COOPER'S SPINNEY
Not till the Friday following was the dead body discovered. And then in
somewhat singular fashion.
A young gamekeeper was strolling through the forest with his dog. The
dog, a puppy, strayed from his side. He did not notice that it had done
so till he heard it barking. When he whistled it came running up to him
with something in its mouth--a brown billycock hat. The creature was in
a state of excitement. On his taking the hat from it, it ran back in
the direction it had come, barking as it went. Puzzled by its
behaviour, curious as to how it had found the hat, he followed to where
the dead man lay beneath the beech tree.
He thought at first that it was some stranger who, having trespassed
and lighted on a piece of open ground, had taken advantage of the
springy turf to enjoy a nap. It was only after he had called to him
three times, and, in spite, also, of the dog's persistent barking, had
received no answer, that he proceeded to examine more closely into the
matter. Then he saw not only that the man was dead, but that his
clothing was stiff with coagulated blood. There had been a violent
thunderstorm the night before. The rain had evidently come drenching
down on the silent sleeper, but it had not washed out that blood.
Clarke was a country bumpkin, only just turned eighteen. When it began
to break on his rustic intelligence that, in all probability, he was
looking down on the victim of some hideous tragedy, he was startled out
of his very few wits. He had not the faintest notion what he ought to
do. He only remembered that the great house was the nearest human
habitation. When he had regained sufficient control of his senses, he
ran blindly off to it. A footman, seeing him come staggering up the
steps which led to the main entrance, came out to inquire what he meant
by such a glaring breach of etiquette.
"What are you doing here? This isn't the place for you. Go round to the
proper door. What's the matter with you? Do you hear, what's up?"
"There--there's a man in Cooper's Spinney!"
"Well! what of it? That's none of our business."
"He's--he's dead."
"Dead? Who's dead? What do you mean?"
The hobbledehoy broke into a fit of blubbering.
"They've--they've killed him," he blubbered.
"Killed him? Who's killed him? What are you talking about? Stop that
noise. Can't you talk sense?"
Day, the butler, crossing the hall, came out to see what was the cause
of the to-do. At any moment people might call. They would please to
find this senseless gawk boohooing like a young bull calf. Day and the
footman between them tried to make head or tail of the fellow's
blundering story. While they were doing so Mrs Plummer appeared in the
doorway.
"Day, what is the matter here? What is the meaning of this
disturbance?"
"I can't quite make out, but from what this young man says it appears
that he's seen someone lying dead in Cooper's Spinney. So far as I can
understand the young man seems to think that he's been murdered."
Mrs Plummer started back, trembling so violently that she leaned
against the wall, as if in want of its support.
"Murdered? He's not been murdered! It's a lie!"
Day, after one glance at her, seemed to avoid looking in her direction.
"As to that, madam, I can say nothing. The young man doesn't seem to be
too clear-headed. I will send someone at once and have inquiries made."
Shortly it was known to all the house that young Clarke's story was not
a lie. A horse was put into a trap, the news was conveyed to the
village, the one policeman brought upon the scene. When Miss Arnott
returned with her motor it was easy enough for her to see that at last
the air was stirred.
"Has anything happened?" she inquired of the footman who came to
superintend her descent from the motor.
"I am afraid there has--something very unpleasant."
"Unpleasant! How?"
"It appears that a man has been found dead in Cooper's
Spinney--murdered, cut to pieces, they do say.
"In Cooper's Spinney? Cut to pieces?" She paused, as if to reflect.
"Did you say cut to pieces? Surely there's some mistake."
"I only know what they say, miss. Granger's up there now."
"Granger?"
"The policeman, miss. Now I'm told they've sent for a doctor."
A second footman handed her an envelope as she entered the hall. She
saw that "Oak Dene" was impressed in scarlet letters on the flap.
"When did this come?"
"One of Mr Morice's grooms brought it soon after you went out."
She tore the envelope open, and there and then read the note which it
contained. It had no preamble, it simply ran,--
"Why have you not acted on my suggestion and gone back to Lake Como or
farther?
"At any moment it may be too late! Don't you understand?
"When I think of what may be the consequences of delay I feel as if I
were going mad. I shall go mad if you don't go. I don't believe that I
have slept an hour since.
"Do as I tell you--go! H. M."
Then at the bottom two words were added,--
"Burn this."
As she was reading it a second time Mrs Plummer came into the hall,
white and shaky.
"Have you heard the dreadful news?"
She asked the question in a kind of divided gasp, as if she were short
of breath. Miss Arnott did not answer for a moment. She fixed her
glance on the elder lady, as if she were looking not at, but through
her. Then she put a question in return.
"Where is Cooper's Spinney?"
Had the girl hauled at her a volley of objurgations Mrs Plummer could
not have seemed more distressed.
"Cooper's Spinney!" she exclaimed. "Why do you ask me? How should I
know?"
Without stopping for anything further Miss Arnott went up to her
bedroom. There she found Evans, waiting to relieve her of her motoring
attire. As she performed her accustomed offices her mistress became
aware that her hands were trembling.
"What's the matter with you? Aren't you well?"
The woman seemed to be shaking like a leaf, and to be only capable of
stammering,--
"I--I don't think, miss, I--I can be well. I--I think that dreadful
news has upset me."
"Dreadful news? Oh, I see. By the way, where is Cooper's Spinney?"
"I haven't a notion, miss. I--I only know just about the house."
Miss Arnott put another question as she was leaving the room.
"Has nothing been heard yet of the key of that wardrobe drawer?"
"No, miss, nothing. And, miss--I beg your pardon--but if you want to
break it open, you can do it easily, or I will for you; and, if you'll
excuse my taking a liberty, if those clothes are in it, I'll wash them
for you, and no one shall ever know."
Miss Arnott stared at the speaker in unmistakable surprise.
"It's very good of you. But I don't think I need trouble you to step so
far out of the course of your ordinary duties." When she was in her
sitting-room she said to herself, "She will wash them for me? What does
the woman mean? And what does he mean by writing to me in such a
strain?" She referred to Mr Morice's note which she had in her hand.
"'Do as I tell you--go.' Why should I go? and how dare he issue his
commands to me, as if it were mine merely to obey. Plainly this was
written before the news reached Oak Dene; when he hears it, it is
possible that he may not stand upon the order of his going, but go at
once. I'll answer him. He shall have his reply before he goes, unless
his haste's too great. Then, perhaps, he will understand."
On the back leaf of the note signed "H. M." she scribbled.
"Is not the advice you offer me better suited to yourself? Why should I
go? It seems to me that it is you who do not understand. Have you heard
the news? Possibly understanding will come with it. You do not appear
to recognise what kind of person I really am. Believe me, I am to be
trusted. But am I the only factor to be reckoned with?
"Had you not better swallow your own prescription? V. A."
She hesitated before adding the initials, since he knew that they were
not actually hers. Then, putting her answer, still attached to his
note, into an envelope, she gave instructions that a messenger should
ride over with it at once. While she was hesitating whether to go down
and learn if any fresh development had occurred, there came a tapping
at her sitting-room door. Day entered. To him she promptly put the
question she had addressed to others.
"Oh, Day, perhaps you will be able to tell me where is Cooper's
Spinney?"
He looked at her until he saw that she was looking at him, then his
glance fell.
"Cooper's Spinney is right away to the east, where our land joins Oak
Dene. I don't know how it gets its name. It's pretty open there. In one
part there's a big beech tree. It was under the tree the--the body was
found."
"Thank you, Day. I think I know where you mean." Again the butler's
glance rose and fell. Perceiving that he seemed to be at a loss for
words she went on. "Is there anything you wish to speak to me about?"
"Yes, Miss Arnott, I'm sorry to say there is. I've come to give you
notice."
"To give me notice?"
"Yes, miss, with your permission. I've been in service all my life,
good service. I've been in this house a good many years. I've saved a
little money. If I'm ever to get any enjoyment out of it, and I've my
own ideas, it seems to me that I'd better start doing it. I should like
to leave to-day."
"To-day?"
"Yes, miss, to-day. There isn't much to do in the house just now, and
there's plenty of people to do it. Bevan's quite capable of taking my
place till you get someone else to fill it. Your convenience won't
suffer."
"But isn't this a very sudden resolution? What has caused you to arrive
at it?"
Day still kept his glance turned down, as if searching for an answer on
the carpet. It was apparently only a lame one which he found.
"I'm in an awkward situation, Miss Arnott. I don't want to say anything
which can be misconstrued. So much is that my feeling that I thought of
going away without saying a word."
"That would not have been nice conduct on your part."
"No, miss; that's what I felt, so I came."
"Come, Day, what is it you are stammering about? Something
extraordinary must have happened to make you wish to leave at a
moment's notice after your long service. Don't be afraid of
misconstruction. What is it, please?"
The man's tone, without being in the least uncivil, became a trifle
dogged.
"Well, miss, the truth is, I'm not comfortable in my mind."
"About what?"
"I don't want to be, if I may say so, dragged into this business."
"What business?"
"Of the body they've found in Cooper's Spinney."
"Day, what are you talking about? What possible connection can that
have with you?"
"Miss Arnott, I understand that Dr Radcliffe says that that man has
been lying dead under that beech tree for at least four or five days.
That takes us back to Saturday, the day that you came home. In these
sort of things you never know what the police may take it into their
heads to do. I do not want to run the risk of being called as a witness
at the inquest or--anywhere else, and--asked questions about last
Saturday."
Then the man looked his mistress straight in the face, and she
understood--or thought she did.
"What you have said, Day, settles the question. Under no circumstances
will I permit you to leave my service--or this house--until the matter
to which you refer has been finally settled. So resolved am I upon that
point that, if I have any further reason to suspect you of any
intention of doing so, I shall myself communicate with the police at
once. Understand that clearly."