“Oh yes, you were a novice when you first saw it. But not so much so that you couldn’t recognize the qualities of the Harlequin.”

They were rather obvious, as I should think others in your collection would be. “

“Oh yes, of course. How is Wattle? It was a shock for her to discover Ezra. Isn’t it strange, but for that horse his death would have remained a mystery forever. It’s rather frightening, isn’t it … when you think of what can happen in a place like this. I wonder how many bodies have been buried in the Bush with never a faithful Wattle to unearth them. So you saw the groom and the servant who brought you the tea. We might be alone but for them. Did you tell Joss you were coming to see roe?”

“I didn’t. I may do. Or perhaps you will.”

She opened her ‘eyes very wide.

“Do you think I shall see him? Is he coming over?”

“Is he?” I asked.

“Are you going to show me the rest of your collection?”

“No,” she answered.

“Why not?”

“Guess.”

“Is there something so valuable there that you’d rather not show it?"

"There are certainly valuable stones there. ” She laughed suddenly.

“Oh, I know what you’re thinking. The elusive Green h; Flash. Do you know what they’re saying in the town? That sc Ezra. stole it and gave it to me and that was why he died o1 because it brought him bad luck. Do you think I’d want bad ti luck?”

“You wouldn’t believe in the bad luck, would you?"

” I’m very superstitious. And the reason I shall not show you my collection has nothing to do with the Green Flash.”

“What, then? “

“It’s packed away.”

“Are you sending it away?" She nodded.

“It’s going with me. I shall be leaving for England in a few weeks.”

“Leaving for England! Leaving… here I’m for a holiday. I might come back. I need to get away now that Ezra’s gone.”

"You are going. alone? ”  The tiger eyes gleamed.

“You ask too many questions,” she said. I wondered what she was hinting at.

I left soon after. I did not want to be out after sundown.

‘ The house was quiet when I arrived at Peacocks. Joss had not yet returned from the town. I was very uneasy because I felt there was something significant about Isa’s departure. How would Joss feel about her going? If he were indeed madly in love with her he would certainly be upset. I could not wait to see him.

I mounted the stairs to my room and once again I heard the notes of the spinet. I took the stairs two at a time but when I reached the landing the playing had stopped. I went into the gallery. No one was there.

I looked all around. The only explanation was that, unless there was another way out of the gallery, the spinet-player could only be someone who did not have to take account of walls.

I sat down in one of the chairs and looked round the place. As usual, the sound of music had touched me deeply. Perhaps I wanted to believe it was my mother returned from the dead to care for me. But why. suddenly? What of all those years I had spent in the Dower House?

Surely I had needed her care then?

Ben had given me a temporary stability; he had changed me; helped me to grow up; then he had married me off to Joss whose affections were already engaged and who had agreed to the marriage purely for gain.

The significance of my theories was startling. Only now did my mother think that the time had come for her to protect me. So . I was in danger.

Yes, I could see it. Something evil was here. It was in this gallery.

I could easily imagine. I could hear a voice warning me. Be careful.

You are in danger.

I sat still, my senses strained. Why play the spinet? Why not come to me and talk to me and tell me plainly what threatened me? Supernatural manifestations were never straightforward. They were always implied in some strange and unearthly way.

Then suddenly I heard the sound of hysterical weeping. I went quickly to the door of the gallery and listened. It was coming from the upstairs quarters. I ran up. The door of Mrs. Laud’s room was slightly open and it was from there that the sounds were emerging.

“Is anything wrong?” I cried.

I went into the room. The three Lauds were there, Jimson, Lilias and their mother. It was Lilias who was half sobbing, half laughing. Jimson had his arm about her.

“What’s the matter?" I asked.

Mrs. Laud looked distressed.

“Now you’ve disturbed Mrs. Madden. Oh, I from sorry. Poor Lilias was a bit upset. Her brother and I have been trying to comfort her.”

Why? What’s wrong? “

Mrs. Laud shook her head and looked at me appealingly as though begging me not to ask questions.

Lilias pulled herself together and said: “I’m all right now, Mrs. Madden. I don’t know what came over me.” She was obviously trying hard to control herself.

“Just a little personal matter,” murmured Jimson.

“I was in the gallery and I heard sounds of crying,” I said.

“In the gallery,” repeated Lilias and there was a tremor in her voice.

“I thought I heard the spinet again.”

There was a brief silence, then Jimson said: “It must be out of tune.

I’ve heard that spinets have to be tuned frequently. “

“Are you sure that everything’s all right?” I asked.

“Oh yes, Mrs. Madden,” Mrs. Laud assured me.

“We can look after Lilias."

“I’m only sorry that we disturbed you,” said Jimson.

“Yes,” echoed Lilias meekly.

“I’m very, very sorry, Mrs. Madden.” I went out. There was a great deal that puzzled me about that family.

Mrs. Laud came to my room while I was changing for dinner.

“May I come in for a moment, Mrs. Madden?” she asked.

“I wanted to have a word with you and tell you how sorry I am for what happened this afternoon. It was dreadful that we should have disturbed you.”

“Oh please, Mrs. Laud, it was nothing. I’m only sorry for Lilias’s trouble.”

“Well, that’s it, Mrs. Madden. She’s a little upset. You can guess what it is, perhaps.”

I looked at her blankly.

“Ifs this Mr. Dickson. She’s upset because he’s been sent to Sydney.”

“Oh, I understand.”

“She’s very taken with him. I’ve been against her marrying, but perhaps I’m wrong.”

“Have they talked of marrying ?”

There’s nothing been said officially, you understand, but Lilias was very upset when he went away. “

“But he’s only gone for a short time.”

“She’s got some idea that Mr. Madden might want him to stay permanently in Sydney.”

“I didn’t gather that’

"You would know, of course. I keep forgetting you’re one of the directors of the Company. It seems so strange for a lady to be in that position.”

“It was Mr. Henniker’s idea.”

“Oh, I know he was a one for ideas. Well, I thought I’d better explain about Lilias.”

“Don’t think any more about it, Mrs. Laud.”

Lilias seemed to have recovered at dinner time. The conversation was, as usual, about business. I was able to join in now and I always enjoyed doing so. But suddenly my pleasure was shattered when Joss said: “I think a trip to England will be necessary in the not too distant future.”

I stared at him in amazement.

“It seems we have only just arrived here,” I said.

That’s how it is in business,” he replied easily.

“One can never be sure when something is going to arise.”

What is this that has arisen?

“New markets are opening up in London. There’s a growing demand there for black Australian opals. Naturally we was to exploit that."

” So you are proposing to go to England ? “

“Nothing definite yet. Ifs just something that may well necessary.”

I felt deflated and wretched. It was so easy to understand Isa was going to England, so he would go too. I dare say she would be very discreet. She would leave and then he would discover that he had to go too. He was already paving the way.

I no longer had any appetite, and as soon as we left the table I made an excuse to go to my room. I had noticed the way in which Joss had looked at me when he had made th announcement that he was about to go to England. It seemed as though he were waiting for me to protest.

I won’t give him that satisfaction, I thought. But I shall let him know that I am aware that the reason for his sudden desire to leave for England is not due to business but to Isa.

I had made up my mind that when Jeremy Dickson returnee I would tell him about my discovery of the red purse. could talk to him freely.

Then I told myself that I could be no such thing because it was an implied accusation against Joss. How could I bring myself to talk about the red purse?

I had never felt so alone in the whole of my life.

I came home one afternoon to a quiet house and went to my room. As I stood there, my hand on the door handle, I heard again that ghostly touch on the spinet keys.

I ran upstairs as fast as I could. It was the same procedure The music stopped and there was no one seated at the spinel Someone was playing tricks on me. And as I looked round the gallery I noticed that there was a difference. One of the curtains which hung at intervals along the walls in the manner of the gallery at Oakland was disarranged. I went to it and drew it right back. I had disclosed a door which I had never. known was there before. A light shone through the mist now Someone had been playing the spinet and stepped behind the curtain and left the gallery before I arrived by way of that door.

This must be the answer for the door was not quite shut, That time the trickster had had to escape in too much of hurry to disguise his escape.