Bazi Bazoum; or, A strange detective

Front matter

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Chapter I. The Manor House

Woodville is one of the prettiest towns in the New Forest; — perhaps elsewhere it would only be called a large village, but in this part of the world a little goes a long way ; — and the Town Hall, which was built a few years ago, has given to the place not exactly an air of pretentiousness, but a certain position among its neighbours. • It is not, however, necessary to give any detailed description of Woodville, as our story is only incidentally connected with it. Hardly a quarter of a mile beyond the last house in the town is an enclosure of ten or twelve acres, scarcely to be dignified with the name of a park, were it not for some magnificent old trees which it contains, and for the fact that it is surrounded by a well-built stone wall, about eight feet high. A pair of large iron gates, painted black, with the orna mental scroll work picked out in gold, formed the entrance to a road which led through an avenue of fine lime-trees straight up to a house at the distance of about 200 yards.

Nothing could be more picturesque than the appearance of this house, built of red brick, only two storeys high, partly covered with ivy, having two projecting wings, and a central tower, forming a capital E, in honour of the Vir gin Queen, during whose reign it had been built. It had fortunately escaped all modern improvements, and the old stone mullioned windows had been left in their original THE MANOR HOUSE. beauty, though carefully preserved from decay. In short, it looked exactly what it was — an old English Manor House, evidently both comfortable and picturesque, while the numerous stacks of red brick chimneys, with orna mental mouldings, gave it a certain air of dignity and stability. In the rear were large stables and extensive farm buildings, which, however, were at some little distance from the house.

A short flight of stone steps led up to the principal entrance. It should be mentioned here, that a short time before the commencement of our tale, Woodville Manor House, with about 200 acres of surrounding land, had been purchased by a rich Liverpool merchant of the name of Robinson, an elderly widower, without any children of his own, but devo tedly attached to a nephew and niece, orphans, whom he had adopted on the death of their parents. Mr. Robinson had been so much occupied by his business, that he had only been able to visit Woodville two or three times since he had bought the property, and each visit had been a short one; but he left everything incharge of a thoroughly trust worthy steward, John Armstrong by name, who, after many years passed at sea, was glad to find a comfortable home in this quiet retreat in the New Forest.

He was a hale and hearty man, between forty and fifty years of age, and since his arrival at Woodville had learnt a good deal of the practical work of a farm, as Mr. Robinson intended to purchase an adjoining estate which would shortly be in the market. John Armstrong, like his master, was a widower, but he had a charming daughter, Mary, not quite eighteen, who had accompanied him when he came from the North, and who was proud to show him how much she had learnt at the dairy-farm in Cheshire, where she had been brought up by her grandparents during her father's absence at sea. Arthur Denison, the merchant's nephew, a good-looking young fellow of five-and-twenty, in the Hussars, had seen some service in India and Egypt ; aud having obtained three months' leave, was looking forward with the greatest pleasure to meeting his uncle and sister, on his arrival in London, after an absence of some years.

His sister Maude, who was a good deal younger than him- THE MANOR HOUSE. 11 self, having only just entered her eighteenth year, was on the point of leaving the school in Paris where she had completed her education ; and it had been arranged that her uncle, who had business on the Continent, should escort her to London, where they would await the arrival of her brother, and all three would go down to the New Forest, for a long and pleasant holiday. So much by way of introduction ; now for our story. The 27th of September, 1883, was one of those glorious mornings when summer melts away into autumn, under the influence of a sun which, by its rays, brightens, warms, and refreshes nature, just awakening to receive it. Woodville church clock had just struck eight, when a young man came up to the entrance gates of the Manor House, and seizing the chain which was attached to a large bell inside, gave it a long and vigorous pull.

The velveteen jacket and leathern gaiters, together with the double-bar relled gun, left little doubt as to his occupation, while the well-filled game bag, and panting retriever who followed him, showed that he had turned the early morning hours to good account. Having, as we said, given a vehement pull to the bell, which echoed loudly among the trees, he leant against one of the stone pillars, which flanked the gate on either side, and waited for some one to give him admittance. His dog lost no time in lying down at his feet, and, placing his nose on his extended paws, closed his eyes, and seemed to be asleep. But all at once, moved by some impulse for which there seemed no sufficient reason, he suddenly jumped up, sniffed the air in every direction, but especially towards the Manor Huuse, then rushed up to the gate, and did all in his power to squeeze himself through the bars.

Not succeeding in this, he set up a long and dismal howl. Tony Scott, for that was the name of the young gamekeeper, startled by this sudden outbreak, gave the dog rather a savage kick, and cried out, "What are you up to, Rauger ? Any one would think you were baying at the moon. Let's have no more of it. To heels, sir ! " The dog obeyed, mainly from fear of receiving further chastisement, and lay down again close to his master, but •'THE SHADOW OF A FEAR." with his eyes constantly fixed on the gate, and with his nostrils trembling from excitement did not dare to howl, but from time to time uttered a suppressed moan. Two or three more minutes passed. There was no sound of approaching feet under the lime-trees, and nothing showed that the bell had been heard at the Manor House. "Ah, well," muttered Tony, "Master John and his daughter are both of them taking it easy this morning.

I thought I rang loud enough to wake the dead. But here goes again." So saying, he seized the bell-handle once more, and rang even louder than he had done the first time.

Chapter II

"the shadow of a fear." Whilst he was making a fearful noise, a small group of three persons came up to the gate. A young lad of fifteen led the way, having on a blue apron, and a butcher's tray carefully balanced on his head. Close behind him came a young girl who had a basket in her right hand, and in her left a net, between the meshes of which shone the bright and glistening scales of some fine freshwater fish. The country postman brought up the rear, with his bag of letters, from which he had just taken one to be delivered at the Manor House. These new arrivals came up to Tony, who was kicking his heels impatiently against the gate-post, and muttering to himself when he found that his second peal at the bell produced no better result than the first. They stopped a few paces from him. " You seem to have some business here pretty early this morning, Mr. Gamekeeper," said the young girl, smiling; " but what has put you out so ?

We heard 3tou ever so far off, cursing and swearing dreadful." "Why," answered Tony rather crossly ; "because I've •'THE SHADOW OF A FEAR." 13 been ringing here for the last ten minutes or more, and that's enough to vex any one. Little Alice, who goes to the Manor House to help Mary Armstrong, called late yesterday evening to tell me to bring up some game as soon as I could in the morning. So I was up by daybreak, and have brought a hare and three brace of partridges. I promised Alice that I would not be later than eight o'clock, and here I was when the church clock struck. I've been ringing almost ever since, and yet no one comes. Deuced queer, isn't it ? " " Ah." said the young girl, whose name was Sophy ; " yesterday evening, after leaving you, Alice came to our house to order some fish.

So father laid his lines, and caught a fine tench, that weighs about three pounds, two beautiful trout, and some perch. They are almost alive now. Won't Mary be pleased ! " " And just look what I've got ! " exclaimed Jem, the butcher's boy; " such a leg of mutton, a sirloin of beef with a lovely undercut, aud half a dozen veal cutlets. Don't I wish they'd ask me to dinner to-day ! Miss Mary sent word that we was to let them have the most primest meat we'd got, and I'm blessed if it ain't." " Good heavens ! " cried Tony ; " why, any one would think they were going to have a wedding breakfast. Have they got any company up yonder ? " "Alice told me that Mary was expecting some one," said Sophy. " Perhaps it's Mr. Robinson." " Perhaps it is," rejoined the postman, speaking for the first time ; " for I brought a letter yesterday for John Arm strong, with the London postmark on it, and I know it was from Mr. Robinson by the writing.

I wish," he continued, "one of you would take charge of this letter, for it seems as if no one was coming to-day. If I were kept waiting like this at every house, I should not get through my round till nightfall." ' " All right, Mr. Higgins," replied Tony ; " hand me over the letter, and I'll see it's delivered safe enough." The country postman wished them all good-morning, and started on his round again. All this time while they were chatting .the Manor House was as silent as the grave, and not a sound was heard in the lime-tree avenue. "THE SHADOW OF A FEAR." " Oh, come," exclaimed the gamekeeper ; " this is too much of a good thing! I'll give them a rouser;" and so saying, he pulled the bell with all his might for nearly a minute. As he left off, a sound, faint, indistinct, indescribable, fell on the ears of the three listeners.

" Did you hear that ? " asked Tony. "Yes," replied Sophy; "I thought I heard something; but what could it be ? " " I fancied it sounded like a groan," said the butcher's boy, turning pale. At this moment Ranger, the large retriever, rushed up to the gate, threw his head back, and howled even more dis mally than he had done before. Tony, in a rage at the noise made by the dog, seized him roughly, and flung him across the road, where he lay trembling, but not daring to utter any further sound. The little party listened intently, and looked through the bars of the gate, but could neither see nor hear anything more. They began to be uneasy, and Tony expressed this vague feeling by saying, " All this seems to me very queer. I don't half like it. John Armstrong is always up by daybreak, summer aud winter; and after dark, as I pass under the wall, I can hear the old sailor whistling and talking to himself as he goes his rouuds."

" And Mary, too," interrupted Sophy ; " she's not one of your lazy sort. She's up the first thing in the morning, and sees to the feeding of all the animals." " And then we must not forget Cæsar," continued Tony ; "why, if so much as a fly buzzes, he gives tongue, and barks himself hoarse. And now, here have I been ringing away, and he hasn't taken the smallest notice. Ranger, too, has been howling like mad, and Cæsar never answered him. I wonder whether John and Mary have gone out, and taken the dog with them." Sophy shook her head. " What ! Gone out ? Both of them ? Never! Why, Mary knew we were all coming; and even if they had gone out, they would have left Cæsar to guard the place." " That's true," rejoined Tony ; " and yet, you see, there's "THE SHADOW OF A FE AR" 15 no one moving. I wonder whether anything's happened in the night ?

" " What could have happened ? " demanded Sophy. " Ah ! that's just it. We must go and see." " Well, then, Tony, jnst put your arm through the bars, and see if you can undo the bolt." Tony did as the young girl suggested, but to no purpose. " Impossible," he said, shrugging his shoulders; " there's no key in the lock ; and look here, this chain that goes round these two bars is fastened by a padlock. It wants a blacksmith to break it open. But here goes." So saying, he leant his gun against one of the pillars, and laying hold of tho bars he clambered up to the top of the gate, and leant over the other side; but instead of jumping down into the park, he turned to Sophy and cried out, " Here's a rum go. Why, there's a ladder put up against the wall close by. It's clear enough some one has used it to get out of the park, and some one who had no business there either, else John or Mary would have let them out through the gate."

The girl was going to say something, but Tony stopped her. " Quiet, quiet," he half whispered. " Listen." The same strange sound that had caused Rangler's howl ing now began again. But it was no longer possible to make any mistake as to its nature. It was the moan of a dying creature. Sophy and the butcher-boy trembled from head to foot. " I see something," exclaimed Tony, " right down the lime-tree avenue. It looks like some animal trying to drag itself towards us, and can't do it. Now it's up — now fallen — now up again. It's a dog. Ah ! I know him'; why, it's Cæsar, poor devil. I believe he's wounded, perhaps dying." " Oh, go and see, go and see," stammered Sophy ; " I'm half dead with fright. I know something dreadful's happened." Tony lost no time in letting himself down on the other side, and then ran full speed towards the house.

Half-way up the avenue he came upon the half-lifeless body of the dog Cæsar. Mr. Robinson had bought him in '* THE SHADOW OF A FEAR." London about a year before. He was a large and powerful mastiff, well-bred, and as intelligent as he was strong. He had captured more than one village lout stealing apples, and had dragged and driven them to the steward. But •now the poor animal was at his last gasp ; his coat was covered with blood oozing from a dozen wounds. He had literally been hacked to pieces. The gore had partly dried on him, and gave him a most ghastly appearance. Stretched on the short, thick grass, all covered with blood, he seemed, as we have said, almost dead. Now and then there was a convulsive movement of his paws and tail. His bloodless tongue hung out of his half-opened mouth.

His eyes were closed. He had no longer strength to moan. " "What ! Cæsar, my poor old Cæsar ! " cried Tony ; " what villain has done this to you ? No wonder Ranger howled so just now; I wish I hadn't kicked him." Hearing a friendly and familiar voice, the dying animal partly unclosed its eyes, made a last effort to raise itself up, but in vain. The poor dog fell back and expired before Tony could take it in his arms. " Ah, it's all over with thee, poor beast," murmured the gamekeeper ; " but who could believe that the world con tained villains cruel enough to serve thee thus ? And thy master, my poor Cæsar ! Was it in defending him that thou hast come to this sad end ? " He raised himself from the ground, where he had knelt by the side of the dying animal, drew his hand '.cross his eyes, and pursued his way to the Manor House.

All was silent as the grave. The bright rays of the sun glittered on the panes of glass, but all the shutters of the lower windows were closed. The front entrance was approached by a short flight of steps, on each side of which were stone vases filled with scarlet geraniums in full bloom. The young man went up to the massive door, studded with large square-headed iron nails, and turning the oval ring which served as a handle, endeavoured to gain admis sion, but found the door securely fastened inside. Then he knocked with all his might, calling out loudly at the same time for John and Mary ; but his voice sounded with a dull echo in the inner hall, and then a dead silence, all the more solemn from the contrast with the previous noise. Seized with a vague alarm he hurried round to the back of the house, where he found all equally closed, and equally silent.

But from the farmyard came a confused noise ; the cries of the animals waiting to be fed, the cows lowing to be milked, the fowls cackling in their discontent. This inarticulate medley of sound from the brute creation seemed only to add to the feeling of awe caused by the absence of any answering human voice. It was a continued protest on their part against a neglect as unwonted as it was unexplained.

Chapter III. His Worship The Mayor

Tue gamekeeper, pale and excited, turned again to the house. "Why, the place," he said to himself, "looks like a tomb ! What dreadful secret can there be hidden behind those thick walls and closed shutters ? " Tony did not dare to break in, so he retraced his steps to the gate, turning his head aside as he passed the stiffening body of the unfortunate Cæsar. Instead of climbing up by the bars again, he mounted the ladder, which has been already mentioned as leaning against the wall, and then letting himself down on the other side, easily dropped into tho road. " So here you are again, Tony, at last," cried Sophy ; " and as pale as a ghost. Is there anything the matter up at the house ? " " Matter ! " he replied ; " I should think there was. Say rather a crime." " What, what ! a crime ? " exclaimed the young girl, trembling all over ; " why, what did you see ?

" " I saw Cæsar dead, pierced through and through, poor brute, with wounds from a knife." " How shocking ! but what about John Armstrong aud Mary ? Oh, I do hope and trust no. harm has come to them ! " " I can't tell you," he replied, " because I don't know. I can only say that the house is all shut up." " Oh, why didn't you break open the door, or at any rate get through one of the windows ? " Tony shook his head. " You know very well," he answered, " that that's more than I dare do. I should only get myself into trouble. But I'll be off and tell the Mayor. I mustn't lose a moment. So here goes." " Oh, Tony, don't go yet," cried or almost screamed the girl ; " whatever will become of us ? Pray don't go." " Nonsense, Sophy," he answered ; " stay where you are, don't move. What you've got to do is to keep watch, and if you see any. one that looks at all doubtful you keep your eye on them, so as to be able to swear to them, if need be."

"Oh, but," — continued Sophy earnestly; "I'm so frightened." Tony shrugged his shoulders, but replied, " Frightened ! what nonsense ! What have yon got to be afraid of in broad daylight and on the high-road, with this big fellow Jem, too, to take care of you ? Besides^ unless I'm very much mistaken, the villains who've been up to this job are miles away by this time. Keep quiet then, Sophy, do, and sit down by the road-side and wait as patiently as you can. Depend upon it, I shan't let the grass grow under my feet." So saying he took up his gun, slung it under his arm, and whistling to Ranger, set off at a good pace to the town. The Mayor, John Henry Jolliffe, was a tall, good-looking man, about fifty years of age, who, having made his fortune at Southampton from very small beginnings, had returned to his native place, with an income of perhaps a thousand a year, which he lived up to without being extravagant, having laid by something for his daughter, besides giving his son, who was articled to a lawyer in Winchester, a very handsome allowance.

He was perhaps a little pompous and self-asserting, and liked to feeland make other people feel that he was the leading man in Woodville ; but with all his pomposity he had a kind heart, and was by no means unpopular in the little town. Mr. Jolliffe's house was also unquestionably the largest and best in the place, excepting cf course the Manor House. It was one of those fine old Queen Anne buildings, which, without being pretentious, are pre-eminently respectable; and every brick seemed to tell the tale of a comfortable home. It stood just far enough back from the street to secure retirement, without seeming to wish for isolation. Its long and rather narrow windows retained the old fashioned large panes, and the wood-work, painted a dead white, harmonized well with the dull red of the bricks, and was not out of keeping with the polished mahogany door, which receded about two feet from the line of wall, having on each side long panels of the same wood.

A couple of fine westaria and magnolia plants covered the front of the house. We have described it somewhat minutely because the man and his dwelling-place perfectly suited one another, and seemed, as it were, each to give and receive a mutual reflection of character. Large double gates at the side, flanked by a couple of solid red brick piers, gave entrance to the stable-yard at the back, on which opened a door leading to the offices, and to the Mayor's business room, which communicated with the front hall by a red baize door. Passing through a kind of postern in one of the large gates, Tony Scott saw in the yard Mr. Jolliffe's man, who was both gardener and groom, busily engaged in getting ready the hooded gig, which was also a kind of servant of all work for the Mayor's special use, Mrs. Jolliffe rejoicing in the possession of a light double brougham, for driving to Ringwood or Southampton, and making calls of ceremony.

" Hullo, Tony ! " exclaimed Sam Wilkins, the above men tioned factotum ; " what brings you here a-visiting at this time of the morning ? " " I want to speak with the Mayor." " Then you may want, for he's just sat down to breakfast; and as soon as he's done we're off to Southampton to see otfr young master, Mr. Albert, who's coming to meet us on business j so now you know all about it, Tony, and before you can look round Biddy'll be put to, for she's all ready harnessed." "Then," returned Tony, "you may just as well leave Biddy where she is ; for I promise you that you'll neither of you see Southampton to-day." " Hoity toity, what's up ? " asked Sam, laughing ; " are you going to stop us ? " "Ay, that I am," replied the gamekeeper; "for my business with his worship is no joke." "Well, then," said Sam, "you'd better look alive, for my orders were to harness Biddy as soon as I could, and to be ready to start at nine o'clock sharp.

However, I'll give Jenny a view holloa, and you can settle your affairs with her." So, suiting the action to the word, he made a trumpet of his hands, and called " Jenny," at the top of his voice. The parlour-maid came running to the door, with a plate in one hand and a napkin in the other. " Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Sam," she cried, " to make such a noise, and to let all the neighbourhood hear you calling me ? And you," turning to Tony, " might as well have rung the bell. What is it you want ? " " I want to see the Mayor," replied Tony, " this very minute." " Then that's exactly what you won't do, Mr. Game keeper," retorted Jenny ; " for his worship hasn't long sat down to his breakfast, and he isn't one that likes to be disturbed ; so just you wait quietly for ten minutes or so." ( " That's exactly what I'm not going to do, Jenny, and if you don't let me see the Mayor at once, you'll find yourself out of your reckoning, I can tell you."

" Why, what on earth's the matter ? " she asked; " has a fire broken out somewhere ? " " A fire ! " he answered disdainfully ; " ten times worse than that. Come, I can't be kept waiting any longer." " Oh well," she replied, struck by the earnestness of his manner; "come in, and I'll let his worship know you're here." So she showed him into the Mayor's business room, an apartment plainly but well furnished, having a large table in the middle, covered with a mass of papers, mostly official, lying in some confusion, not docketted and tied with red tape as they would have been in a lawyer's office. Tony Scott was only kept waiting a minute or so, when Mr. Jolliffe bustled in with his napkin in his hand, and almost bringing with him an odour from his well-furnished breakfast-table. " Now, Mr. Gamekeeper," he said good-naturedly, " what do you mean by frightening Jenny out of her wits, and hardly giving me time to finish my first cup of coffee ?