Страница 42 из 55
“Do you mind if I take this lad into the house, so that I can refer to my order book?” asked the Captain.
“He does not wish me to overhear their conversation,” thought the Vicar. “This ‘order book’ is but a blind drawn
in front of my eyes.” Which only made him the more determined to overhear what might pass between them.
Aloud he answered: “Certainly, Captain, with all my heart. You may have the use of my study undisturbed, if you
will allow me but a minute to put on my gown to be in readiness for the reading of Morning Prayer. It is nearing my
time, for the Sexton has already gone to the church and will be sounding the ten o’clock bell in a minute or so. And
do you know, Captain, if I am not dead upon time, the old rascal will slip away quickly, glad of any excuse to escape
going through the many responses and Amens.”
Doctor Syn had already made up his mind. He led his companions to the Vicarage, entering by the front door
and not by the study garden door, at the back. In the hall he went to a side-cupboard and produced the glasses,
which he placed on the table, saying:
“I have not yet drunk our mutual friend, George Lee’s, health, since he became a master of his craft. I am sure,
Captain, you will join me in such a ceremony. I will open a bottle of sherry, for such an occasion demands the
drawing of a fresh cork, and I can leave you to finish the contents, for if I stay too long my Sexton will abandon me.
Mipps is an excellent fellow, but he had his weaknesses. As he has not yet rung the bell I am safe for a minute or so
before cutting off his retreat. You see, Captain, Mipps and I have frequent words about the necessity for carrying
through the form of Morning and Evening Prayer, when there may be no one there but ourselves. You will
understand that I am not in any way accusing my good flock of desertion, but they are busy fold upon week-days,
and more often than not, we have not three gathered together, but only two, myself and Sexton. Not being in Holy
Orders, Mipps is not obligated to say privately or publicly his Morning and Evening Form of Prayer, but I am. And
although many clergy keep their churches closed during the week, I consider such to be a breach of discipline. Just
a moment, Captain,” he laughed.
Now Mrs. Fowey was in the habit of giving Mr. Mipps just one noggin of rum before service, ‘just to give him
strength to pull the heavy bell’, she would say. So Doctor Syn knew that he could count upon finding the Sexton
performing his part of this rite in the still-room. Mipps would no more have missed that ceremony than he would
have missed accompanying the Vicar through the toils and trial of a Daily Service.
So now to the still-room Doctor Syn hurried, and found Mipps sitting by the rum barrel, with a pa
hand, and being watched over by the housekeeper who wished to see that he did not help himself to a further
allowance, which he would assuredly have done if left to his own devices.
“Ah, Mipps,” exclaimed the vicar pleasantly. “ I think it is nearing the time to ring the bell. I must go and robe.
I am glad to see that Mrs. Fowey is fortifying you to pull the bell rope. But before I go to the study there is just
something I wish to point out to you in the kitchen garden. Oh, Mrs. Fowey, pray take your keys to the wine cellar
and fetch me a bottle of sherry for the Captain and his guest. I find I could do with a glassful myself. I fear I an not
so partial to rum as our good Sexton is.”
As Mrs. Fowey strode away, Mipps favoured his master with a sly wink behind his back.
No sooner had the housekeeper taken herself from earshot than the Vicar whispered quickly: “Slip into the study
by the garden door, Mipps. Conceal yourself in the usual spot behind the cloaks hanging in the alcove. I want you
to listen to whatever the Captain is about to say to young George Lee, the cooper, who has come up to see him for
some reason. That reason we have got to discover. It is very vital. Remember, he is making those special casks to
the Scarecrow’s orders, and before those casks are used for the purpose for which they have been pla
know exactly how much the Captain knows, and whether it has anything to do with the peculiarity of those casks.
Now, Mipps, remember, if by ill-chance he should discover you eavesdropping behind the cloaks, you must be
asleep and very drunk. Then I shall reprimand you. The old dodge which has worked well before this.”
Mipps nodded. “He may or mayn’t look into the alcove, sir. In any case I shall be ready for him.
“I don’t think he will,” said Syn. “He will think you are at the church, and when he hears the bell, which I shall
ring directly I get there, he will think you are safely out of the way. Make haste now.”
Mipps went out to the garden, while the Vicar followed his housekeeper into the wine cellar with a “Make haste,
my good woman.”
Armed with the bottle of sherry he returned to the hall.
“Here you are, Captain,” he said, putting the bottle on the table and laying a corkscrew beside it.
“Now while I put on my gown for church perhaps you, George, will draw that cork, and perhaps you, Captain
will fill the glasses. At the risk of being abandoned by Mipps I will have a glass before I set off.”
Having set them both a task which would keep them for the moment in the hall, the Vicar went towards the study
door, taking off his long black jacket as he went. There was a hook upon the back of the door, so that he had every
excuse to close the door in reaching for the peg.
Meanwhile George pulled the cork, and then the Captain signed to him to fill the glasses too.
In the study Doctor Syn saw that the garden door was fastened, and as he unhooked his Geneva gown, he was
amused to see Mipps peeping out at him from the voluminous folds of cloaks and cassocks that hung in the alcove.
Mipps not only gri
the folds fell back and covered Mipps.
This same hiding-place having served the rascals well in the past, caused the Vicar no anxiety, so that he did not
bother to look down to see whether or no Mipps was fully concealed, for he knew that the riding cloaks were very
ling and full, reaching the floor. Indeed he knew that his henchman was so well hidden that he purposely left the
curtains drawn back, in order to appear the less suspicious.
Having pulled on his gown, he picked up a Bible from his table. Not that he would need this for reading from,
since he would use the large one upon the pulpit cushion, but he thought it would lend a further tone of piety which
would be good for the Captain to see. He realized that it would be policy to play the good man automatically on
every occasion, since the Captain was not above suspecting even him.
Leaving the study door wide open he rejoined the others in the hall.
“Ah, I see that the glasses are charged. Splendid,” he cried. “You are thirstily awaiting me to propose friend
George’s health, with a hope that he may have a long life in a settled trade.” He picked up his glass. “I do wish you
and honoured career, George, from my heart. Take after your grandfather and father in the business and you’ll come
to no harm. Also think sometimes of the teachings I was able to give you here, when you were a lad. Here’s to you,
George. You were a good boy, and I know you are now going to be a good man. Remember, too, the slogan of the
Marsh: ‘Serve God. Honour the King. But first, Maintain the Wall.’ And the last sentence means this, my lad.
You must not only protect your home by maintaining the sea-wall with your strength and courage, but you must