The Dark Palace

The first thing to do was to establish the girl’s identity. He peeled open the crumpled card. As he had suspected, it was an invitation to the premiere. But there was no name written on it, whether in green ink or any other.

Qui

All that his enquiry prompted was a bemused and faintly outraged rumbling, with much head-shaking. It seemed that his ploy to gain their attention by elevating himself had served only to arouse their indignation. After the attack on the young woman, this was insult added to her injury. Also, his behaviour seemed to give them licence to begin drinking, as if that transgression opened the door to others. There was a sudden crush at the champagne tables, a rise in the general hubbub, an unseemly sense of release.

Qui

‘And have you any idea who that man is?’ Qui

‘Yes. I know full well who he is.’

‘He is German.’

‘I know that.’

‘I thought you wanted us to investigate Germans.’

‘Not all Germans are spies, Qui

‘We believe he is. Indeed, we believe he is the head of a spy network.’

‘Nonsense. Oskar Hartma

‘You might avoid war if you contrive to deliver England over to the Germans without a fight.’

‘What are you suggesting?’

‘That man, Hartma

‘I expressly instructed you not to investigate the barbershop.’

‘Yes, and now I am wondering why.’

‘You impertinent fool!’

‘Hartma

‘What secret materials?’

‘We do not know the precise nature of the materials in question.’

‘Then how do you know they are secret?’

‘The lettering on the envelope was written in green ink.’ Some instinct persuaded Qui

‘What is it?’ Qui

‘Nothing. I … what happened to that girl has set my nerves on edge …’ Lord Dunwich’s gaze flitted wildly. His aggressive super-iority had abandoned him. He was afraid.

‘I ca

‘You don’t know what you ask.’

‘Did something happen, Lord Dunwich?’

‘I was sent something. A package. The address was written in green ink. That’s all.’

‘What was it?’

‘Now is not the time, Qui

‘What were you sent?’

‘Just … a billiard ball.’

‘Why would anyone send you a billiard ball?’

‘I don’t know. There was no explanation. No name. Just a billiard ball. It had been painted to look like an eye, that was all.’

Qui

‘No … I can’t imagine.’

‘Do you still have it? And the packaging it came in? The writing in green ink?’

‘Yes. I have kept it. It’s locked in a drawer at the Admiralty. For some reason I didn’t like the idea of throwing it away.’

‘Will you kindly have it sent round to me at the Special Crimes Department at your soonest convenience. Were you intending to go into the Admiralty tomorrow, for example?’

‘Yes. We’re frightfully busy at the moment. Between you and me, Qui

Qui

‘Do you really think it could be important?’

‘You are a minister in a department that plays a vital role in our country’s defence. You may well be a target for our enemies. I would not be surprised to discover that this bizarre package has some sinister significance. The green ink is very telling, I believe.’ He lifted the handkerchief with its gruesome contents out of his pocket and looked down at it. ‘What colour was the eye you were sent?’

‘Blue, I seem to remember.’

Qui

‘Good God, man! Do you have to?’

Qui

‘And then there’s the fact that you were sent a package containing an eye – or something that was made to look like an eye. That links it with what has happened tonight. Although the colours of the eyes are different. At any rate, what has happened tonight is co

‘Waechter? I know that many believe him to be a genius.’

‘He killed a man, I believe.’

‘It was in a duel, Inspector. And it did happen in Austria.’

‘Does that make it acceptable?’

‘It makes it no concern of mine.’

‘He ca

‘I believe that is the case.’

‘Perhaps he is looking for a powerful ally to intercede on his behalf? To facilitate his return to his homeland? If he were to prove himself in the service of this ally, things might go better for him at home?’

‘Interesting. At the time of his duel he was an officer in the Landwehr. But he was dishonourably discharged.’

‘For duelling? But isn’t that all to do with honour?’

‘I don’t think it was anything to do with his duel. There were rumours … of a scandal.’

‘What kind of a scandal?’

‘Not here, Qui

‘He knows how to handle a camera. It could be used for recording sensitive material. Naval defences, for example.’

‘Have your officers seen Waechter at the barber’s?’

‘No. Only Hartma