Black Wreath by Peter Sirr Page B

when his father still wanted to be seen with a son.
    Darcy then despatched the three Uglies, as James thought of Kelly, Hare and Kitty, to conceal themselves behind the pavilion in the centre of the green. A little later, he and James set out for the Walk. They kept out of sight of the avenue, working their way from tree to tree. The hour was late and it was dark, and surely no sensible person would be so foolish as to venture abroad on the walk now? But Darcy was cunning, and it seemed he knew his fellow man better than James; they weren’t long in the Green before they saw a man coming towards them from the other end. Almost as if Darcy had invented him, he was portly and his walk was unsteady. He waved his cane in the air for no reason James could see, for he couldn’t have seen them, and he was singing softly to himself.
    ‘This is it,’ Darcy whispered fiercely to James. ‘We’ll have him for supper, and maybe for breakfast and dinner too. Who knows what he might have with him? Now, James Brown, this is where you earn your onions. I want you to approach the gentleman in great distress, and tell him some boys have taken your unfortunate father and are even now robbing him just a little way from this very path. Mind you look convincing. Have you ever been to the theatre in Smock Alley?’
    James had once, but he doubted if the acting he had seen there would be much use to him here.
    ‘You must look pitiful, with weeping and wailing as if your poor little life depended on it. If he has any honour, he’ll run to your aid. Go to it now, quickly.’
    Darcy disappeared into the darkness and James stood hesitating a few yards from the path. All his instincts cried out to him to run the other way, to put as much distance as he could between himself and the clutches of the gang. But things had gone too far for that now. He had allowed himself to fall in with these men and he was afraid to go back. In any case, they would find him, and he shuddered to think what they would do to him when they did. He heard Darcy hissing fiercely from the shadows behind him, ‘Get going, wretch!’ Without thinking any more about it, James ran into the path towards the approaching gentleman. He waved his arms in the air and heard a voice that must have been his shout out in distress.
    ‘Sir, please help me, won’t you please help me, please sir!’
    The portly man stopped his singing and looked up in fright. James ran to him.
    ‘What is it? What’s the matter, boy?’ The man fixed his startled attention on James.
    ‘Please, sir, it’s my father!’ James nearly choked on the words but he somehow got them out. ‘They’ve got him, over there near the pavilion.’
    ‘Who? Who has him?’
    ‘Footpads, sir, they’re robbing him even now.’ James couldn’t help noticing the fine silk waistcoat the man was wearing, andthe gold chain that hung from one of its pockets. He wanted to warn him, but nothing came out.
    The man looked at him dubiously. Maybe he won’t believe me, James thought, maybe he’ll simply walk away. They would never believe I didn’t warn him, came the disturbing thought.
    ‘Won’t you help, sir?’ he asked. ‘They’re bound to run away when they see you.’
    This statement seemed to be decisive. He could see the man puff himself up proudly and though he carried no weapon his manner changed. ‘Take me to them,’ he commanded.
    James did as he was bidden, and led him from the path into the heart of the park. As they neared the pavilion, James could see Darcy on the ground. Kelly held his arms fast while Hare grabbed his legs. Kitty appeared to be rifling his pockets.
    ‘Help!’ Darcy shouted piteously as he spied James and the man.
    ‘Leave him be, you scoundrels!’ the would-be rescuer shouted. ‘Or I’ll get the sheriff’s men on you!’
    The playacting stopped abruptly, and the ‘victim’ suddenly sprang to his feet, a cruel smile on his lips. ‘Oh I don’t think so,’ he announced. ‘I