matter. The government wants to get at the truth … diplomatically. It is, after all, a government matter. At the same time they don’t want to put a strain on our relations with Buganda.”
“So they think it is entirely because of the business on which he is engaged?”
“That seems to be the official view. I shouldn’t think it is just an ordinary case of robbery … and … er … disposing of the victims.”
“Oh, John!” cried Lady Greenham. “For Heaven’s sake, don’t talk like that.”
“We have to face facts, my dear. In some of these places it’s not safe to walk out at night.”
“Joel should have known better,” said Lady Greenham.
“You can see how it happened,” went on Sir John. “The carriage took as many as it could, and the two youngest members of the party naturally agreed to walk.”
“And during that walk … they disappeared,” I said.
“That’s about it.”
“But you say the authorities are doing something about it. They are not just letting it pass.”
Sir John nodded. “You can be sure that all that can be done is being done.”
“It is good of you to come and see us,” said Lady Greenham. “There has been too much horror lately. I think you did right to go to Cornwall.”
“My sister wanted me to stay, but in view of this …”
Sir John leaned over and patted my head.
“We always knew you were fond of him,” he said.
“As a matter of fact … we talked together before he went. We were going to announce our engagement on his return.”
They were both smiling at me.
“He’ll come back,” said Sir John, “and then we shall have wedding bells. Alas …”
I knew what he was thinking. It would be so different from what we had all had in mind. My father, one of the architects of the plan for us, would not be there. He had been done to death by an assassin’s hand; and the bridegroom was missing in a foreign country.
I asked myself how much more disaster could strike.
While I was talking to Sir John and Lady Greenham, Gerald Greenham arrived. There was only about a year’s difference in his and Joel’s ages and I knew there was a strong friendship between the two brothers. Gerald was likable and full of vitality, though he lacked that inner gentleness which I found so appealing in Joel.
He talked about his brother’s disappearance. Naturally it was the chief topic of conversation in that house. He was of the opinion that not enough was being done to find out what had happened.
Sir John said that naturally plans of action would not be blazoned from the rooftops and in such cases there was bound to be a certain amount of secrecy.
Gerald stuck to his view. He asked me how I was getting on, remembering suddenly it seemed that I had endured an even greater tragedy for, while they could retain hope, I could have none.
When I rose to go, Sir John suggested that Gerald should take me home, to which Gerald responded with enthusiasm.
When we came out of the house he hailed a cab and, as we jogged along together, he said: “This is a great blow to the parents. They hide it … but I know what it is doing to them.”
“I understand.”
“I get impatient. I want to do something.”
“What could you do?”
“That’s the important question. What I can’t endure is sitting at home here waiting for something to happen. I get impatient.”
“Understandably.”
“You must feel the same. I know how you felt about Joel.”
“I do wish he would come back.”
“I’d like to go out there … make a few investigations, in secret … you understand. Not letting on that I was his brother.”
“I suppose the government could achieve more than a private detective.”
“That depends. I’d like to have a good go anyway.”
I glanced sideways at him. He had a very firm jaw; and there was speculation in his eyes.
I liked him very much. He really cared about his brother. When I said good-bye I felt a little better … because of him.
The weeks began
“So they think it is entirely because of the business on which he is engaged?”
“That seems to be the official view. I shouldn’t think it is just an ordinary case of robbery … and … er … disposing of the victims.”
“Oh, John!” cried Lady Greenham. “For Heaven’s sake, don’t talk like that.”
“We have to face facts, my dear. In some of these places it’s not safe to walk out at night.”
“Joel should have known better,” said Lady Greenham.
“You can see how it happened,” went on Sir John. “The carriage took as many as it could, and the two youngest members of the party naturally agreed to walk.”
“And during that walk … they disappeared,” I said.
“That’s about it.”
“But you say the authorities are doing something about it. They are not just letting it pass.”
Sir John nodded. “You can be sure that all that can be done is being done.”
“It is good of you to come and see us,” said Lady Greenham. “There has been too much horror lately. I think you did right to go to Cornwall.”
“My sister wanted me to stay, but in view of this …”
Sir John leaned over and patted my head.
“We always knew you were fond of him,” he said.
“As a matter of fact … we talked together before he went. We were going to announce our engagement on his return.”
They were both smiling at me.
“He’ll come back,” said Sir John, “and then we shall have wedding bells. Alas …”
I knew what he was thinking. It would be so different from what we had all had in mind. My father, one of the architects of the plan for us, would not be there. He had been done to death by an assassin’s hand; and the bridegroom was missing in a foreign country.
I asked myself how much more disaster could strike.
While I was talking to Sir John and Lady Greenham, Gerald Greenham arrived. There was only about a year’s difference in his and Joel’s ages and I knew there was a strong friendship between the two brothers. Gerald was likable and full of vitality, though he lacked that inner gentleness which I found so appealing in Joel.
He talked about his brother’s disappearance. Naturally it was the chief topic of conversation in that house. He was of the opinion that not enough was being done to find out what had happened.
Sir John said that naturally plans of action would not be blazoned from the rooftops and in such cases there was bound to be a certain amount of secrecy.
Gerald stuck to his view. He asked me how I was getting on, remembering suddenly it seemed that I had endured an even greater tragedy for, while they could retain hope, I could have none.
When I rose to go, Sir John suggested that Gerald should take me home, to which Gerald responded with enthusiasm.
When we came out of the house he hailed a cab and, as we jogged along together, he said: “This is a great blow to the parents. They hide it … but I know what it is doing to them.”
“I understand.”
“I get impatient. I want to do something.”
“What could you do?”
“That’s the important question. What I can’t endure is sitting at home here waiting for something to happen. I get impatient.”
“Understandably.”
“You must feel the same. I know how you felt about Joel.”
“I do wish he would come back.”
“I’d like to go out there … make a few investigations, in secret … you understand. Not letting on that I was his brother.”
“I suppose the government could achieve more than a private detective.”
“That depends. I’d like to have a good go anyway.”
I glanced sideways at him. He had a very firm jaw; and there was speculation in his eyes.
I liked him very much. He really cared about his brother. When I said good-bye I felt a little better … because of him.
The weeks began
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