Richard and Judy Bookclub - 3 Bestsellers in 1: The American Boy, The Savage Garden, The Righteous Men. Andrew Taylor

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СКАЧАТЬ there is. We have them once a month during the winter months, at the Bell in Gloucester. I’m sure tickets could be arranged.”

      Miss Carswall turned towards her father. “Oh, may we go, Papa?”

      The old man looked up from his plate. “Eh?”

      “They are most respectable affairs, sir,” Captain Ruispidge said. “Ain’t they, George? We go to one or two of them every year, and sometimes the Vaudens, as well. But of course Mrs Frant –”

      “Pray do not concern yourselves about me,” she said. “I would not prevent your enjoyment for the world.”

      “But would it be quite proper for Papa and me to go to a public assembly?” Miss Carswall inquired of Sir George, with touching confidence in his judgement. “Mr Wavenhoe was Papa’s cousin, and he died not two months ago.”

      He smiled at her. “You need not trouble your head on that score, Miss Carswall. It would be thought perfectly proper. After all, the connection was not close, and we would never see anyone in the country if we allowed half-mourning to stop us.”

      “It is a considerable way for a winter drive,” said Mr Carswall slowly. “And at night – all the way back from Gloucester. And what if we have snow, hey? It seems to me very likely that we shall have snow.”

      “Those who have far to come usually arrange to spend the night,” Sir George said.

      “I daresay we should meet all sorts of interesting people,” Miss Carswall put in.

      “Perhaps, perhaps.” Carswall nodded his heavy head. “It is most kind of you to suggest it, Sir George.”

      “Shall you go, ma’am?” Miss Carswall asked Mrs Johnson.

      “Yes,” she said, her voice harsh and hoarse as if she had been shouting. “Lady Ruispidge has kindly asked me to accompany her.”

      “There may still be rooms you could engage at the Bell itself,” Captain Ruispidge said. “Not that I would recommend it. Nothing could be more convenient for the ball but the establishment will be in an uproar because of it.” He turned to Mrs Frant and said in a lower voice: “I regret that you would not be able to honour us with your presence.”

      Mrs Frant inclined her head.

      “Yes,” Mr Carswall said, waving his fork. “Perhaps we should go to the ball. A little diversion would do us all good.”

      “Dancing is healthy exercise, sir,” the Captain added.

      “And the boys shall come, too,” Mr Carswall cried, his enthusiasm for the project growing by the second.

      “I am afraid Charlie must beg to be excused, sir,” said Mrs Frant. “For the same reason as I must.”

      “Eh? Ah – yes, of course.”

      “It is a pity,” said Captain Ruispidge. “I am convinced the boys would have enjoyed it immensely. These are country affairs – we don’t stand on ceremony.” He bowed to Mrs Frant. “Charlie will come another time, I trust. And his mama.”

      “Boys?” Lady Ruispidge said loudly, cupping her hand into a makeshift trumpet for her right ear. “Boys? A sore trial, I agree.” She turned to Mr Noak, who was on her right. “Do you have boys, sir?”

      He finished chewing his mouthful and swallowed it. “I had a son, ma’am,” he said calmly. “But he died.”

      “Dined? He has already dined?”

      “Died, Mama,” said Sir George. He raised his voice: “Died.”

      “Ah,” she replied, “yes, as I said, a sore trial. One can never tell what they will do next.”

      The ball provided material for the conversation until it was time for the ladies to withdraw. I held the door for them. Miss Carswall paused as she passed me.

      “Pray encourage Papa not to linger,” she murmured. “We shall have cards – he does so enjoy cards.”

      The cloth was withdrawn. Mr Carswall, who had drunk steadily throughout the meal, refilled his glass.

      “Sir George,” he cried, “a glass of wine with you, sir.”

      “Thank you, sir.”

      “Refill your glass first,” Carswall said. “I can see the air in it. Let us drink proper bumpers.”

      Sir George dribbled a few more drops into his glass, and the two men drank.

      “I hear your keepers caught a brace of poachers the other day,” Carswall said.

      “Desperate fellows indeed,” replied Sir George. “We have increasing numbers coming up before us on the bench. Since the Peace, every Tom, Dick or Harry thinks he has the right to steal my game.”

      “I tell my people to shoot on sight,” Carswall said. “Do you rely on other precautions, apart from your keepers’ vigilance?”

      “Traps, do you mean? Or spring guns?”

      “Aye. I have seen both used to great effect in the West Indies. There, naturally, the planters have a preference for the trap – with the gun, there is a great risk of killing the poacher. A dead slave is no good to anyone, but even a maimed one may still have years of useful work in him.”

      “I use both devices in my covers, and I make sure the fact is widely known. In my experience, they act as a prophylactic. A poacher may often know where your keepers are and so avoid them. But they find it harder to pin down a well-laid trap, or a cunningly concealed spring gun.”

      “Very true, sir,” rumbled Mr Carswall. “Mind you, you must move them frequently.”

      “The labour is worth it. One must also bear in mind that when they catch a poacher in commission of his crime, the effect on the neighbourhood as a whole can be most salutary.”

      Carswall chuckled. “We bagged a fellow from the village a few weeks ago. Damned near took his leg off.” He raised his glass, saw that it was empty and said to Mr Noak: “A glass of wine with you, sir.”

      “With all my heart,” said Mr Noak politely. He had drunk more today than usually, and spoken less.

      “Do you use traps in the United States, sir?” Sir George asked the American.

      Mr Noak passed a hand across his forehead, as though wiping away unwelcome thoughts. “They are not uncommon in the South. I am more familiar with those designed for smaller prey.”

      “Are they traps on similar principles to ours?” Sir George asked. “Spring-loaded, that is to say, and with jaws that snap shut?”

      “Exactly so. There is quite an art to their use – even more, perhaps, when one is employing them to trap animals in the wild rather than humans breaking the law. Harmwell – my clerk, you know – became quite expert when he lived in Canada. We use them for marten, sable, mink, otter and beaver, principally, and also for bear.”

      “I СКАЧАТЬ