CHAPTER =29 .sx THE BLACK CANDLE Saturday night cellar party was on .sx The time was approaching midnight .sx Margot and Jasmine had left together shortly after ten .sx Before doing so at Mr. Copthorne's invitation they had spent a pleasant half hour with Con O'Shea , Mr. Butler and Mr. Narain Khuma at a table for four .sx At another table nearby Mr. Smith and two of his officers in plain clothes were quietly chatting together .sx Ordinary members had quitted the club premises which appeared to be closed and only Percy , weary and fed up was compelled to stay in his ill-lit little cubby hole still on duty after hours until Mr. Herman gave him permission to depart .sx Saturnalia was about to proceed within that profane cellar .sx A black cock and a white hen had passed through the flames and to quench the unpleasant stink of burnt carcases and feathers , Mr. Copthorne in his purple and scarlet Bardic robes and peculiar turbanned headdress , had been swinging about an incense censer .sx The air was heavy and thick with the combined smells .sx Mr. Herman , who had been absent for a short while , entered very hurriedly by the back stairway leading from the kitchen premises .sx His face was as white as the damask deeply lace-edged cloth spread over the refectory table on which stood the golden chalice from which all had drunk and drained .sx He whispered hurriedly to his chief .sx " We're cornered .sx Not a hope unless we can get them all away by the side entrance .sx " Mr. Copthorne turned grey .sx Without any waiting , panic-stricken and regardless of the rest , he made a scuttling exit through the cloak-room door leading out on to the side entrance .sx Mr. Herman took over with one word .sx " Scram !sx " Fright and alarm spread amongst the party guests and in the sudden confusion to press through the narrow doorway a paraffin radiator just under the purple and scarlet muslin draped platform was upset followed by an explosion and a burst of flame , instantly igniting the draperies and matching curtains at the sides .sx Seizing a piece of carpeting Mr. Herman attempted to smother and quench them .sx There was a fire extinguisher , but that was kept in the club itself for handy use .sx The flames spread and mounted .sx He staggered up the back stairway into his office and dialled 999 .sx As he came out of it , Mr. Smith and his two companions came round the side of the rostrum where they had been concealing themselves , and stood in the way .sx Mr. Herman faced them .sx He had been trembling and shaking .sx He ceased to tremble .sx He stood rigid and straight .sx He was on the stage once again and it was the first night of a new play in which he had been cast for the minor role of an evil man's dupe and confederate .sx Could he have cast himself in the part of Mr. Copthorne , the villain and apostate , he would not have attempted to run away from his captors .sx He would have made his appearance .sx The Show must go on .sx His first night nerves on this that was also his last night dropped away from him .sx He had lines to speak .sx Mr. Smith gave him his cue .sx " Now then , Herman !sx " Mr. Herman's faintly mask-like smile was almost pathetic .sx " Gentlemen , of course , I am at your service , but listen to me , please .sx " " Don't take too long then , " said Mr. Smith .sx " I will be brief .sx Can you not smell smoke ?sx Turn your noses to the kitchen .sx " The men sniffed and coughed .sx " Is that your trick ?sx " snapped Mr. Smith .sx " Trying to smoke us out , eh ?sx Been burning something ?sx You'll have to think of something better than that .sx Show us the way below .sx " " Impossible .sx No doing of mine .sx A pure accident .sx One of these paraffin lamps has been upset .sx The premises are on fire .sx I have just phoned for the brigade .sx Arrest me .sx Whatever information you wish me to give you later I am willing to provide .sx I am a knave and a low fellow , a spreader of iniquity .sx I have no intention of scarpering even if I had the chance .sx I have had enough to last me .sx " " Tail it off , Herman !sx " Mr. Smith and his men were now uncomfortably aware that Mr. Herman was speaking the truth and that the club was on fire .sx " Where's Copthorne ?sx " " My leader in this fiendish racket , my dear sir , is not in the house .sx He is well on his way by now to where I do not know , but even if I did know for certain and told you , I doubt if you would be able to catch up with his Rover 90 as he has had a good start .sx It might conceivably be down to Sussex or to the nearest airport .sx You will be much better advised to take me into custody forthwith and lock me up once more in the all too familiar confines of a prison cell .sx " " You are under arrest .sx " Mr. Smith coughed as a swirl of acrid smoke drifted past him and his officers .sx Mr. Herman held out his hands .sx " Put on the bangles .sx The fire brigade has arrived .sx Hear it ?sx Regis Road pavements will soon be crowded with late-homers [SIC] gathering to witness a fire in full bloom .sx Standing room only for nothing to pay .sx I pray you let me continue to speak the tag .sx I played Hamlet once and how I gloried in that role although the performance only took place in a country public hall- " " That's enough , Herman .sx " The firemen were in , Percy , Con O'Shea and Mr. Butler were all upon the scene .sx Mr. Herman raised his voice above the hubbub and roar of smoke and flames .sx Infinite pathos , regret and sadness was in it .sx " How weary , stale , flat and unprofitable seem all the uses of this world !sx It is an unweeded garden that grows to seed .sx Things rank and gross in nature possess it- " " Pipe down !sx " The two police officers hustled him forward towards the entrance .sx Con suddenly brushed past them .sx " The cat , the white cat !sx " Percy tried to hold him back .sx So did Mr. Butler .sx " The cat will have got itself out through the coal-shoot .sx Bound to- " " It hasn't .sx I heard it mewing .sx I am sure and certain it was the cat- let go of me , George !sx " " Don't be a fool , Con !sx " " Get outside , all of you , unless you want to be smothered , and wait for me .sx I'll be joining you in a minute or two with the little white cat in me arms !sx " Con pushed himself free and dashed forward .sx CHAPTER =30 .sx THE SPEED dash into Sussex was near to its end .sx The titled displaced person chauffeur who was at the wheel , intent on the wheel and covering distance , had not spoken a word .sx Nearing the village he turned to look for Mr. Copthorne in the back of the car .sx He was not on the seat .sx He was cowering on the floor .sx " Stop !sx " " Do you not wish to be driven home ?sx " " No .sx Put me down at the church .sx " " Very good .sx " The chauffeur did not 'Sir' his employer .sx He halted the car by the Lych Gate .sx " Thank you .sx " Mr. Copthorne almost fell out of it , his Bardic robes impeding him .sx " I will see you in the morning .sx " " Perhaps .sx " " Perhaps .sx But- but you are not going to leave me , Count ?sx You know how I rely on your services .sx " The chauffeur did not deign to answer .sx He was self-possessed and silent as always .sx He opened the Lych Gate for Mr. Copthorne , closed it after him and drove away .sx Mr. Copthorne stumbled towards the church door and tried to turn the heavy handle .sx It was locked .sx The verger would be there to open it first thing in the morning .sx The rector liked to leave the church open all day until the evening .sx He was very proud of the venerable old edifice with its Norman tower .sx It would be made good and sound , the restoration of its stone and wood that would ensure its preservation for many many years to come , by means of the generous purse of Mr. Copthorne , squire , and lord of the manor .sx Mr. Copthorne knew a way round by the side of the church where there was a small open outbuilding where the grave digger kept his spades and forks and tidying up implements .sx It might be open .sx It was .sx He entered , and seated himself in a huddle upon an upturned wheelbarrow .sx His curious headgear fell off .sx Strange things were going on in his bewildered brain .sx When a man was drowning and towards his last gasp it was scientifically supposed his whole life came up before him in some cinematic kind of sequence .sx Mr. Copthorne was on dry land in a church outbuilding , but this was happening to him now .sx He saw himself as a sulky , ugly , malformed , repressed boy , then a young youth .sx He saw himself refusing baptism according to the sect his parents belonged to .sx Walking out of the chapel later on .sx Continuing on , his leaping mind flashed pictures of chicanery and corruption , the growth of the deadly decadence and absorption in debasement and Satanic debauchery .sx He saw himself as he was and as he had become , a misbegotten , infamous , recidivist , past praying for .sx The church clock was striking seven .sx He had slipped on to the stone floor .sx He gathered himself , swaying and uncertain and stumbled round to the front door of the church again .sx The door was open .sx The verger had just unlocked it and was about to depart when he saw Mr. Copthorne entering in his very strange purple and scarlet robes get-up .sx He didn't know what to make of it , but it was Mr. Copthorne all right .sx Perhaps he had been attending some kind of fancy dress do in London .sx Very strange his eyes looked .sx Mad , hunted eyes , as if the poor fellow had rocks in his head , so the verger described afterwards .sx " You're very early about , sir , " he said , trying to speak normally .sx " Yes .sx I travelled down from London as the dawn was breaking , and the thought came to me I'd like to take a look at the church .sx I've never been inside .sx Very remiss of me , " said Mr. Copthorne .sx The verger led the way in .sx " The stained glass windows , sir , they date back to the fourteenth century .sx " Mr. Copthorne looked and saw the light stealing through upon the illuminated figures of Saints and a central figure upon a Cross .sx " Ah !sx " he said .sx " That figure- that Man wasn't afraid to die , was he ?sx " The verger was simple in his nature .sx " No , sir .sx He died for all .sx " " And Christianity goes on !sx " " Yes , sir , and always will .sx " Mr. Copthorne's breathing was deep and laboured .sx He seemed to be sighing .sx " I'd like to go up to the belfry .sx Don't come with me .sx I'd like to go myself .sx " The verger waited for him by the Lych Gate .sx Mr. Copthorne ascended into the belfry .sx The verger could see him standing there on the very edge .sx A bit risky .sx The next moment he had either cast himself down or stumbled and fallen .sx There he lay stretched out , his fat figure in a crude spread-eagle , face forward .sx The verger ran towards him .sx He tried to shift the unwieldy figure and raise him .sx Mr. Copthorne's head fell sideways .sx Very faintly , in a bare murmur , the verger caught the last words he uttered :sx " I am still baffled .sx " CHAPTER =31 .sx ON SUNDAY afternoon a telephone message was conveyed to Margot by Miss Maclaren , very quietly , on the fourth floor landing .sx Her father was having his Sunday afternoon nap and the considerate little woman did not wish to disturb him .sx " A gentleman whose name is Mr. Butler , has just rung up to say he has some urgent news for you and Jasmine , and he is coming round now in his car with a friend to tell you .sx His voice sounded very grave , dear , and he stressed that as it was on a subject that might upset your father , it would be best to say nothing to him yet awhile .sx Jasmine is getting herself ready now .sx