sort of woman and devoted to Mr Leigh. She’s scrupulously honest, too. Uncomfortably so, on occasions,’ he added with a smile. ‘Celia thinks the world of her. The pair of them will be very, very happy.’
Aunt Alice beamed and picked up her sherry. ‘Now that,’ she said, ‘really is good news.’