An ungodly man diggeth up evil; and in his lips
there is as a burning fire.
Yet gleaming grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree,
two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough,
four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof.
All these were of costly stones, according to the
measures of hewed stones.
The fining pit is for silver, and the furnace for gold;
but the Lord trieth the hearts.
I shook my head.
"This still means nothing to me, Pons."
"Simply because you are not using your God-given faculties, Parker. Kindly reach down that same Bible from the shelf there."
I crossed over to fetch it, Pons opening the heavy volume.
"Just check St. Mark, if you would be so good."
I did as he suggested. I looked up again, conscious of the
ironical expression of his eyes.
"Why, Pons, this verse does not match at all."
"Exactly, Parker. Which is why I directed your attention to that excellent novel, Moonfleet. There the author uses a similar device to indicate hidden valuables. The thing is the simplest of codes."
I looked at the verses again.
"You mean there is another book with the correct verses?"
Solar Pons shook his head.
"No, no. The nonexistent verses merely indicate the word order. Do not underline the verses there, for I have another use for that paper, but indicate them on a separate sheet. What does that give you?"
I jotted down the words with mounting excitement. I now read: TEMPLE CHILDREN DIGGETH UP THREE TOP FIVE OUTMOST STONES SILVER GOLD.
"Good heavens, Pons! I see what you mean. It is a cipher."
"It was obvious, Parker. No Rector would have written such corrupt textual references. Therefore the material in the Bible had not been written by him. I saw at once that `temple' could refer to the church. When we visited the building earlier today I at once noted the statue of the Darnley children. From there it was child's play. The message referred to the three top paving stones by the statue, and then the five outmost from that, which brought us to the vault slab of the Cresswell family."
"Brilliant, Pons."
"Elementary, my dear Parker. We still have only half the puzzle. It now follows that the gold and silver for which one was invited metaphorically to dig was stolen. It is equally evident that the sinister, bearded man of Miss Stuart's encounters is searching for this booty. But who left the message in the Bible and why, and whether he is connected with the searcher, is another matter. I have my own ideas on that but they must just wait until we have firmer data."
I gazed at Pons open-mouthed.
"You knew all that before ever we went to the church today, Pons?"
"It was reasonably self-evident, Parker."
Solar Pons sat drawing on his pipe in the heavy silence which followed. The house was quiet except for the faint creaking of timbers and I was absorbed in my own thoughts. Solar Pons rose at length and looked at the clock.
"A brief nightcap, I think, Parker. Things will be clearer in the morning, when I must devise some method to bring our man to us. In the meantime, if you would be kind enough to help me get these things to my room, the sooner they are under lock and key the better."
We breakfasted early the following morning, the brilliant sunlight streaming in through the open windows. The country air was increasing my appetite and I ate a hearty meal. Pons was silent as we sat drinking our coffee, his deep-set eyes apparently fixed on the tower of the church through the trees. Our hostess sat watching us intently. Eventually she broke the silence.
"You have come to some conclusions, Mr. Pons?"
"I have indeed, Miss Stuart. And I must ask for your full cooperation."
"Anything you say, Mr. Pons."
Solar Pons smiled thinly.
"It may sound a little peculiar to you, Miss Stuart, but it is, I think, the only way to bring the intruder who is haunting this house out into the open. What is the evening paper for this area? One that would certainly be read by the local inhabitants?"
"Apart from the national evening newspapers, Mr. Pons, there is only the Surrey Observer. Their nearest office is in Godalming."
"Excellent, Miss Stuart. Perhaps we could hire a car in the village?"
"The local taxi man is reliable, Mr. Pons. As you know he is to be found at the railway station most days."
Our client's eyes were fixed upon my companion's face with great intensity.
"What is your plan, Mr. Pons?"
Solar Pons had taken an envelope from his pocket and was scribbling something on the back of it with great vigor.
"I wish to insert the following advertisement in the Observer, Miss Stuart. Would I be in time for this evening's edition?"
"You would if the advertisement is at the office by midday, Mr. Pons. That would be early enough for the edition which is out by six o'clock. We get it locally a little after that, as our newsagent collects it from the train."
"I see. It is a great impertinence, Miss Stuart, but I wish to insert the following announcement. I would be glad of your cooperation."
Miss Stuart glanced at the paper Pons handed her and gave a start of surprise.
"It is extraordinary, Mr. Pons. I am in complete agreement, of course, but I do not know what Mother would say."
Solar Pons chuckled.
"She is away, fortunately, my dear young lady. Let us just get Parker's opinion."
Miss Stuart handed the envelope to me and I read Pons' announcement with increasing bewilderment. It was headed RARE BOOKS and ran: CLERGYMAN'S LIBRARY for sale. Rare, ecclesiastical and other books at reasonable prices. View any time without appointment. Stuart, The Old Rectory, Grassington, Surrey.
I looked up at my companion.
"Extraordinary, Pons."
"Is it not, Parker. Yet I feel this might be just the item to tempt our friend."
Miss Stuart's eyes were sparkling.
"You think the man who broke in might read this and visit here openly in the guise of a rare book dealer or purchaser?"
"Exactly, Miss Stuart. I must force his hand. He must be desperate by this time and will probably grasp at what he Would consider a golden opportunity. We cannot just sit here for the next few weeks hoping he might attempt to break in again."
"Of course not, Mr. Pons. You certainly have my permission."
"Thank you, Miss Stuart. I would like you and your housekeeper to remain here all the time, of course, and Parker will be on hand. You must explain that no list has been prepared and let people browse around the study shelves as they wish. Most will be genuine bibliophiles, so you need fear no attempts at pilfering."
"But suppose someone steals that Bible, Pons?" I asked.
"That is exactly what I wish them to do, Parker," said Solar Pons. "And to that purpose I shall replace that slip of paper exactly as you found it just as soon as we have finshed breakfast. I must also consult the bound files when we visit the newspaper office. They would have records there, Miss Stuart?"
"Certainly, Mr. Pons. It is a large office."
"Excellent."
Solar Pons glanced at his watch.
"We have much to do this morning, Parker. I would be obliged if you would arrange for a taxi to take us to Godalming. In the meantime I must ring Bancroft at the Foreign Office. And Jamison also."
"What on earth for, Pons?"
Solar Pons smiled enigmatically.