The Dark Palace

‘It’s more likely that she was in on it too. On the blackmail I mean. I observed them before the screening. They were working together.’

‘No. I will not accept that. What Dolores and I had, though brief, was … genuine. Good God, man. I would have done anything for her. She had no need to get mixed up in a sordid blackmail business. She knew I would have taken care of her.’

‘Would you have left your wife?’

‘What conceivable necessity would there have been to do that?’

Qui

‘I don’t know. Everyone there, I suppose.’

‘When news of her death comes out, your name …’

‘My name will be kept out of it. Not on my behalf, you understand. But for the good of the country.’

‘You were very indiscreet, Lord Dunwich. Are you aware that not only was there a newspaper journalist present, there was also a newspaper proprietor there?’

‘Yes. Harry Le

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Well, I know he’s Irish, but we can count on his support in this, I think. Harry Le

‘But there may be others – your friend Hartma

‘I really ca

‘And I find it hard to understand your faith in him.’

‘Let me just say that in the past, he has proved himself in this capacity.’

‘He has supplied you with secrets regarding German military intentions or arrangements?’

‘He has proved himself to be a friend.’

‘Is that not an excellent way to earn your trust? Which he may hold in reserve until such time as he may employ it to the greatest effect?’

‘Do you not have any other theories?’

‘Theories that are not based on evidence are merely wild speculation. We know that you were sent an object that has the appearance of an eye. Subsequent to that, two women were attacked in a similar ma

‘Is that so?’

‘Yes, unfortunately. One of the victims can be linked to you. The other – well, I have not asked you about her, Lord Dunwich. Did you see the woman who was attacked in Cecil Court?’

‘Yes, I saw her.’

‘And … how may I put this? Have you ever had relations with her of a similar nature to those you had with Dolores Novak?’

There was a pause before Lord Dunwich answered: ‘I had never seen her before last night.’

Qui

‘Where do we go from here, Qui

‘In the interests of public order, I would request that Waechter’s film is withdrawn from exhibition.’

‘That is a matter for the Home Office. You will have to apply to them. I dare say Sir Edward will arrange it for you. But, if I may say so, is that not rather a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted?’

‘Two women have been attacked already. Both are co

‘But do you really think it’s possible that watching this film could prompt someone to carry out these attacks?’

‘As yet we don’t know what the attacker’s motivation is. And so, we have to proceed with a general, widespread caution.’

‘But if the attacker is the person who sent me this, and the attacks are related to this – then he formed the intention to carry out the attacks before he saw the film, unless …’

‘Yes, Lord Dunwich.’ Qui

‘But why would Waechter initiate a series of attacks that might lead to the ba

‘Like all those of an artistic temperament, Waechter labours under the burden of an immense arrogance. This blinded him to the possibility that his acts might have a consequence that he could not control. At the same time, he is driven by an obsession that is rooted in his disordered psychology.’

‘An obsession?’

‘He is clearly obsessed by eyes. In particular, by the idea of removing them. It is possible that his actions have no logical wellspring. No motivation that you or I would understand. That he is mad, in other words. I intend to study his previous films to understand his psychology more fully.’

‘Are you qualified to undertake such an operation?’

Now it was Qui

‘Very well. If there is nothing more to discuss …’

Qui

‘I do beg your pardon, Qui

It was up to Qui

THIRTY-EIGHT

Mika Novak waited out the day in a cheap hotel near King’s Cross station. He knew that they would be looking for him. Night was the best time to move. He had had the foresight to bring with him his case of theatrical make-up. The day had been spent experimenting with different facial hair styles and colours. He decided also to bulk out his body shape by strapping the shrunken musty pillow from the bed around his torso.

The disguise would serve a dual purpose. It would enable him to evade capture by the police. It would also mean that he could slip out of the hotel without the inconvenience of having to settle his bill.

There’s nothing wrong with killing two birds with one stone, thought Novak.

So Dolores was dead. Or Gladys, to give her her real name. No doubt he ought to be more upset about it than he was. If anyone had been able to look into his heart, they might have been surprised to see how little feeling there was for her there. Poor little bitch, was about the extent of the regret he could summon up on her behalf.

He smiled as he thought of the sight that would greet this imaginary spy into his heart: blackness. Utter blackness. The image of a rotten, wizened lump of gristle came to mind. Of something charred and empty.

No doubt it was all very wrong and all that. But he couldn’t make himself feel what he didn’t feel. And all he had to go on were his feelings.

Like fear. The healthy fear that prompts self-preservation. That was why he had run from the room on Dean Street. A sensible enough move, taking everything into account.

Of course, the police would try to pin it on him. They always blamed the husband. That was a laugh, though. Him and Gladys had never got married. There’d never been any talk of it. Nothing could have been further from either of their minds.

Theirs had been entirely a business relationship. Though of course that hadn’t stopped him sampling the merchandise from time to time. Just to make sure it was up to scratch. Quality control, you might call it.

And now, due to unforeseen circumstances, their business dealings had come to an abrupt end. Regrettable perhaps. But Novak had little use for regrets. Regrets were dangerous. You made a mistake, the thing was to move on.

No point crying over spilt milk. Wasn’t that what they said?

And besides, what had happened to Gladys, that wasn’t for him to regret, was it?