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Authors: Winston Graham
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his cousin's son on the wooded hills behind the convent of Bussaco.
II
Among the later acquisitions to George's personal coterie was a man called Hector Trembath, the notary who eleven years before had picked up the pieces of Mr Nathaniel Pearce's ruined practice and tried to put it together again. This had not been easy, for when there has been fraud and dishonesty in a firm, clients shy away even though the owner of the practice is quite new. George, seeing in the young man a useful ally and if necessary tool, had befriended him and helped to set him on his feet. As a result Trembath was altogether George's man. In appearance he was tall and slim, with a lisp and a mincing walk that made some people think he was not entitled to the wife and two children he claimed. Being of a good education and gentlemanly appearance, he could go into company where such men as Garth and Tankard, George's factors, would have been out of place. And he was never
reluctant to undertake errands of inquiry or negotiation. It was he who had reported on Lady Harriet Carter.
He waited on George on the morning following George's return and reported further. It appeared that Lady Harriet had returned home to Hatherleigh, and there was going to be a sal e of both stock and farm, including her husband's horses and her own. It was to take place the following week. When George expressed doubt as to the likelihood of this tale, Trembath produced the advertisement in the newspaper and the notice of sale.
George said: 'But this is taking place under a writ of Fi-Fa. That means - well, of course you know what it means!'
'A forced sale, Sir George. On the direction of the sheriff. It means everything must go.'
George turned the money in his fob. The feel of gold coins between his fingers was always pleasurable. 'I can scarce believe that the Duke would permit such a thing! His own sister! It's monstrous.'
'It may be, Sir George, that she has refused help. That is what I gathered.'
'From whom?'
'I chanced to get acquainted with her farm manager ...' Trembath looked up coyly, and George nodded his approval.
'. . . who says that Sir Toby Carter's debts were so horrific that nothing can be saved. The worst has only become known since the Leicestershire estate was sold. I think it is her Ladyship's wish to accept help from no one until the whole debt - or as much as possible — is liquidated.'
George was reading the sale notices. 'But some of her own possessions are listed here. At least, they must be hers ...'
'I think she is' Trembath coughed 'liquidating the memories also, as you might say.'
George said: 'These horses. "Tobago, Centurion, Lombardy, the property of Sir Toby Carter. Dundee, Abbess, Carola, the property of Lady Harriet Carter. Dundee the prize-winning steeplechaser of sixteen hands, eight years old, in superb condition, one of the finest hunters ever bred in Devon ..." What is a steeplechase?'
'It's a form of obstacle race,' said Trembath. 'Over hedges, streams, gates, etcetera, always keeping the church steeple in view. I confess I should not have known myself if I had not asked. It is become fashionable in Devon and-'
'Yes, yes,' said George. He went to the window, hands behind back, and viewed the scene. Below, a handcart was being dragged over the cobbles by two gypsy women and followed by some mangy dogs. Two things George very much disliked were gypsies and dogs. He would gladly have whipped the former out of town and hung the latter in the nearest barn. He did not mind horses. In a detached way he was fond of them, since they provided the only means of transport on land, apart from one's own legs. He liked their powerful, muscular quarters, their warm animal smell, the readiness with which they allowed themselves to be utilized by man. He wondered idly if Harriet Carter were over-fond of dogs as well as of horses. It was a horribly common complaint among the landed gentry. Perhaps it was the commonest complaint of all English
II
Among the later acquisitions to George's personal coterie was a man called Hector Trembath, the notary who eleven years before had picked up the pieces of Mr Nathaniel Pearce's ruined practice and tried to put it together again. This had not been easy, for when there has been fraud and dishonesty in a firm, clients shy away even though the owner of the practice is quite new. George, seeing in the young man a useful ally and if necessary tool, had befriended him and helped to set him on his feet. As a result Trembath was altogether George's man. In appearance he was tall and slim, with a lisp and a mincing walk that made some people think he was not entitled to the wife and two children he claimed. Being of a good education and gentlemanly appearance, he could go into company where such men as Garth and Tankard, George's factors, would have been out of place. And he was never
reluctant to undertake errands of inquiry or negotiation. It was he who had reported on Lady Harriet Carter.
He waited on George on the morning following George's return and reported further. It appeared that Lady Harriet had returned home to Hatherleigh, and there was going to be a sal e of both stock and farm, including her husband's horses and her own. It was to take place the following week. When George expressed doubt as to the likelihood of this tale, Trembath produced the advertisement in the newspaper and the notice of sale.
George said: 'But this is taking place under a writ of Fi-Fa. That means - well, of course you know what it means!'
'A forced sale, Sir George. On the direction of the sheriff. It means everything must go.'
George turned the money in his fob. The feel of gold coins between his fingers was always pleasurable. 'I can scarce believe that the Duke would permit such a thing! His own sister! It's monstrous.'
'It may be, Sir George, that she has refused help. That is what I gathered.'
'From whom?'
'I chanced to get acquainted with her farm manager ...' Trembath looked up coyly, and George nodded his approval.
'. . . who says that Sir Toby Carter's debts were so horrific that nothing can be saved. The worst has only become known since the Leicestershire estate was sold. I think it is her Ladyship's wish to accept help from no one until the whole debt - or as much as possible — is liquidated.'
George was reading the sale notices. 'But some of her own possessions are listed here. At least, they must be hers ...'
'I think she is' Trembath coughed 'liquidating the memories also, as you might say.'
George said: 'These horses. "Tobago, Centurion, Lombardy, the property of Sir Toby Carter. Dundee, Abbess, Carola, the property of Lady Harriet Carter. Dundee the prize-winning steeplechaser of sixteen hands, eight years old, in superb condition, one of the finest hunters ever bred in Devon ..." What is a steeplechase?'
'It's a form of obstacle race,' said Trembath. 'Over hedges, streams, gates, etcetera, always keeping the church steeple in view. I confess I should not have known myself if I had not asked. It is become fashionable in Devon and-'
'Yes, yes,' said George. He went to the window, hands behind back, and viewed the scene. Below, a handcart was being dragged over the cobbles by two gypsy women and followed by some mangy dogs. Two things George very much disliked were gypsies and dogs. He would gladly have whipped the former out of town and hung the latter in the nearest barn. He did not mind horses. In a detached way he was fond of them, since they provided the only means of transport on land, apart from one's own legs. He liked their powerful, muscular quarters, their warm animal smell, the readiness with which they allowed themselves to be utilized by man. He wondered idly if Harriet Carter were over-fond of dogs as well as of horses. It was a horribly common complaint among the landed gentry. Perhaps it was the commonest complaint of all English
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