The Royal Ghost

by Linda Stratmann

  ‘I deny that, of course!’ thundered Hope indignantly.

  ‘Mr Hope has recently been trying to persuade other residents of Brighton to sign similar testimonials by telling them that I have already agreed to do so.’

  ‘I deny that also!’

  ‘I will not sign this paper and I confess that at present I am unable to see what Mr Hope could ask me to sign that I would find acceptable.’

  ‘I believe you have your answer,’ said Mr Phipps, ‘and given Miss Scarletti’s opinions on the issue I would strongly advise her not to sign, even if she had any inclination to do so, which clearly she does not.’

  Hope stared at the paper and was deep in thought. ‘Very well,’ he growled. ‘I can see I will get no further with this. You are set against Miss Eustace and you are also set against other celebrated mediums who you have never even met.’

  ‘Including the Misses Bland who refuse to meet me.’

  ‘Are they mediums?’ asked Phipps.

  ‘They purport to be. I feel sure that their defence against the charge of plagiarism will be that they dreamed the book or it was dictated to them by a spirit, or, since the writing is not theirs, that a ghost actually appeared and wrote it all down for them. Maybe Mystic Stefan’s disembodied hand wrote it after visiting them by flying through a wall. They will find such claims impossible to prove; in fact, it will be hard for them not to be laughed out of court.’

  ‘Such things do happen!’ Hope insisted. ‘They do! I know it! You should not ridicule what you do not understand!’

  ‘A court of law will take a very materialistic view of the matter,’ said Phipps drily.

  Mr Hope was displeased but pensive. ‘Supposing,’ he said suddenly, ‘that the Misses Bland were to agree to meet privately with Miss Scarletti. Supposing they were to offer convincing proof that they receive information from the spirit world?’ He turned to Mina. ‘What do you say? Is your mind closed to that possibility?’

  ‘Not closed, of course not. Let them meet me and prove it, and I will say I am convinced.’

  ‘Then that is decided,’ said Hope, rising to his feet. ‘I have nothing more to say until this event has taken place. I wish you both good day.’ He departed at once and there the meeting ended.

  Mina was left considering how she might best warn Enid of her danger without also warning Mr Hope, since anything the detective might achieve could do some good if it did not involve her sister.

  ‘Enid,’ she said, when they were next alone, ‘please reassure me that you are not meeting with Mr Hope in a situation which might be misconstrued.’

  ‘What is it to you what friends I have or where I meet them?’ said Enid, with a frown of annoyance.

  ‘Well, you know what the gossips are like. However innocent it might be, if you choose to take tea with a man they will make it into something it is not. Think of what that would do to mother. I am not saying you cannot speak to him, only it might be best if you did not do so unaccompanied.’

  Enid laughed. ‘Do you know mother thinks he admires her? He doesn’t at all, but he is kind to her because of me.’

  ‘At least mother is single. Have you considered what Mr Inskip might think?’

  ‘Oh bother Mr Inskip! May he be eaten by wolves and an end of him!’ Enid flounced out of the room.

  Thirty-Three

  Well,’ said Richard as he, Mina, Marcus Merridew and Nellie were seated around a table in a private booth at one of Brighton’s smartest restaurants, ‘here is another setback. I am now missing a performer. Rolly Rollason has written to say that he cannot after all be Napoleon in my play! He has been ornamenting the London stage to very great acclaim, where it appears that he is the only man in England, and quite possibly the world, who can play the bagpipes while riding a velocipede. The crowds have been roused to madness at the sight of him in a kilt and he has been engaged for the remainder of the season.’

  The waiter arrived and Nellie ordered champagne with a nod to the company to indicate that the expense would be on her account, or to be more accurate, her husband’s. ‘Can he not recommend another man?’

  ‘There is a difficulty about that, too, since those he had in mind all require to know how many performances they are to be engaged for and require fees enough to cover the train fare to Brighton and board and lodgings.’

  ‘It is a sad fact that actors need to eat in order to perform, or the business of theatrical management would be so much simpler,’ said Merridew.

  ‘I don’t suppose you could attempt it, Mina?’ pleaded Richard.

  ‘No I could not! I think it will be quite enough of a shock for mother to see you on stage without having me appear in a breeches part. And the sword fight you plan would be very brief.’

  ‘Might I make a suggestion?’ said Mr Merridew. ‘As you are all aware I am a professional actor of many years’ experience. I would be willing, in return for a share in the ticket price, to perform in your play. Indeed, I do flatter myself that my name on the playbill will create some interest. You might even make a profit on the enterprise. It is not unknown.’

  ‘Oh that is a very kind offer and of course I accept!’ said Richard, eagerly. The champagne arrived, as did a dish of savoury tartlets, and toasts were drunk to theatrical success.

  ‘I also have some items of costume and wigs I could lend to you to improve the appearance of the piece – they have had some use but will look perfectly splendid from a distance – and some blunted stage swords for the fight. Many years ago I toured with a company that performed King Lear in the style of the court of George III and still retain some of the ensembles, which will suit the setting of the Pavilion perfectly. The play had of course been banned from public performance during His Majesty’s unfortunate affliction, but in later years it enjoyed a considerable revival. I was Edgar. It was very affecting.’

  Nellie smiled. ‘I know that our work on the stage is different but yours is a name known and held in great respect by all in the theatre. In fact, I have heard you spoken of as the handsomest man who ever trod the boards.’

  ‘Oh my dear,’ said Merridew with a little gasp of pleasure, ‘how happy it is to be remembered. Yes, I was terribly good looking as a youth. My hair, my poor long-gone hair, was the most delicate shade of auburn and fell almost to my shoulders in ringlets. It sparkled like gold in the footlights and all the ladies sighed to see it. And oh, the many little gifts I received, the sweetmeats and nosegays, not to mention the love notes, it is astonishing that my head was not turned by the admiration.’

  A large platter arrived, the very best fruits of the sea, prettily garnished, and they all fell to. More champagne was ordered, and while the ladies sipped theirs with decorum the gentlemen more than made up for their restraint. The gentlemen drank to the ladies, the ladies replied to the gentlemen and they all raised their glasses to William Shakespeare.

  ‘There is just one little condition, if I might mention it,’ said Merridew, when the platter and a third bottle of champagne were both empty. ‘While I would be exceedingly happy to act in the play, I believe I would be better suited to play the Prince. I have a costume that would do very well and even with the advance of years it fits me to perfection. And of course my admirers do expect me to take the leading role.’

  Richard looked a little disappointed for a moment, then quickly rallied. ‘Well, why not? I am sure I could be Napoleon. I can speak a lot of nonsense in French.’

  ‘In any language,’ said Mina.

  ‘After all,’ said Marcus Merridew with a smile as the iced desserts were served, ‘the play’s the thing.’

  Mina had received a note from Mr Hope confirming that she could meet the Bland sisters in a private room at the Royal Albion Hotel. She met the news with keen anticipation, but this was tinged with concern. Mr Hope knew that Lady Finsbury had been portrayed by an actress. It was not beyond his guile to present her with two impostors, ladies who were professional mediums of his acquaintance, adept in the art of illusion. Mr Hope,
however, did not know that she had some useful information concerning the appearance of the sisters.

  Mina arrived in good time, and after making enquiries at the reception desk, was directed to a smartly appointed meeting room. Smelling strongly of polish, it was furnished with comfortable seating and a side table held a vase of fresh flowers, a tray of glasses and a carafe of water. She took a seat and waited. After a few minutes there was a knock at the door and Mr Hope entered accompanied by two ladies. Mina rose to her feet and studied the ladies carefully. Neither was of uncommon size, although one was a little taller and more slender than the other, and both had good figures giving the impression that they were not very aged. They were well dressed, although not extravagantly so, with neat lace gloves and light bonnets, but both wore their veils forward.

  ‘Good day to you,’ said Mr Hope in a very formal manner approaching coolness. ‘Allow me to introduce Miss Ada Bland,’ here the taller lady inclined her head, ‘and Miss Bertha Bland.’ The shorter lady greeted Mina in the same fashion. ‘Ladies, I would be delighted for you to make the acquaintance of Miss Mina Scarletti.’ Despite his words, he looked far from delighted.

  ‘It is my very great pleasure to meet you at last,’ said Mina. She sat down and the ladies were seated side-by-side facing her. Mr Hope took a seat to one side where he could observe all of them. Mina had not anticipated that he would remain and would have preferred it had he not been present, but felt that as he had made all the arrangements, she could hardly insist that he withdraw.

  Mina tried to see if there was anything about the Misses Bland she could recognise. Was Miss Ada, the taller of the two, the same lady she had seen outside the baths and who had fled from a meeting with her? It was possible. Mina noticed that Ada wore a thicker veil than her sister, plain and very dark so that no feature of her face could be seen. Miss Bertha’s veil, however, was lace, worn more for modesty than outright concealment, although it still served to obscure her features. Unless a gross falsehood was being practised – and Mina still thought that under the circumstances it was very possible – these were the Bland sisters and the lady with the heavier veil was the one who habitually wore it to conceal some defect in her appearance.

  ‘The purpose of this meeting, as I understand it,’ said Miss Bertha Bland, ‘is to enable us to make a demonstration of our small abilities. You must excuse us as we are far from being developed in that way, but we believe that with time we may become better.’ The quality of her voice and pronunciation were that of an educated young woman, but although her words were modest there was a hardness in the tone which suggested that she could not easily be confused or swayed.

  ‘How would you describe these abilities?’ asked Mina.

  ‘We can read minds. Not all minds, but we can certainly see into each other’s as we are sisters. This is something we have been able to do from a very early age. When we were children we thought nothing of it, as I suppose in our innocence we thought that all sisters could do the same. In our family it was treated as a parlour trick and we often performed it for the amusement of visitors. It was only later that we discovered that it was something quite out of the common way.’

  ‘Would it be possible for you to provide me with a demonstration?’ said Mina. ‘You would not find that my presence hinders the operation of your powers?’

  ‘We are stronger when we read each other. If you could open your mind to the idea that we can do this, quell all negative thoughts, dismiss your doubts, then I think we can be assured of success.’

  ‘I will do my best,’ Mina promised. She glanced at Ada, who remained silent and motionless, then at Mr Hope, who was watching closely.

  Miss Bertha drew a small packet from her reticule. ‘It is usually done with playing cards. Please examine them. You will see that this is a normal set of cards.’

  She rose to bring the cards to Mina, and as she bent to hand them over, her proximity enabled Mina to see some of the outline of the face beneath the veil. In a flash of recognition, Mina felt sure that Miss Bertha Bland was the sharp-featured lady who had attended Mystic Stefan’s demonstration and been the one person in the audience not astounded by his tricks. What, wondered Mina, was the connection? Were the two related in some way – confederates – or merely friends? Or was she simply there as a guest of Mr Hope, her reaction that of someone in the same business – the art of illusion?

  Mina slid the cards from their packet and examined them. Having been assured that they were normal cards she had to wonder what an abnormal set might be. Was there some trick by which a magician might be able to read the face of a card from a secret marking on the back? What signs should she be looking for? As far as she was able to see it was the usual full deck with all the suits, but she also glanced at the backs and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Her fingers found both sides smooth to the touch. She went to hand them back, but the lady, who had returned to her seat, declined.

  ‘Now, Miss Scarletti, you must draw a card from the pack, but hold it close, making quite sure that I cannot see it. I will turn my back so you can be certain that I do not know which card you drew. Remember which card it is, then hand it and the pack to my sister, who will memorise and replace it. I will then read my sister’s mind and tell you which card it was.’

  ‘Very well,’ said Mina. Miss Bertha rose and moved to the side of the room, her back turned so that she faced away from both her sister and Mina. There were no mirrors in the room, but all the same Mina, to be quite sure, also rose and turned away. She was especially careful that Mr Hope should not see what she did, as she would not put it past him to be their confederate, her attention so focussed on preventing the Misses Bland from seeing the card that she did not take his presence into account. When she was satisfied that she could not be overlooked, she drew a card – the six of diamonds – laid it carefully on top of the pack, then, still ensuring that Hope could not see the card, approached Miss Ada Bland, who had also risen to her feet. Mina handed her the cards and she held them close to her veil the better to see, nodded, and replaced the exposed card in the pack. Although Mina was close to the lady, the veil was so thick that the wearer’s features could not be seen through it.

  ‘There,’ said Mina, ‘it is done.’

  Miss Bertha turned to face her sister and pressed her fingers to her forehead. There were a few moments of silence, during which she appeared to be making a great effort, then she said, ‘I believe I am beginning to see it. Yes, it is a red card – I am sure I am right.’ No one spoke and Mina tried not to give anything away by her expression. There was another pause. ‘I can see the suit, now – it is – diamonds. And now the number – yes, I can see it all, it is the six. Am I correct?’

  ‘You are,’ said Mina.

  ‘Do you wish for another demonstration?’

  ‘If that would not be too much trouble.’

  The trick was repeated and once again Miss Bertha identified the card.

  ‘I suppose you would like to know how it is done. It is really quite simple – at least it is to us. My sister thinks about the card and I then look into her thoughts, and the card appears to me as if I was seeing it myself.’

  ‘Can you read things other than cards?’ asked Mina. ‘Supposing I drew a picture of something in my notebook and showed it to Miss Ada – would you be able to tell what it was? Could you draw a copy of it?’

  Mr Hope leaned forward and was about to speak, but Mina held up her hand. ‘If you please, I wish only Miss Bland to answer that question.’ Hope looked displeased but said nothing.

  ‘As I have said,’ replied Bertha, ‘our powers are not yet fully developed. I could not guarantee success.’

  ‘I suppose that would be a far harder thing to achieve.’

  ‘It would.’

  Mina turned to Miss Ada Bland. ‘Forgive me, but I am concerned that you have been silent so far.’

  ‘Please do not ask her to speak,’ said Bertha quickly. ‘I say all for both of us.’

  Min
a looked back at Ada, who nodded her head.

  ‘Might I ask the reason for this?’

  ‘My dear sister has a defect in her speech. Please spare her. If she objected to anything I have said for us both so far she would have made it known.’

  Ada nodded again.

  ‘Very well,’ said Mina, addressing Bertha once more. ‘Can you tell me how you came to write An Encounter? Was it through mind-reading?’

  ‘I do not think it was intended that you should broach that subject at this meeting,’ interrupted Mr Hope.

  ‘No?’ said Mina. ‘I don’t recall any such agreement. In any case, I was given to understand that the purpose of this interview was for me to be presented with proof of mind-reading.’

  ‘And have you not seen proof enough?’ demanded Hope.

  ‘I will give that question some consideration. But further information will assist me.’

  ‘I have no objection to answering,’ said Bertha. ‘There is still much about that incident that we do not understand. We both dreamed about the book before the words came to us. It was as if we were there ourselves, in that extraordinary palace, which neither of us had ever visited. We always talk about our dreams, and wonder what they might mean, but we have never before experienced the identical dream on the same night. We knew at once that this must mean something, but we could not tell what it might be. We decided that in future as soon as we awoke we should write down everything we remembered of our dreams as quickly as we could. When we dreamed again, a voice came to us, asking us to listen to it and write down what it said. We didn’t know what to make of it, but next day, when we were both quite wide awake, we were both suddenly seized with the desire to write, and so we did. Imagine our amazement when our pens travelled across the paper, quite undirected by either of us, and the words just came. Not only that but the writing was not in the usual hand of either of us. At last we compared notes and found that although we had not written the same thing, when we put the pages in order we had a single book.’