The Royal Ghost

by Linda Stratmann

  Hamid shook his head, wonderingly. ‘An astute man indeed. It amazes me what the legal mind can make of these things. How glad I am that my father put me in for medicine and not the law.’

  ‘I imagine that fraudulent mediumship in general terms is very hard to prove in court without palpable evidence, and the only spiritualistic fraud relevant to this trial is the one practised on Miss Whinstone when only she and Miss Eustace were present. That is why character witnesses are being sought. I can live better with myself if I do not sign a paper for Mr Hope but he strikes me as a man who will not go away if I refuse.’

  ‘No indeed.’ Dr Hamid drank deeply of the mineral water. ‘In that connection, there is another matter I should tell you about. During the course of my conversation with Mr Hope he evinced a general curiosity about scoliosis. He asked me if I was an expert in the condition and I said I had devoted a great deal of my adult life to its study and treatment. He then went on to ask, since he understood that there were nerves in the spine, whether the condition affected the brain. This is a question I have been asked before, since there are many who believe that the outer presentation of the body is an indication of mental capacity or character. I assured him that those who suffer from scoliosis do not as a result suffer from any mental incapacity. He said he was pleased to hear it, although I have to say I sensed from his manner that he was not. He then asked if such conditions could lead to other complaints such as nervousness or hysteria, or whether persons with scoliosis might be unusually credulous or suggestible. I could see where these questions were tending, so I asked him why he wanted to know and he just brushed it aside and said it was only his curiosity. I told him that as a general principle, my observation of the many patients I have treated suggests that there is no relationship whatsoever between scoliosis and mental affliction or weakness of any kind. As you may imagine, the line of questioning made me feel extremely uncomfortable and it was transparently obvious that he was looking for some way of attacking your view if you did not comply with his wishes.’

  Mina was reminded of the doctors who had been consulted when her condition first became apparent, particularly those who had blamed it on the way she habitually stood or walked, or carried things, and refused to accept any denial that upset their favoured theories. Now she had a new battle on her hands. ‘I am sure he could easily find doctors who would support his assumptions. One only has to look at the way experts called upon to give evidence at trials can hold completely opposing opinions, when logically one might suppose they ought to agree. I can see that I shall have to be very careful. Your warning is much appreciated. And on the subject of trials, there has been a recent development concerning the book we discussed, An Encounter. Since Mr Hope is a champion of this volume and its authors, any doubts about it or the Misses Bland may provide us with a means of opposing him. I trust you will treat this information as confidential?’

  ‘Of course.’

  Mina told him of the allegation of plagiarism. He received the news with surprise and not a little pleasure. ‘This is far from being determined,’ she added cautiously, ‘but I wonder what the consequences might be if it was proved?’

  ‘They could be very serious. It is not a criminal offence but it can give rise to substantial damages. Some accused might wish to preserve their reputations by settling the matter out of court by a payment of compensation, but if they decided to refute the charge it would be necessary to take it further. I do recall reading in the newspapers of a case of that sort not so long ago, a work on anthropology I believe. No one has a monopoly on facts but neither does anyone have the right to take another’s work and publish it as his own.’

  Although all of Mina’s work was original, she found the question quite interesting. ‘To trouble the law would it have to be the whole of the work that has been copied, or just a portion?’

  ‘Not necessarily the whole, but a material part. If the plaintiff was to succeed, then an order would be made to prevent any future publication of the offending work.’

  ‘But what of the copies previously sold? The culprit would already have profited from them.’

  Dr Hamid searched his memory. ‘As I recall in that case, the defendant was ordered to pay the plaintiff damages calculated as all the profits made from the sale of the pirated publication as if they had been sales of the plaintiff’s original work. He also had to pay all the legal costs. I would not be surprised if the costs in that instance far exceeded any damages, and the plaintiff had mainly to be satisfied with protecting his honour.’

  ‘But that would probably not be so in the case of An Encounter. Who knows how many copies have been sold?’

  ‘Sadly, I think a great many. The last time we spoke of this I had hoped that the book would be a foolish fashion, soon gone, but I have been making a few discreet enquiries and also listening more carefully to what my acquaintances and patients have told me and now I fear that may not be the case. The book has been mentioned quite recently in The Times editorial column, admittedly in a satirical vein, but that would never stop people from purchasing it, rather the reverse. And I am told that the popular weekly magazines have actually published reviews, while there are engravings of quite a fanciful nature in the illustrated periodicals. It has even been the subject of a cartoon in Punch. I don’t know what the profits on sales might be but the plaintiff might well think them worth having and the defendant would be loath to hand them over.’

  ‘So as I understand it, this legal action is less a matter of literary pique than money. I am not sure which excites more passion. I suppose that must depend on the individual.’

  ‘Miss Scarletti,’ said Dr Hamid, leaning forward on his desk with an intense and serious stare, ‘I know that you think of the needs of others before your own, but for once, I beg you to think of yourself. You are being blackmailed into making a declaration that will be used to support a criminal by someone who is prepared to attack you personally if you do not comply. You have warned Miss Whinstone of her danger and now I must warn you. Do not keep this to yourself. You must seek legal advice.’

  ‘I agree I must,’ said Mina reluctantly. ‘And I know the very man. I shall consult young Mr Phipps.’

  An exchange of letters secured for Mina a meeting on the following morning with Mr Ronald Phipps. He was a junior member of a prominent firm of Brighton solicitors, Phipps, Laidlaw and Phipps, although since he was not yet deemed ready for a partnership he was not one of the aforementioned Phippses, who were respectively his uncle and cousin.

  He was, as always, meticulously groomed in a manner that must have cost him both considerable time and effort. He doubtless enjoyed a healthy cold bath every morning, wherein he scoured himself to pinkness. He had a chilly stare and formal manner, which could edge from unfriendly tolerance to mildly hostile depending on the matter in hand. Nevertheless, he had proved to be an excellent ally, having been instrumental in providing the information that had led to the arrest of Miss Eustace and her associates for the fraud committed on Miss Whinstone. As a result, he and Mina regarded each other with respect, and he had let it be known that his office door would always be open to her if she ever needed his assistance again.

  As Mina described her interviews with Arthur Wallace Hope and the enquiries he had been making about her, Mr Phipps’ expression, beginning with a frown of concern, soon developed into alarm, to be followed by frank distaste. He clasped his hands together and gave the question some very solemn thought. ‘I am sorry to say this, but you have made an extremely dangerous enemy. I do not think Mr Hope is a wicked man, but he is single-minded and determined. He has influence, wealth and respect. If you challenge him directly you cannot win. What you have already done – asked for more time to make your decision – was wise, but he will not wait long, especially in view of the impending trial. Mr Hope can and will destroy those in his path, believing it is the right thing to do for his higher purpose. He will sacrifice any man, or woman if need be, in order, as he sees it, to save mank
ind.’

  Young Mr Phipps licked his lips nervously and there was a small flicker of fear in his eyes. Mina knew that it was rumoured that he was not, as was generally said, the nephew of her mother’s friend, Mrs Phipps, a lady of advanced years he escorted to many a social gathering. The lady’s late husband was so long deceased that no one could recall him, and gossips liked to believe that he had never existed, Mr Ronald being more closely related to the venerable lady than he liked to say. Mina neither knew nor cared if this was the case, but a man like Arthur Wallace Hope had the ability to find out such secrets and no hesitation in making use of them. For a young solicitor aspiring to add a third ‘Phipps’ to the firm’s title, this threat was of some moment. It was unlikely that Hope would discover that Mina was the author of a series of ghost stories under a nom de plume, a fact of which he would undoubtedly make much capital, and which would greatly shock her mother, but even if he did, Mina thought she could ride out that particular storm.

  ‘What is your advice?’

  ‘He will undoubtedly approach you again, but this time you should not speak to him without a witness, preferably myself. I will make such enquiries as I can and seek advice from the senior partners. Sign nothing – but then I hardly need to tell you that.’ A faint glimmer of a smile played briefly about one side of his mouth and was hastily dismissed. ‘If Mr Hope wishes to prove you weak and foolish he will have a hard time of it.’

  ‘Mr Hope may have his own weakness. He has publicly expressed his belief in the Misses Bland and their sensational story, but recently when visiting the Pavilion I overheard a lady say that the ghost had walked before and I could not help wondering if An Encounter was simply copied from another lady’s experience. Do you know if that is so?’

  ‘I do not,’ said Mr Phipps, with narrowed eyes, ‘but I should very much like to.’

  Seventeen

  When Mina returned home, she found the Scarletti household pervaded by a flutter of breathless excitement. The only exception to the general jubilation was Rose, who could see additional work looming before her like a persistent spectre. She did not fear it but viewed it with unspoken bad grace.

  The reason for the excitement was a letter Louisa had received from Arthur Wallace Hope. This was no ordinary formal polite missive, expressing how honoured he was to have met the Scarletti family – it did that, of course, in what Louisa declared with a blush to be the most beautiful and gentlemanly language she had ever read, but it ended with a request for her assistance. Mr Hope revealed that he had recently been approached by a respectable and highly regarded entertainer, a conjuror, newly arrived from the continent and anxious to establish his reputation in England. He was hoping to find a substantial drawing room in which to host a magical soiree. Could Mrs Scarletti, asked Mr Hope, with her knowledge of Brighton society, suggest a suitable location?

  Louisa could, and while she might simply have provided the information he required in the form of a letter, this was an opportunity not to be missed. Everyone of note in Brighton must know as soon as possible that she had been favoured with the friendship of the famous Arthur Wallace Hope, and there was a general collection of matrons and spinsters whom she could rely upon to carry the news all over town.

  It was a vividly glowing Enid who told Mina of this thrilling development, while Louisa busily dashed off notes to her most intimate friends, inviting them to come for tea, saying that they would thereby be regaled with some very interesting news, and replied to Mr Hope promising that she would make enquiries on his behalf.

  Mina could not avoid noticing that her mother believed that the gentleman had taken an interest in her. It was in Louisa’s mind impossible that he might favour Enid, who was married, and in any case it was she to whom he had chosen to write. Enid, for her part, made her admiration of Mr Hope all too transparent, and Mr Hope, while according her the decorous gallantry appropriate to her married state, had not attempted to conceal that her admiration was returned. Enid clearly thought that the letter to her mother was merely a subterfuge to conceal which lady actually attracted him.

  Mina did not know where any of this might lead, but was well aware that it was she who was his object, and her endorsement of Miss Eustace the desired result, his courtship of the good opinion of her mother and sister only a part of his campaign. It was pointless to reveal this to her mother or Enid, although she did suggest mischievously that they might like to invite Mr Hope to the tea party in order for him to make personal enquiries of the ladies. She was greeted by a thunderous look. There was only one widow lady of appropriate age Louisa wished him to take tea with and that was herself.

  On the following afternoon a happy and expectant band of ladies assembled in the cosy confines of the Scarletti parlour to be regaled with tea, cake and gossip. Mrs Phipps was one of the number and would have been a useful secret agent to carry intelligence back to her nephew had she not been in the habit of sleeping through most of her visits, waking only when her teacup and plate needed refreshing.

  Louisa commanded the room, the wonderful letter in her hand, and talked at a great pace, with the name ‘Mr Hope’ appearing prominently in every sentence, saying what a charming and attentive gentleman he was, and how her family had been greatly favoured by a visit from him. Now he had been so kind as to make a request and she was sure that someone amongst her dear friends could suggest how his wishes might be accomplished. Mr Hope wished to promote an entertainment for a select gathering of about twenty ladies and gentlemen, and was looking for a suitable drawing room in town. The evening would be offered gratis to all guests, as the object was to confirm his belief that his protégé’s displays were to the refined taste of the leading residents of Brighton. If successful then the gentleman intended to take a room at the Pavilion.

  Mrs Peasgood, who, in view of her regular musical soirees was the obvious candidate to offer her home, at once demanded to know the name of the gentleman and the nature of the entertainment.

  Louisa made a great performance out of consulting Mr Hope’s letter, holding it before her face so it was on display to everyone in the room, just in case they had missed it. ‘He is called Mystic Stefan. Mr Hope says that he is believed to be the new Monsieur Robert-Houdin, and he has performed for the Queen.’

  Mrs Peasgood looked unconvinced. ‘If this Robert-Houdin is such a wonder, why can he not be brought to Brighton?’

  ‘Oh I am sure he is very busily engaged, and Mr Hope would be bound to know this.’

  Mina, who had read of the distinguished magician’s recent death in the national newspapers, said nothing.

  ‘There was Dr Lynn at the Pavilion, last year,’ interposed Mrs Mowbray. ‘He gave a performance for charity. So other conjurors can be very respectable, too.’

  ‘How interesting,’ said Mina. ‘Did you see him?’

  ‘Alas no, but I have heard that he demonstrates the Japanese butterfly illusion, which is said to be a very pretty thing to watch.’

  ‘Mr Hope’s friend,’ interrupted Louisa, who was starting to see the conversation veer away from her, ‘will I am sure be equally as skilled.’

  ‘I am not sure if I wish to see him,’ said Miss Whinstone, who was starting to tremble. ‘What if this Mystic Stefan proves to be one of those dreadful mediums?’

  ‘Yes, what is it he does?’ asked Mrs Bettinson suspiciously. ‘I think we ought to be told.’

  Louisa looked embarrassed, as well she might since she had obviously not been provided with so much detail and had never, as far as Mina was aware, actually seen a conjuror. ‘I suppose he does tricks – he makes things appear – or disappear – but that isn’t really important because Mr Hope says he puts on a highly respectable and interesting entertainment.’

  ‘Just as long as he doesn’t send us messages from our grandmothers at five guineas each,’ said Mrs Bettinson sourly.

  ‘Or from the ghost of King George,’ said Enid, with a titter.

  The other ladies tried to pretend they didn’t know
what she meant by that.

  ‘Do you know, it is a very curious thing,’ said Mina in a voice that though gentle, suddenly engaged the attention of the room, ‘but I overheard a lady say the other day that the royal ghost which everyone is talking about has appeared in the Pavilion before.’

  Louisa frowned. ‘Whatever do you mean by that, Mina?’ Quickly she held up a warning hand. ‘No! Do not tell me, it is almost certainly not a fit topic for you to be concerning yourself with, and I don’t want to know about it.’

  ‘Oh, I am not referring to the book which everyone finds so shocking and which no one admits to having read, but nevertheless they talk about it all the time; no, this is something different. You know, of course, what I think of people who produce false ghosts by draping themselves in veils, but it does seem from the discussions in the newspapers that there has been a haunting where no such fakery was involved. The ladies had never attended a séance, have no pretensions to be mediums and have not experienced such a thing before. Richard and I visited the Pavilion recently from curiosity but I regret we saw no apparitions, although we looked for them very hard indeed.’

  ‘I would never dare go there in case I was to see one,’ said Miss Whinstone, ‘even in the company of Mr Jellico.’

  For once Louisa did not look jealous of Miss Whinstone for her elderly admirer and was unable to hold back a satisfied smile, the pause giving Mina the chance to pursue her theme.

  ‘While we were there we overheard a lady visitor say that the ghost had appeared before, only it was many years ago, perhaps ten or even twenty. Our family is too recently settled in Brighton to know anything about it, but I wondered if any ladies here have ever heard of such a thing?’ Mina glanced at the faces of her mother’s guests. Mrs Bettinson, with a mouth full of cake, was unreadable, and Mrs Phipps was asleep. Mrs Peasgood looked pained, Miss Whinstone alarmed, and Mrs Mowbray surly. Whether this was because they knew anything about the subject or simply did not wish to discuss it Mina could not say. All the ladies had once been taken in by the séances of Miss Eustace and might not want to be reminded of this. ‘Mr Hope is convinced that the recent sighting was genuine,’ she went on.