Inferno

Chapter 22

Eskdale Hall, Wiltshire

‘Go on, Thomas! What was in it – do tell!’ the Countess of Farndon urged, proffering another dainty sweetmeat to her brother.

‘You really want to know?’ Kydd teased.

‘Tell us!’

‘Do please, old chap,’ Renzi added.

‘Well …’

‘Pleeease!’

‘Then I’ll reveal all. It was the captain’s strongbox right enough. But inside was naught but some seals, a small bag of silver coins and a couple of gold ones. No treasure.’

‘Oh, no! None?’ Cecilia exclaimed.

‘Not worth the name. You see, it was truly an Armada bark but not like your Tobermory galleon, only one of the lesser sort as didn’t carry a pay-chest or other.’

‘Ah. So nothing for your efforts, then.’

‘No, not really. Saving the adventure, of course.’

‘Oh dear,’ Cecilia said. ‘Then your friends are sadly inconvenienced in the article of investment, poor souls.’

‘Yes, it was a wry crew returning to their welcome at Dunlochry. Jacob Meares insisted they first take him and his diving engine back to Tobermory and disappeared without so much as a thank-you.’

‘And the village would be much cast down.’

‘They were. I couldn’t help but conceive it my fault for giving them false hope in the matter, to put up their hard-won means in the enterprise and lose it all.’

‘I’m desolated to remark it, brother, but it does rather seem you did.’

Kydd nodded gravely, then rose, saying he must go to his room. He returned shortly with an object in his hand. ‘This is what we found earlier.’

It was the marble statuette. He passed it across to Renzi. ‘I was able to tell them that while we may not have raised treasure, this find is valuable enough to recompense each and every one to his full amount.’

‘But-’

‘I assured them with extravagant enthusiasm that I recognised it and knew a gentleman of an insatiable habit of collecting who would pay much for it. I promised them they would get a good price and I would remit the proceeds back promptly.’

‘But, dear fellow, this is only your common santos as may be seen in any Papist shrine.’

‘Nicholas, I know. I fancy my fur-salvage money will be a trifle lighter for the experience.’