‘Poor chap,’ muttered Crabb.
‘A pity we didn’t have chance to speak with him before he died. Well this looks like all we can do here. It will be dark soon, and in another half hour we will have difficulty making our way down off these hills. Get the men to pick up the body and we will all make our way back to the inn,’ instructed Ravenscroft, attempting to stifle his cough with his hand.
The policemen recovered the body of the blind man, and the silent group began to make its way slowly down the sides of the hill, Ravenscroft leading the way and Crabb bringing up the rear.
Upon their return to the inn, Crabb instructed the men to place the body of the dead man into the rear of the police cart, and then transferred Gladwyn’s body to the same vehicle, before telling them to set off for Malvern and the mortuary with their load. Ravenscroft thanked the landlord for the loan of his men, before he and Crabb climbed into Gladwyn’s trap.
‘I think that is all we can do today Crabb. It will be dark before we get back to Malvern. If you could drop me off at the Tudor on the way, I would be obliged to you,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘If you don’t mind my saying so, you look quite terrible. I should see Doctor Mountcourt when you get in,’ said Crabb looking at his superior with a degree of concern.
‘I’ll be alright, once I’ve got out of these wet clothes and had a good night’s rest. I’ll see you at nine tomorrow. It’s been a long day Crabb, a very long day.’
Upon returning to the Tudor, Ravenscroft instructed Stebbins that on no account was he to be disturbed until the morning. He removed his damp clothes, put on his night attire and was relieved to find his aching body sinking into the comfort of a warm, dry bed. Within a few minutes he began to feel himself drifting off into a deep sleep.
He slept badly. At first he thought he saw again the figure of the blind man mocking him from the summit of the Raggedstone, then the hill seemed to fall in on him, and he felt himself suffocating in the damp cold earth as it engulfed him. A range of faces now thrust themselves before him — and he saw the bearded features of Armitage, laughing at him for his failure to catch him, — then the crooked smile, snarling leer and scar on Troutbridge’s face as he let go of his howling dogs, — then the stern features of Doctor Mountcourt and his attendant pushing him under the swirling waters in a large bath, — before the scene gave way to Clifford peering and smiling over his maps and tearing a newspaper into tiny pieces which he flung into the air, — and finally Touchmore nodding his head from side to side, pushing his way through piles of ledgers covered in ancient cobwebs, before thrusting him forwards towards an open grave. As he fell into the grave, he saw again the bloody faces of Pitzer, Sommersby and Gladwyn staring up at him, beckoning him to join them. He struggled to climb out of the grave as they clung onto his legs. He lashed out with his feet as he heard the sound of their laughter, until he suddenly broke free. Now he found himself falling into an icy river and his body shaking with the intense cold. He desperately wanted to cry out, and let someone come to his aid, but he found himself strangely unable to do so, and he knew then that there was no one there to save him. Then he seemed to be entering a dark tunnel, which appeared to have no end; his whole body began to burn intensely, and a feeling of helpless rejection came over him as he knew that he was nearing the end. But then a bright light began to shine dimly before him, and he saw the dark veil of his lady come into view. Feelings of relief swept over his body, but as he reached out to pull back the veil, the light faded and with it all hope of salvation.
The terrible journey seemed to have no end. Then he saw suddenly again the smart little cottage in Ledbury, and he was overcome with a great longing to enter its door and find there the relief and calm which he now so desperately needed, and for which he had always yearned, but before he could make his way up the path, between the rows of flowers, the scene began to fade, and the harder he struggled to reach the door, the further away it slipped from his view. Then a strange warm glow seemed to wash over him, and he saw again the intimate, bright room in Crabb’s cottage, from where there was food, warmth, and the laughter and joy of children — and he knew that his long journey had come to its end.
‘Now then, Mister Ravenscroft, just you take it easy now.’
He looked up at the smiling features of Jennie Crabb.
‘Where — ’, he began.
‘It’s alright now sir. You’ll be fine,’ said the voice of Crabb.
‘Have I been ill?’ Ravenscroft enquired, in a voice barely audible.
‘More than ill sir, you was quite despaired of,’ said Jennie wiping his brow with a cool flannel.
‘How long have I been ill for?’ asked Ravenscroft attempting to raise himself up from the bed.
‘Best part of two days sir. We thought something was up, when you didn’t appear yesterday morning, so I persuaded young Stebbins to let me in here,’ said Crabb.
‘Now just you lie back there sir,’ said Jennie gently pushing the sick man down onto the bed.
‘And you have taken care of me since then?’
Crabb and his wife smiled. ‘Least we could do sir.’
‘Then you are good, true friends.’
‘Now sir don’t you go embarrassing me all again,’ said Jennie blushing. ‘Here’s some beef gruel I’ve prepared for you. Try and drink some of this, Mister Ravenscroft.’
‘Have you up on your feet, in no time, will my Jennie’s beef gruel,’ said Crabb proudly.
Ravenscroft sipped the liquid and then lay back on the bed.
‘Now you have a nice quiet sleep Mr. Ravenscroft,’ said Jennie. ‘Sleep will do you a power of good. We’ll drop by later and see how you are.’
‘Yes. You are quite right. Sleep,’ said Ravenscroft closing his eyes.
Within a minute or two he had fallen asleep, but this time he felt only warmth and reassurance, as his body became relaxed, and his thoughts became at peace with the world.
When he awoke again, he found the room empty, and warm sunlight pouring in through the windows. He eased himself upwards and reached for a glass of water that had been left by his bedside. As the liquid ran down his throat, he felt a strange feeling of contentment come over him, as if he had just been on a long journey and had reached his destination, unscathed and fulfilled.
The door opened and Crabb walked in. ‘Glad to see you looking a lot better sir,’ he said in his usual happy, optimistic way.
‘I feel a lot better Crabb. What on earth has happened to me?’ he inquired taking another sip of the water.
‘You must have caught a fever or a chill of some kind, being out on those hills, in all those wet clothes for so long. I’ve had Stebbins dry them all off, and had them pressed so they are fit to wear again sir.’
‘Thank you Crabb, you have thought of everything. I think my condition was probably bought on more by Doctor Mountcourt’s prescribed hot and cold baths, rather than being caught out in the rain near the Hollybush! But thank your good wife for looking after me. I will always be in your debt.’
‘No problem sir. To tell you the truth, my Jennie likes caring for those who are sick and less fortunate than herself, and welcomed the opportunity to do so.’
‘You are a fortunate man indeed Crabb, to have such a wife.’
‘I know sir, and I thank the Lord for it.’
‘Tell me what has happened regarding the case during my illness?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘Well sir. Both Doctor Gladwyn and that Penny fellow have been taken to the mortuary. We have received a letter from no less a person than the Superintendent in Worcester, congratulating us on catching the villain who caused all these outrages, even if he is dead, and in fact several prominent people have called into the station to thank us for all our work in catching such a murderous fellow. Sorry sir, I can see that you are still tired. Why don’t I get Stebbins to bring you something to eat, and I’ll call by at ten in the morning.’