Page 40 of The Trick of the Treasure
“Of course you do. Please don’t let me keep you.”
He saw her into a hackney, doffed his hat, and set off back the way he had come.
The Crown and Anchor was dark, smoky, and crowded, which at least meant he was not quite as noticeable as he would otherwise have been in his smart coat and hat. Having stumbled into the bar counter by accident, he ordered a pint of ale, and when it came, rather than actually drink the foul-looking brew, he asked the tapster if he knew the two crew members from theQueen of the Sea, Jackson and Squibbs, by name.
“No,” said the tapster without even thinking about it, and went to serve someone less inquisitive.
Solomon picked up his mug and turned to face the room through the fug of tobacco smoke. By accident, his eyes met those of the man next to him.
“Over there,” the man said amiably, nodding toward the table in the corner, “which I give you for free, though I’d thank you for a pint.”
Solomon almost gave the man his own, but instead set a coin in front of him. “Have two,” he said, and took his mug across to the corner.
In fact, there were three men at the table, and one of them had his back to Solomon. His heart began to beat faster. He sat down on the bench, not so close that anyone could put a hand in his pocket, and set his mug on the table shared by the trio.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “is it true you’re part of theQueen of the Seacrew that brought treasure back to these shores?”
One of them grinned. “So we did, but if you imagine it’s made us rich, think again!”
“Wouldn’t be drinking here if we was rich,” said the man whose face he hadn’t previously seen—a weather-beaten face, but not the one he sought.
The disappointment was like a blow. He had to remind himself that of course it was never going to be that easy.
“Which makes us wonder,” said the third man, “whyyouare drinking here?”
“I am looking for someone and Captain Tybalt couldn’t help me. He said you fellows might know where Johnny is lodging.”
“Johnny? Too cold for him in these parts. Got aboard another ship, didn’t he?”
*
The disappointment wasso crushing that he arrived back at the Silver and Grey offices with no clear recollection of the journey. He was only there to close the shutters and make sure the fires were safe, but he was running out of time for the opera.
He lit the wall light in the hall and the lamp on his desk, then moved around, completing his mundane tasks. He always kept a few items of clothing at the office, so he splashed some water about his person and changed into a clean shirt and evening dress, abandoning his overcoat, which stank unbearably of tobacco, filth, and old, old grief.
Then, although he knew he was already going to be late, he sat down at his desk and drew out the photograph. Unmagnified, there was nothing to make the African sailor stand out. He could have been anyone. Only hope had made him into Solomon’s lost brother. He should have known that. Both Lloyd and his son had spent time on the same ship as this man. He had helped pull up his treasure. Would they not have seen Solomon’s likeness to him as soon as they met if this Johnny had been David, his twin? Yet neither Lloyd had reacted to him.
He had wasted half his afternoon on a wild goose chase. Still, he had done the right thing. There was no point in having agents around the world looking out for David if he failed to follow up on tracks and traces that came his own way. He would have liked to have met this man. There was even that small, lingeringchance that hewasDavid. Which was why he had given this address to the sailors to pass on to him, should they run into him again.
He had lived all his adult life alone. It had never been impossible. And now there was Constance, his totally unexpected joy… For whom he was going to be late.
He touched the face in the photograph, then swept it into the drawer below and left the office.
*
Miss Audrey Lloydsat on her bed, rummaging through her bag in search of her missing key. She brought out three mittens, a few coins, a screwed-up piece of paper, several handkerchiefs—all used—and a piece of pastry that made her wrinkle her nose in distaste.
Hastily, she wrapped the disgusting fragment of pie in the paper and threw it in her wastepaper basket before she swept the handkerchiefs into the laundry. Then she sat back on the bed, and had just drawn out the missing key with some triumph when abruptly her bedchamber opened and Christine walked in.
It was all Audrey could do to force a vague, silly smile to her lips. She had thought she would be free of all visits tonight—she usually was, to be fair—for the entire family apart from herself and Rachel were going to the opera.
Christine was in all her finery, looking both beautiful and regal.
“How lovely you are,” Audrey said admiringly.
Although Christine liked to be complimented—even by her sister-in-law—she would not be distracted.
To Audrey’s dismay, she closed the door softly behind her. “What key is that?” she demanded in a hard voice that was entirely free of fear.
