Gilzean’s finger tightened on the trigger and the gun went off. A yell of pain mingled with a gasp of horror that came from the watching crowd. Hearing the sound of the gunshot from below, Madeleine came running up on deck, fearing that Colbeck had been killed. Instead, she found him standing over Gilzean, who, compelled to shoot himself, was clutching a shoulder from which blood was now oozing.
‘Why did you not leave him to me?’ complained Leeming.
‘I wanted the privilege myself.’
‘But I had a weapon.’
‘I am sorry, Victor,’ said Colbeck with a weary grin. ‘You can arrest Thomas Sholto, but you’ll have to haul him out of the water first.’ He turned to Madeleine. ‘They’ll not trouble you again, Miss Andrews,’ he promised. ‘Horses and ships have their place in the scheme of things but they were not enough to defeat the steam locomotive. That is what brought them down. Sir Humphrey was caught by the railways.’
Richard Mayne, the senior Police Commissioner, looked down at the newspapers spread out on his desk and savoured the headlines. The arrest of the two men behind the train robbery and its associated crimes was universally acclaimed as a triumph for the Detective Department at Scotland Yard. After sustaining so much press criticism, they had now been vindicated. That gave Mayne a sense of profound satisfaction. While he could bask in the general praise, however, he was the first to accept that the plaudits should go elsewhere.
He was glad, therefore, when Superintendent Tallis entered with Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming. The Commissioner came from behind his desk to shake hands with all three in turn, starting, significantly, with Robert Colbeck, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Tallis. The Superintendent shifted his feet.
‘Gentlemen,’ said Mayne, spreading his arms, ‘you have achieved a small miracle. Thanks to your efforts, we have secured some welcome approbation. The headlines in today’s newspapers send a message to every villain in the country.’
‘Except that most of them can’t read, sir,’ noted Tallis.
‘I was speaking figuratively, Superintendent.’
‘Ah – of course.’
‘No matter how clever they may be,’ continued Mayne, ‘we catch them in the end. In short, with a combination of tenacity, courage and detection skills, we can solve any crime.’
‘That is what we are here for, sir,’ said Tallis, importantly.
‘Our role is largely administrative, Superintendent. It is officers like Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming on whom we rely and they have been shining examples to their colleagues.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ said Leeming.
‘On your behalf, I have received warm congratulations from the Post Office, the Royal Mint, Spurling’s Bank, the Chubb factory, the commissioners for the Great Exhibition and, naturally, from the London and North Western Railway Company. The last named wishes to offer both of you free travel on their trains at any time of your choice.’
‘I will certainly avail myself of that opportunity,’ said Colbeck.
Leeming frowned. ‘And I most certainly will not,’ he said. ‘On the other hand,’ he added with a chuckle, ‘if the Royal Mint is issuing any invitations to us, I’ll be very happy to accept them.’
‘They merely send you their heartfelt gratitude,’ said Mayne.
Tallis sniffed. ‘Far be it from me to intrude a sour note into this welter of congratulation, sir,’ he said, ‘but I have to draw to your attention the fact that some of the evidence was not obtained in a way that I could bring myself to approve.’
‘Yes, I know, Superintendent. I’ve read your report.’
‘Then perhaps you should temper your fulsome compliments with a degree of reproach.’
‘This is hardly the moment to do so,’ said Mayne, irritably, ‘but, since you force my hand, I will. Frankly, I believe that you are the person who should be reprimanded. Had you let your men go to Sir Humphrey’s house on their own, they might well have made the arrests there. By making your presence known so boldly, Superintendent Tallis, you gave the game away. That was bad policing.’
‘We had the house surrounded, sir.’
‘Yet somehow they still managed to escape. In all conscience, you must take the blame for that.’
Trying not to grin, Leeming was enjoying the Superintendent’s patent unease, but Colbeck came swiftly to his superior’s aid.
‘It was a shared responsibility, sir,’ he told Mayne, ‘and we must all take some of the blame. Against anyone but Sir Humphrey Gilzean, the plan that Mr Tallis had devised might well have worked. And the Superintendent did, after all, prove that he is not chained to his desk.’
‘That merits approval,’ said Mayne, ‘it’s true. So let us be done with censure and take pleasure from our success. Or, more properly, from the success that you, Inspector Colbeck – along with Sergeant Leeming here – achieved in Bristol. Both of you are heroes.’
Leeming pulled a face. ‘That’s not what my wife called me when I stayed away for another night, sir,’ he confided. ‘She was very bitter.’
‘Spare us these insights into your sordid domestic life,’ said Tallis.
‘We made up in the end, of course.’
‘I should hope so, Sergeant,’ said Mayne with amusement. ‘Mrs Leeming deserves to know that she is married to a very brave man. You will have a written commendation to show her.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ said Leeming, happily, ‘but I only followed where Inspector Colbeck led me. He is the real hero here.’
‘I’m inclined to agree.’
‘The only reason that we finally caught up with them was that the Inspector had the forethought to put a copy of Bradshaw’s Guide in his valise. It told us what train we could catch to Bristol.’
‘I regard it as an indispensable volume,’ explained Colbeck, ‘and I never go by rail without it. Unlike Sergeant Leeming, I have a particular fondness for travelling by train. I am grateful that this case gave me such opportunities to do so.’
‘A train robbery certainly gave you the chance to show your mettle, Inspector,’ said Mayne, ‘and everyone has admired the way that you conducted the investigation. But success brings its own disadvantage.’
‘Disadvantage?’ repeated Colbeck.
‘You have obviously not read this morning’s papers.’
‘I have not yet had the time, sir.’
‘Make time, Inspector,’ suggested Mayne. ‘Every single reporter has christened you with the same name. You are now Inspector Robert Colbeck – the Railway Detective.’
After considering his new title, Colbeck gave a slow smile.
‘I think I like that,’ he said.
Madeleine Andrews could not understand it. While she was being held in captivity, all that she wanted to do was to return home, yet, now that she was actually there, she felt somehow disappointed. She was thrilled to be reunited with her father again, trying to forget her ordeal by nursing him with renewed love, but she remained strangely detached and even jaded. Caleb Andrews soon noticed it.
‘What ails you, Maddy?’ he asked.
‘Nothing.’
‘Are you in pain?’
‘No, Father,’ she replied.
‘Did those men do something to you that you haven’t told me about? Is that why you’ve been behaving like this?’ She shook her head. ‘Well, something is wrong, I know that.’
‘I’m still very tired, that’s all.’
‘Then you should let someone else look after me while you catch up on your sleep.’ He offered his free hand and she took it. ‘If there was a problem, you would tell me?’
‘Of course.’
‘I’ll hold you to that,’ he said, squeezing her hand. ‘It might just be that you are missing all the excitement now you are back here.’
‘There is nothing exciting about being kidnapped,’ she said, detaching her hand. ‘It was terrifying. I wish that it had never happened.’
‘So do I, Maddy. But the men who held you hostage will be punished
. I only wish that I could be there to pull the lever when the hangman puts the noose around their necks.’
‘Father!’
‘It’s what they deserve,’ he argued. ‘You saw that report in the paper. It was Sir Humphrey Gilzean who set the other man on to commit those two murders. That means a death penalty for both of them. Yes,’ he went on, ‘and they found a list of all his accomplices when they searched that baggage they took off the ship. The whole gang is being rounded up.’
‘I was as pleased as you to hear that.’
‘So why are you moping around the house?’
‘I’ll be fine in a day or two.’
There was a knock at the front door and she went to the bedroom window to see who it was. Recognising the visitor, she brightened at once and smoothed down her skirt before leaving the room.
‘Ah,’ said Andrews, drily. ‘It must be Queen Victoria again.’
After checking her appearance in the hall mirror, Madeleine opened the door and gave her visitor a warm smile.
‘Inspector Colbeck,’ she said. ‘Do please come in.’
‘Thank you, Miss Andrews.’ Colbeck removed his top hat and stepped into the house. ‘How is your father?’
‘Much better now that he has me back again.’
‘You would gladden the heart of any parent.’
‘Did you wish to see him?’
‘In time, perhaps,’ said Colbeck. ‘I really called to speak to you. I am sure that you will be relieved to know that everyone who took part in the train robbery has now been arrested.’
‘Were they all men from Sir Humphrey’s old regiment?’
‘Most of them were. They became involved because they needed the money. Sir Humphrey Gilzean had another motive.’
‘Yes, I know,’ she said. ‘He did all those terrible things because he believed that a train had killed his wife.’
‘Even before that happened, he had a deep-seated hatred of the railways. The death of Lady Gilzean only intensified it.’
‘But to go to such extremes – it’s unnatural.’
‘It certainly changed him from the man that he was,’ said Colbeck, soulfully. ‘Though I’d never condone what he did, I have a faint sympathy for the man.’
Madeleine was surprised. ‘Sympathy – for a criminal?’
‘Only for the loss that he endured. I know what it is to lose a loved one in tragic circumstances,’ he confided. ‘If I’m honest, Miss Andrews, it’s what made me become a policeman.’ He sighed quietly. ‘Since I could never bring the lady in question back, I tried to protect others from the same fate.’ He looked deep into her eyes. ‘That was why it gave me so much pleasure to come to your aid.’
‘This lady you mentioned,’ she said, probing gently. ‘Was she a member of your family, Inspector?’
‘She would have been,’ he replied, ‘but she had the misfortune to surprise a burglar in her house one night, and made the mistake of challenging him. He became violent.’ He waved a hand to dismiss the subject. ‘But enough of my past, Miss Andrews. I try not to dwell on it and prefer to look to the future. That is the difference between Sir Humphrey and myself, you see. In the wake of his loss, he sought only to destroy. I endeavour to rebuild.’
‘That’s very wise of you.’
‘Then perhaps you will help in the process.’
‘Me?’
‘I know that it is indecently short notice,’ he said, watching her dimples, ‘but are you, by any chance, free on May Day?’
‘I could be,’ she said, tingling with anticipation. ‘Why?’
‘In recognition of what happened at the Crystal Palace,’ he explained, ‘His Royal Highness, Prince Albert, has sent me two tickets for the opening ceremony. I would deem it an honour if you agreed to come with me.’
Madeleine was overjoyed. ‘To the Great Exhibition!’
‘Yes,’ said Colbeck over her happy laughter, ‘there are one or two locomotives that I’d like to show you.’
THE EXCURSION TRAIN
The Railway Detective Collection
BOOK TWO
EDWARD MARSTON
On the appointed day about five hundred passengers filled some twenty or twenty-five open carriages – they were called ‘tubs’ in those days – and the party rode the enormous distance of eleven miles and back for a shilling, children half-price. We carried music with us and music met us at the Loughborough station. The people crowded the streets, filled windows, covered the house-tops, and cheered us all along the line, with the heartiest welcome. All went off in the best style and in perfect safety we returned to Leicester; and thus was struck the keynote of my excursions, and the social idea grew upon me.
Leisure Hour – Thomas Cook, 1860
CHAPTER ONE
London, 1852
They came in droves, converging on Paddington Station from all parts of the capital. Costermongers, coal-heavers, dustmen, dock labourers, coachmen, cab drivers, grooms, glaziers, lamplighters, weavers, tinkers, carpenters, bricklayers, watermen, and street sellers of everything from rat poison to pickled whelks, joined the human torrent that was surging towards the excursion train. Inevitably, the crowd also had its share of thieves, pickpockets, card-sharps, thimble riggers and prostitutes. A prizefight of such quality was an increasingly rare event. It was too good an opportunity for the low life of London to miss.
There was money to be made.
Extra ticket collectors were on duty to make sure that nobody got past the barrier without paying, and additional railway policemen had been engaged to maintain a degree of order. Two locomotives stood ready to pull the twenty-three carriages that were soon being filled by rowdy spectators. The excitement in the air was almost tangible.
Sam Horlock looked on with a mixture of interest and envy.
‘Lucky devils!’ he said.
‘All I see is danger,’ complained Tod Galway, the guard of the train. ‘Look how many there are, Sam – all of them as drunk as bleedin’ lords. There’ll be trouble, mark my words. Big trouble. We should never have laid on an excursion train for this rabble.’
‘They seem good-natured enough to me.’
‘Things could turn ugly in a flash.’
‘No,’ said Horlock, tolerantly. ‘They’ll behave themselves. We’ll make sure of that. I just wish that I could join them at the ringside. I’ve a soft spot for milling. Nothing to compare with the sight of two game fighters, trying to knock the daylights out of each other. It’s uplifting.’
Sam Horlock was one of the railway policemen deputed to travel on the train. Like his colleagues, he wore the official uniform of dark, high-necked frock coat, pale trousers and a stovepipe hat. He was a jovial man in his forties, short, solid and clean-shaven. Tod Galway, by contrast, was tall, thin to the point of emaciation, and wearing a long, bushy, grey beard that made him look like a minor prophet. A decade older than his companion, he had none of Horlock’s love of the prize ring.
‘The Fancy!’ he said with disgust, spitting out the words. ‘That’s what they calls ’em. The bleedin’ Fancy! There’s nothing fancy about this load of ragamuffins. They stink to ’igh ’eaven. We’re carryin’ the dregs of London today and no mistake.’
‘Be fair, Tod,’ said Horlock. ‘They’re not all riff-raff, crammed into the third-class carriages. We’ve respectable passengers aboard as well in first and second class. Everyone likes the noble art.’
‘What’s noble about beatin’ a man to a pulp?’
‘There’s skill involved.’
‘Pah!’
‘There is. There’s tactics and guile and raw courage. It’s not just a trial of brute strength.’
‘I still don’t ’old with it, Sam.’
‘But it’s manly.’
‘It’s against the bleedin’ law, that’s what it is.’
‘More’s the pity!’
‘The magistrates ought to stop it.’
‘By rights, they should,’ agreed Horlock with a grin, ‘but they got too much res
pect for the sport. My guess is that half the magistrates of Berkshire will be there in disguise to watch the contest.’
‘Shame on them!’
‘They don’t want to miss the fun, Tod. Last time we had a fight like this was six or seven years ago when Caunt lost to Bendigo. Now that was milling of the highest order. They went toe to toe for over ninety gruelling rounds, the pair of them, drooping from exhaustion and dripping with blood.’
‘Yes – and what did that do to the spectators?’
‘It set them on fire, good and proper.’
‘That’s my worry,’ admitted Galway, watching a trio of boisterous navvies strut past. ‘These buggers are bad enough before the fight. Imagine what they’ll be like afterwards when their blood is racing and their passions is stoked up. I fear for my train, Sam.’
‘There’s no need.’
‘Think of the damage they could cause to railway property.’
‘Not while we’re around.’
‘We’re carryin’ over a thousand passengers. What can an ’andful of policemen do against that lot?’
‘Ever seen a sheepdog at work?’ asked Horlock, hands on hips. ‘If it knows its job, one dog can keep a flock of fifty under control. That’s what we are, Tod. Sheepdogs of the Great Western Railway.’
‘There’s only one problem.’
‘What’s that?’
‘You’re dealing with wild animals – not with bleedin’ sheep.’
The Railway Detective Collection: The Railway Detective, the Excursion Train, the Railway Viaduct (The Railway Detective Series) Page 26
