Death at the Beggar's Opera (14 page)

‘And what then?’

John felt his impatience rise and boil over. ‘How would I know? He is the Principal Magistrate of London and can do as he pleases. But one thing is sure. If he gets you into public court you will have to answer for yourself or face a term in gaol. Now which is better, to tell me the truth in the privacy of this room or be forced to blurt it out before all the world?’

Jack Masters puffed out a perfect ring of smoke, thought a moment, then said, ‘It was Melanie Vine, if you must know.’

The Apothecary stared at him. ‘Are you referring to the actress who played Diana Trapes?’

‘Of course I am.’

‘Then why the secrecy?’

‘Because I am her clandestine passion. She is actually the mistress of Tom Bowdler, who took the role of Peachum.’

‘A strange situation.’

‘People in the theatre are all governed by their emotions And Melanie and I are no exceptions.’

‘So that is why you were so cautious! Afraid that Mr Bowdler might seek retribution.’

‘Not at all,’ answered Jack surprisingly. ‘He and I are the greatest friends in the world. No, it was just that I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.’

‘But surely you run that risk continually? He could find out the truth at any time. Aren’t you playing with fire?’

‘I suppose I am,’ the actor said with a sigh. ‘But I cannot help myself. Melanie and I are soul mates.’

‘Then why doesn’t she leave him and go to you?’

‘Oh she couldn’t do that,’ Jack answered, looking shocked. ‘It would cut Tom to the quick.’

John gave up, unable to comprehend this line of reasoning. And throughout the next couple of interviews, which were with the other two members of the tortuous triangle, felt a strong sense of embarrassment. From the somewhat stilted conversations, however, several facts emerged. Melanie Vine, unlike the other female members of the company, had never had time for Jasper Harcross, had not had an affair with him, and had actually heard a rumour that he was married.

‘From whom?’ John asked, amazed.

‘From Dick Weatherby. He mentioned it to me once when he had imbibed more than his fair share of gin.’

‘I wonder how he knew.’

‘He is the stage manager and therefore aware of everything.’

‘Oh, I see.’

Chastened, the Apothecary had delicately asked about the night before the murder and, under pressure, Mrs Vine – it appeared she had been given that title out of courtesy, for she had never been married – had admitted she had spent it in the arms of Jack Masters.

‘Though I beg you say nothing to Tom. He would be made so unhappy,’ she went on, virtually repeating her lover’s words.

‘Naturally I shall respect your confidentiality, though I must admit the entire situation is beyond my understanding.’

Melanie Vine had risen to her full height and glared down at her questioner. ‘Then I see that you know little of the world. What if you fell in love with the wife of your dearest friend? So fatally that you were drawn to consummation? Would you proceed to ram the information down his throat? Or would you behave circumspectly, as we are doing?’

‘1 really don’t know,’ the Apothecary had admitted lamely.

‘Well, then!’ said Mrs Vine triumphantly, and had swept through the door. to be met by the deceived Tom Bowdler coming the other way.

Strangely, his account of the night before the killing seemed a mass of evasions to John. It appeared that, the dress rehearsal over, Tom had gone calling on various friends, all of whom had been out. Finally, very disappointed, he had gone home and spent the rest of the night alone.

‘So there is no one who can vouch for your whereabouts?’

‘I fear not. You see, my young friend, I am a bachelor and live by myself.’

Oh dear! John had thought, and had rapidly changed the conversation to Mr Bowdler’s opinion of the murdered man. It emerged that this had not been favourable. In fact Tom had despised Jasper for his cavalier treatment of Coralie Clive and Sarah Delaney. With the talk heading rapidly towards a discussion of infidelity and having two lovers at once, the Apothecary thought it wiser to draw the meeting to a close.

‘And who shall I send in next?’ Tom asked, his round face beaming a smile.

‘Miss Coralie Clive,’ John answered, and felt a shiver of apprehension even as he said the name.

‘I’ll do what I can but it might take a few minutes.’

‘That means she’s still rehearsing.’

‘Yes. She grows in stature, that young woman. It won’t be long before she is equalling her sister Kitty.’

‘Kitty, of course,’ John muttered to himself. ‘I’d forgotten about her. So Coralie can’t be Miss Egleton after all, thank God.’

Then realising how very prejudiced in favour of Miss Clive he was becoming, he took himself to task for not having an entirely open mind about solving the mystery of Jasper Harcross. Full of good intentions, John determined to conduct the forthcoming interview with ruthless integrity, then melted completely as she came into the room, pretty as a primrose in a milkmaid’s costume, and most delightfully tremulous about the lips at the thought of the ordeal that lay before her.

‘Please don’t be nervous,’ John said, standing up and bowing.

‘Why should I be?’ she answered swiftly, then gave him a delicious smile. ‘After all, we are friends, are we not?’

The Apothecary’s heart bounded. He was rapidly coming to the conclusion that he would far rather be a lover than a mere acquaintance.

‘Of course. I told you so on the last occasion we met. Therefore, I am going to ask you very few questions, but would appreciate thoughtful answers. You have already told me how much you hated Jasper Harcross but when Samuel Swann and I came backstage to see you, you were standing in his close embrace. Further, you smiled indulgently when he stole your thunder on stage. Why was that?’

The emerald eyes were suddenly hidden by the droop of Coralie’s eyelids. ‘It will sound so petty when I tell you my reason.’

‘Pettiness is part of human behaviour.’

Her eyes opened wide again and John was treated to a sensational glitter of green. ‘You are so wise. How can you know so much at your age?’

‘Because I was trained to observe. My Master believed that the mind and the body are connected, that stresses and strains can bring about actual ailments.’

‘Well, in that case I’ll not insult you by lying. I allowed Jasper to cuddle me in order to annoy Mrs Martin who, if rumour is correct, has allowed him to walk all over her in matters of love yet still remains his friend, a situation which I find denigrates the role of women.’

‘And on stage?’

‘I know … knew … Jasper of old. He would stoop to any trick to keep the audience’s attention focused on him. If I had fought back he would only have redoubled his efforts.’

‘What a vile creature he sounds!’ John exclaimed involuntarily. ‘The only person who has a good word for him is the theatre boy.’

The guarded look that he dreaded closed Coralie’s features. ‘Yes, he was good to Will,’ she answered softly. Her expression changed again and she gave the Apothecary a cheerful smile. ‘Now, what were your other questions?’

‘I want to ask you about the so-called Mrs Harcross who visited you. I can definitely assure you that the real one is a lady of mature years, so can you possibly describe the person you saw?’

Coralie frowned. ‘Well, I did not see her all that clearly. She wore veiling over her face, an unusual fashion to say the least. Yet she seemed to me to be aged somewhere between twenty and thirty and of small build. I don’t think I can say more than that.’

‘It could not possibly have been an older woman dressed to look young?’

The actress shook her head. ‘I suppose it’s possible, though her movements and voice appeared to denote someone youthful’ Coralie’s frown deepened. ‘In fact there seemed to be something familiar about the way she conducted herself.’

‘Are you saying that she was someone you knew?’

‘No, not really. It was just that momentarily her voice triggered a memory. But the impression was transient as a butterfly. No sooner had I caught it than it was gone.’

‘Coralie,’ said John, leaning forward over the table and looking earnestly into her face, ‘I want you to do your best over the next few days to try and recall who the supposed Mrs Harcross reminded you of. It could be of enormous importance.’

She gave him an amused grin. ‘Do you realise this is the first time you have ever called me by my Christian name?’

‘I hope you will return the compliment. As you saved my life on a particular occasion, perhaps it is time we were on more friendly terms.’

‘Ummm,’ she said, but made no other reply.

‘And now to my penultimate question. I asked you once before who in your opinion had killed Mr Harcross and you flitted away from giving me an answer. So now I’ll ask you again and hope to have better luck.’

Coralie looked serious. ‘Well, anyone could have done it, particularly any female. But my money would go on the wretched wife. She seems to have had more than her fair share of grief.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘From what you’ve told me,’ she answered, and smiled sweetly. ‘Last question?’

‘Just reiterate your actions on the night of the dress rehearsal if you would.’

‘I left the theatre with everybody else. Dick was still here, cleaning up with Will. Then I walked home.’

‘Alone? At that hour of the night?’

‘There were plenty of people about. I did not fear ruffians because I had hired a linkman and we kept to the main streets.’

‘Linkmen often work in collusion with thieves, did you know that?’

‘One must trust somebody sometime,’ Coralie answered simply. She stood up. ‘Will that be all?’

‘No, I would just like to know where you live and if anybody can answer for your whereabouts once you got to your dwelling place.’

‘I live in Cecil Street, which runs down to the river from The Strand. My sister loves to be near water.’

‘The famous Kitty Clive! Was she in when you got home?’

‘No, she had gone out to have supper after the theatre. I had retired for the night by the time she came back. I did not come across her until the following morning. So no one can vouch for me, I’m afraid.’

‘I see.’ John rose to his feet. ‘Thank you for being so helpful, Miss … Coralie. Oh, one final thing. Does the name Egleton mean anything to you?’

‘Yes. Surely she was the actress who created the role of Lucy Lockit?’

‘She most certainly was – and she was also Jasper Harcross’s wife,’ the Apothecary added softly.

Coralie looked thoroughly startled. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Very. And to compound the tragedy she gave up her career and her children for him.’

‘Then more fool her,’ Miss Clive answered with spirit. ‘How any woman could make that sacrifice for a goat like Jasper cannot be credited.’

‘But you let him deceive you,’ John answered mildly, then knew he had made a mistake as soon as he had spoken. Coralie shot him a look of glittering malice and swept out of the room, head high, almost colliding with Dick Weatherby as she did so.

‘Oh dear, she’s in high dudgeon,’ he commented, grinning a little.

‘I have a genius for upsetting that young woman,’ John answered sadly.

‘Oh take no notice.’ Dick’s smile broadened. ‘There’s a lot of temperament there, I assure you.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Coralie is beautiful and talented – and well aware of both.’

‘Are you saying Miss Clive is spoilt?’

‘I think she would have been if Jasper hadn’t delivered a bitter blow to her confidence.’

‘What did you think of him?’ the Apothecary asked, changing the conversation’s direction.

‘As stage manager it is not my place to comment on the actors, though of course I do,’ Dick added on a more human note.

‘And your true opinion?’

‘I disliked the preening poppinjay, though I never showed it, you can believe me.’

John adopted a man-to-man expression. ‘Were you surprised when he was killed?’

‘I was surprised that it didn’t happen years ago.’

‘You are very forthright!’

‘There seems little point in lying.’

‘How true. Now, as you are obviously a vital witness regarding the dress rehearsal, tell me what you know of it.’

‘Well, as I have already informed Mr Fielding, it went through without a hitch. The hanging scene worked perfectly and the floor was sturdy. Then, the show done, the actors went home. It was about eleven o’clock by that time. I stayed on with Will to clean the dressing rooms and stage and left at about midnight. I hired a hackney to take me to Seven Dials, the somewhat seedy area in which I dwell.’

‘Can anyone confirm that? A wife or sweetheart?’

Dick shook his head. ‘I live alone.’

‘Ah well!’ said the Apothecary wistfully.

‘Obviously someone must have come back to the theatre in the small hours, managed to force an entry, then sawn the planking through, or almost through.’

‘Could a woman have done that?’

‘By all means. It would require little strength.’

‘How surprising that the noise did not awaken the theatre boy.’

‘He sleeps soundly, the young rogue. But then, he works long hours.’

‘Yes,’ said John, considering.

There was a tap on the door and the little seamstress, whom John had seen earlier altering Coralie’s costume upon her, put her head round the door. ‘Sorry to interrupt, Sir, but Mr Weatherby is required on the stage urgently.’

She gave an anxious smile and bobbed a curtsey and John got the impression of rather a tragic young person, who had been much put upon by life. Dick looked at the Apothecary enquiringly.

‘Will that be in order?’

‘Oh certainly. We can’t have Mr Garrick flying into a passion.’

‘Indeed not,’ Dick replied, heading briskly away. ‘If you want me for anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact me,’ he called over his retreating shoulder. ‘You know I’ll do all I can to help.’ The door closed behind him.

So that was it. Only Mrs Delaney left to see and John had spoken to everyone connected with the case. Yet he felt no nearer to solving the crime than when he had started. It seemed that Jasper Harcross, like a handsome but unpleasant spider, sat in the midst of a web of intrigue, the strands of which spread everywhere, often to quite the most unexpected places.