Murder at Mansfield Park

Such a speech was hardly calculated to compose Mary’s spirits, but he would brook no denial, and within a few minutes she was settled in a chair by the fire downstairs, being helped to an elegant collation of minced chicken and apple-tart. Both her head and her heart were soon the better for such well-timed kindness, and when the maid returned with a glass of Madeira with Mr Norris’s compliments, Mary enquired at once whether Mr Gilbert had yet been in attendance.

"I believe so, miss. Mrs Baddeley said he’d given Miss Julia something to help her sleep."

Mary nodded; such a measure seemed both prudent and expedient; they must all trust to the certainty and efficacy of some hours’ repose. She thanked the maid, and sat for a few minutes deliberating whether it would be best to return to the parsonage; her sister must be wondering where she was. She was still debating the matter when she heard the sound of a carriage on the drive, and went to the window. It was a very handsome equipage, but the horses were post, and neither the carriage, nor the coachman who drove it, were familiar to her. The man who emerged was a little above medium height, with rather strong features and a visible scar above one eye. His clothes, however, were fashionable and of very superior quality, and he stood for a moment looking confidently about him, as if he was weighing what he saw, and putting the intelligence aside for future use. He was not handsome — or not, at least, in any conventional manner — but there was something about him, a sense of latent energy, of formidable powers held in check, such as might command attention, and draw every eye, even in the most crowded of rooms. As she observed him ascend the steps to the door, Mary did not need to overhear the servant’s announcement to guess that the man before her was none other than Mr Charles Maddox.

A few moments later, this impressive and uncommon personage was being shewn into Sir Thomas’s room, where Mr Bertram and Mr Norris were awaiting him. The former had taken up the post of honour behind his father’s desk, while his cousin was standing by the window, evidently ill at ease. They had both been to Oxford, and no doubt considered themselves men of the world, but such a creature as Maddox was far beyond their experience.

"Good day to you, sirs!" said their visitor, with the most perfunctory of bows. "I admire your discernment. This will do admirably."

"I am not sure I understand you," said Tom, who had not expected such extraordinary self-assurance from a man who was to be in his employ.

But Maddox had already assumed a proprietorial air, and was wandering about the room, running his hand over the furniture, and inspecting the view from the windows. "This will make a very suitable “seat of operations”, as I like to call it. I will have my assistants set up in here."

"But this is my father’s room — " began Tom, looking at him in consternation.

Maddox waved his hand. "You have nothing to fear on that score, Mr Bertram. His house shall not be hurt. For everything of that nature, I will be answerable. And my men are good men. They know how to behave themselves, even in such a grand house as this one."

Tom and Edmund exchanged a look in which there was as much anxiety on the one side, as there was reproof on the other; the door then opened for a second time, and two men appeared, carrying a large trunk. One was tall and thin, with a pock-marked face; the other short and stout, with a reddened and weather-beaten complexion, and his fore-teeth gone. They set down their burden heavily on the carpet, then departed as they had come, without a word, but leaving behind them a distinct waft of tobacco. Maddox, meanwhile, had installed himself comfortably in an elbow-chair, without staying to be asked.

"And now to business," he said, genially. "You agree to my terms, both as to the daily rate, and the reward in the event of an arrest?"

Tom endeavoured to regain the dignified manner suitable to the head of such a house, and to reclaim the mastery of the situation. "We consider ourselves fortunate to be able to call upon a man of your reputation, Mr Maddox. Indeed, we are relying on you to bring matters to a prompt and satisfactory conclusion."

"My own aim, entirely," said Maddox, with a smile."And in the pursuit of same, may I begin by examining the corpse?"

The two gentlemen absolutely started, and for a moment both seemed immoveable from surprise; but Edmund shortly recovered himself, and said in a hoarse voice, "You cannot possibly be in earnest, Mr Maddox. It is quite out of the question."

Mr Maddox frowned. "I assure you I am in the most deadly earnest, Mr Norris. The precise state of the body — the nature of the injuries, the advancement of putrefaction, and such like matters — are all of the utmost significance to my enquiries. It is the evidence, sir, the evidence, and without it, my investigation is thwarted before it even commences."