Page 44 of The Gift of Patience
When they reached the door, Rupert took a deep breath. “I know the way from here.”
“I suppose you do.”
“I’ll say, I wish you would remove that man from here. It’s not seemly to have him around.”
“I assure you, he will be gone today. My apologies if taking you in there offended your sensibilities. I only thought you might be able to help. We want to ensure he was not working with anyone else that might continue where he left off.”
“I was obliged to do my duty, but unfortunately, I cannot help you, nor can I imagine anyone that I associate with having any dealings with his kind.”
“You misunderstand, my friend, we only wish to see if you’d seen him around with anyone else.”
Rupert shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I had best be on my way. I would not wish to keep Miss Whitford waiting.”
Ashley gave him a mock salute and watched as Rupert scurried away towards the house, waiting until he entered the doors, wanting to ensure he did not side-track to the clearing. He turned and went back to see Baines and Devil.
“Well?” Ashley asked as he entered and leaned on the desk.
“That popinjay makes my skin crawl,” Baines said.
Devil snorted.
“Anything useful?”
“He’s lying.”
“Agreed, but will our distinguished guest enlighten us as to how they know each other?”
“I’ve never seen that clown in my life,” Devil spat.
He was being truthful. “You are certain he’s not the toff that gives you messages?”
Devil shook his head. “We’ve only met in the dark. He’s very careful, but I’ve heard his voice and it’s not nasally and whiney.”
“If he disguises it?”
Devil closed his eyes as if trying to imagine the sound. “I s’pose.”
“He was delivering messages to you at the clearing at night?”
Devil nodded. “Then I’d signal the others.”
“Since I am in a generous mood, I’ll have some of Cook’s dinner sent to you if you tell us what happened when the signal was three flashes.”
He shrugged. “It meant we picked up the crates as what he told us to do.”
“But how did he tell you which ones and where?” Baines asked.
“Some bloke named Hocks knew that bit. He meets us at the Company and tells us what to swap.”
It was much as they suspected, but frustrating not to have more to go on.
“Does this Hocks work at the shipyard with the others?”
Devil shrugged.
Ashley sighed. It was clear he was not going to get anything more from Devil at the moment. He believed what he said about the toff, but how else could they find the man?
He and Baines returned back to the house, leaving Chauncy to guard Devil. It was time they all sat down together and exchanged what they knew. Hopefully, Renforth would have received word back from London on Layton.
