He looked at me and grinned.
Well, now, thats strange you knowing I come from Norfolk! But its true. Oh, yes, it is right. Im a Norfolk man. I was born in Diss. I mind the time my father
Yes, yes, I interrupted, well talk about that presently, for I could see that, once allowed to start on the subject of his relatives and his native county, he would talk on for an hour. What I have come here this afternoon to talk to you about is Sir Charles Thorold. When was he last here?
It will be near two years come Michaelmas, he answered, without an instants hesitation. And since then I havent set eyes on him I havent.
And has this house been shut up all the time?
Ay, all that time. I mind the time my father used to tell me
I damned his father under my breath, and quickly stopped him by asking who paid him his wages.
My wages? Oh, Sir Charles lawyers, Messrs Spink and Peters, of Lincolns Inn, pays me my wages. But they are not going to pay me any more. No. They are not going to pay me any more now.
Not going to pay you any more? What do you mean?
Give me notice to quit, they did, a week ago come Saturday.
But why?
Orders from Sir Charles, they said. Would you like to see their letter, sir?
I should, if you have it by you.
It was brief, curt, and brutally frank
From Messrs Spink and Peters, Solicitors, 582, Lincolns Inn, W.C.
To William Taylor, Caretaker,
102, Belgrave Street, S.W.
Messrs Spink and Peters are instructed by Sir Charles Thorold to inform William Taylor that owing to his advanced age his services will not be needed by Sir Charles Thorold after March 25. William Taylor is requested to acknowledge the receipt of this letter.
They dont consider your feelings much, I said, as I refolded the letter and handed it back to him.
He seemed puzzled.
Feelings, sir? What are those? he asked. I dont somehow seem to know.
No matter. Under the circumstances it is, perhaps, as well you shouldnt know. Now, I want to ask you a few questions, my old friend and look here, I am going, first of all, to make you a little present.
I slipped my fingers into my waistcoat pocket, produced a half-sovereign, and pressed it into the palm of his wrinkled old hand.
To buy tobacco with no, dont thank me, I said quickly, as he began to express gratitude. Now, answer a few questions I am going to put to you. In the first place, how long have you been in Sir Charles service?
Sixteen years, come Michaelmas, he answered promptly. I came from Diss. I mind the time my father
How did Sir Charles, or Mr Thorold as he was then, first hear of you?
He was in Downham Market. I was caretaker for the Reverend George Lattimer, and Sir Charles, I should say, Mr Thorold, came to see the house. I think he thought of buying it, but he didnt buy it. I showed him into every room, I remember, and as he was leaving he put his hand into his pocket, pulled out a sovrin, and gave it to me, just as you have done. And then he said to me, he said: Ole man, he said, would you like a better job than this? Those were his very words, Ole man, would you like a better job than this?
He grinned and chuckled at the reflection, showing his toothless gums.
And then he took you into his service. Did you come to London at once?
Ay, next week he brought me up, and Ive been here ever since in this house ever since. The Reverend George Lattimer wor vexed with Sir Charles for a stealing me from his service, as he said. I mind in Diss, when
Was there any reason why Mr Thorold should engage you in such a hurry? Did he give any reason? It seems strange he should have engaged a man of your age, living away in Norfolk, and brought you up to London at a few days notice.
Oh, yes there was reason there was a reason.
And what was it?
Well, well, it was not praps xactly what you might call a reason, it was what Sir Charles he calls a stipilation. I have a stipilation to make, Taylor, he said, when he engaged me. Yes, sir, I said, and what might this, this stipilation be? I said. Its like this, Taylor, he said. Ill engage you and pay you well, and you will come with me to Lundon to-morrow, and you shall have two comfortable rooms in my house, those were his very words, sir, and you will have little work to do, cept when I am out of Lundon, and you have to look after the house and act as caretaker. But there be a stipilation I must make. And what might that stipilation be, sir? I asked him. Its like this, he said, a looking rather hard at me. You must never see or know anything that goes on in my Lundon ouse, when I am there, or when I am not. If you see or hear anything, you must forget it. Do you understand? Do we understand each other? he said. And I have done that, sir, ever since Sir Charles engaged me. Never have I seen what happened in this house, nor have I heard what happened in this house, nor known what happened in this house. I have kep the stipilation, and Ive served the master well.
And for serving your master well, and doing your duty, you are rewarded by getting kicked out at a months notice because of your advanced age.
The old mans eyes became suddenly moist as I said this, and I felt sorry I had spoken.
Did you see or hear much you ought to have forgotten? I hazarded, after a brief pause.
He peered up at me with an odd expression, then slowly shook his head.
Have you actually forgotten all you saw and heard? I inquired carelessly, as I lit a cigarette, or do you only pretend?
I dusnt say, sir, he answered. I dusnt say.
He looked to right and left, as it seemed to me instinctively, and as though to assure himself that no one else was present, that no one overheard him. It was evident to me that there was somebody he feared.
Several times I tried tactfully to draw him, but to no purpose.
I should like to look over the house again, I said at last. I know it well, for I stayed here often in days gone by, though I dont recollect ever seeing you here. How long is it since Sir Charles stayed here?
Three years come Lady Day, he answered.
And has the house been empty ever since? Has it never been sub-let?
Never. Sir Charles never would sub-let it, though there were some who wanted it.
Well, I will look over it, I think, I said, moving to rise. Im inclined to rent it myself; thats really why I am here.
He may, or may not, have believed the lie. Anyway, my suggestion filled him with alarm. He got up out of his chair.
You cant, you cant, he exclaimed, greatly perturbed. He pushed his skinny hand into his jacket-pocket, and I heard him clutch his bunch of keys. The doors are all locked all locked.
You have the keys; give them to me.
I dusnt, I dusnt, indeed. All, you are a genleman, sir, you wont take the keys from an old man, sir, I know you wont.
Sit down, I said, sharply.
Idle curiosity had prompted me to wish to go over the house. The old mans anxiety that I should not do so settled my determination. My thought travelled quickly.
Have you a drop of anything to drink that you can give me? I asked suddenly. I should like a little whisky or anything else will do.
Again the expression of dismay came into his old eyes.