I frowned.
“You mean the message in that little spool was intended to be picked up by somebody and went astray?”
“Of course, Parker!”
Solar Pons slapped his thigh with his right hand, making a cracking sound like a miniature pistol-shot.
“It is palpably plain. Unless I miss my guess the drama we have seen in part played out in the Cathedral and the Dean’s story are interconnected. It should not take too long to unravel the loose ends providing we take things in sequence and tread carefully.”
“What do you suggest, Pons?”
“After I have taken Superintendent Heathfield into our full confidence we must invent something that will bring events to a climax. We shall need the Dean’s co-operation as I shall require darkness for what I have in mind. We can only do this at night or they will be on to us, which means a door must be conveniently left open.”
Superintendent Heathfield had a frown on his face now.
“I hesitate to appear over-inquisitive, gentlemen, but I would be grateful for a little light myself in this matter.”
Solar Pons smiled disarmingly.
“By all means, Superintendent. If you would just order another round of drinks, Parker, I will put our friend in possession of the facts.”
8
“But why are we going to the Cathedral, Pons?” I said.
My companion frowned.
“I have a little errand to take care of, Parker.”
We were threading the crowded streets of Norwich in the late afternoon sunshine of the following day. Pons had been moody and taciturn following our conversation with Heathfield the previous night and had spent a good deal of time keeping Koch and his female companion under discreet observation. He had been busy in the writing room of the hotel earlier in the afternoon and when he joined me for tea had been a little more communicative.
We had walked by the riverside for a little while and now, as we made our way toward the towering pile of the Cathedral, he became almost expansive.
“Let us just put our thoughts in order, Parker. Give me the benefit of your observations on this little problem.”
I fingered the fly-tying device in my pocket thoughtfully.
“I am beginning to see some light, Pons. But the whole thing seems bizarre. The Canon’s fright in the crypt and the hand coming out of the tomb; the Head Verger’s thumb dripping blood; the two rough men; the couple we saw; the coded messages. Some of it makes sense viewed separately but frankly I find the whole thing a fantastic jumble.”
“That is because you are not looking at the complete pattern, Parker.”
Solar Pons blew out a lazy trail of blue smoke over his shoulder.
“But why the Cathedral, Pons. So public…”
My companion smiled.
“Exactly, my dear fellow. A great public building is the perfect place of concealment. Hidden amongst the crowd, as it were.”
He frowned up at the magnificent facade of the church as we advanced across the forecourt in the mellow light of early evening.
“A dead letter drop. It could not be more convenient.” “But what do you propose to do now, Pons?”
“Why, deliver my own message, of course, Parker.”
I looked at him in astonishment.
“For what purpose?”
“Why, to arrange a rendezvous for tonight. Only we will keep the appointment as well.”
I felt my irritation rising but bottled it back.
“As well as whom?”
“In addition to those expected, Parker. I think midnight would be ideal. It is traditionally the witching hour, is it not?”
“I give up, Pons,” I said, as we walked down the shadowy aisle, through bars of dusty sunlight that fell as if sub-aqueous through the stained glass windows.
“I trust that all will be made clear soon,” said my companion as he led the way cautiously forward, turning toward the dark recess that was the Montresor Chapel. The pompous form of Mr Miggs was hurrying toward us and at Pons’ suggestion he waited until the last visitor had left the chapel and then himself closed the wrought iron gates behind us and stood on guard until we had concluded our business.
Pons looked round carefully and then went casually forward into the area of the confessional box. He placed something into the ancient stone bowl and then rejoined me. A few seconds later Mr Miggs had noiselessly re-opened the gates and followed us down the aisle. Pons turned to the little man and put his hand to his lips.
“Absolute discretion, Mr Miggs. Do not go near the Montresor Chapel again this evening.”
Miggs looked puzzled and disappointed.
“I do not understand, Mr Pons.”
“No matter. It is for your own good. Now, if you would be so kind as to let him know, I should like a word with Canon Stacey.”
“I believe he is in his garden, Mr Pons. He keeps bees.” “That will do well enough. Kindly tell him that we shall attend him there within a few minutes.”
Mr Miggs bustled off and Solar Pons looked thoughtfully after him. I glanced around the massive stone columns.
“You are sure we have not been seen going into the chapel, Pons?”
“As sure as one can be of anything in this life, Parker.
“I asked Miggs to make certain we were not disturbed but he immediately drew attention to our visiting the chapel by closing the gates. An over-officious little man but one whose heart is in the right place. However, the men we seek are undoubtedly well off the tourist track and Koch and the girl are out on the river this afternoon. They have hired a motorboat from Norwich Yacht Station.”
I looked at my companion in surprise.
“How do you know that, Pons?”
My companion pulled thoughtfully at the lobe of his right ear.
“Because I have made it my business to know, Parker. I followed Koch when he left the hotel after lunch. He went straight over the bridge near the railway station and booked a powerful launch at the Yacht Station office there.”
“Indeed, Pons. For what purpose?”
“That remains to be seen, Parker. But it would be an unobtrusive way of getting those two men away from here. There are two hundred miles of Broads in which they could lose themselves.”
“I see you have given this a lot of thought, Pons.”
“Have you ever known a time when I have not, Parker?” “How do you know they have not left already?”
Solar Pons shook his head.
“Simple observation, Parker. Those two are still quarrelling and on edge. If they had achieved their objective they would have quietly left before now.”
“But why are they out on the Broads this afternoon, Pons?”
Solar Pons clicked his teeth in a deprecatory manner.
“Simply in order to learn the controls of the boat, Parker. Like most people who come for a Broadland holiday they have little knowledge of sailing or motor-boats. When I left this afternoon the man from the Yacht Station had detailed his assistant to teach them the controls. The last I saw of them they were heading down river toward Brundall. It is my guess they may make for Breydon Water before turning back so that has given us a few hours.”
He consulted his watch and said nothing further until we had gained Canon Stacey’s garden, where Mr Miggs was again waiting by a side-gate in the Close to conduct us to his superior.
As Miggs had indicated, the Canon was indeed among his bees and as Pons appeared to be as impervious to those insects as to those of a criminous nature I stood some way off among the apple trees and admired the beauties of the garden until my friend had finished. The two men had an amiable conversation for about two minutes, the churchman in his bonnet and veil while Pons stood, a lean and imperturbable figure, among a cloud of buzzing insects. Mr Miggs, a slightly comic sight, stood halfway between myself and the two men by the beehives.