Cost Price by Dornford Yates Page B

show me the place where the treasure lies.”
    As the footfalls receded—
    “You must give Friar best,” said Mansel. “We may have bruised his head, but, by God, he’s bruised our heel.”
     
    That night, after dinner, we told Diana the truth. This seemed the best thing to do; for, if she were honest, such trust in her would grapple her to our cause; but, if she were running with Friar – well, we had told her nothing she did not know. Indeed, by my advice, we used her exactly as though she were one of us, concealing nothing at all, except, of course, how we had disposed of the gems.
    “So there we are,” said Mansel. “The stable is empty: the stable door is shut: of its having been opened, there is, I think, no sign: all we have to do now is to get the horse out of the country.”
    “All,” said Ferrers, and laughed.
    “It mayn’t be so bad,” said Mansel. “But I think we should leave the castle on Thursday next.”
    “The day after tomorrow?” said Olivia.
    “I think so, my lady. Not that we want to go, but Time is not in our favour – he never seems to be. In spite of all the checks upon passports, the Boche may not know that we’re here. You see, at the moment, this isn’t Germany: and Austrian police staff-work is not too good. I’m afraid he’s bound to find out that we have visited you: but I’d very much sooner he watched an empty stable than that he shadowed us wherever we go. So if we could get a short start… Yes, I think we should go on Thursday. Our rooms will be waiting at Villach on Thursday night.”
    “And Friar?” said Olivia.
    “We shall know when he’s back all right. But, unless I’m much mistaken, it won’t be just yet.” He turned to Diana. “Where were you to address him?”
    “C/o the Bank of Austria, Salzburg.”
    “Would you like to wire him on Wednesday?”
    “If you think it’s wise, Captain Mansel.”
    “I think it’s natural. And later, perhaps, you shall write.”
    “You’ll tell me what to say.”
    “Of course. But I want you to remember, Diana, that if you come in with us, you must do as we say. You can’t play Friar on your own – he’s the very hell of a fish.”
    “I swear,” said Diana, quickly.
    “Will you stay on here for the present?”
    “If Olivia and John will have me.”
    “That goes without saying,” said Olivia.
    “And what about me?” said Palin. “You must admit that I pull my weight as a clown. I showed the robber chief how to get at the jewels. That’s more than Columbine’s done: so give me another chance to make a fool of myself.”
    “Your host was to blame,” said Mansel. “He never warned you that Punter was hereabouts.”
    “I entirely agree,” said John. “ It wasn’t your fault.”
    “I must confess,” said Palin, “that if you had told me that, I should have repaired to this mansion, armed the servants and had the drawbridge raised.”
    “You can serve us best,” said Mansel, “by going back to your inn and standing by. I’m perfectly sure we shall need you: but when and how we shall need you, I cannot say.”
    “It shall be done,” said Palin. “But I shall be very lonely. If Friar should come back for a night…”
    “Keep him,” said Mansel, laughing. “And let me know. Our address is The Sickle at Villach, but keep it quiet.”
    “And we,” said John Ferrers, “for whom you are doing all this, to save whose property you two are risking your lives, are to sit still here and let you lie out in the rain.”
    “John,” said Mansel, “I don’t have to argue with you. The moment you leave the castle, they’ll know that the gems are gone. Though you stay here, they may suspect that they’re gone. But the moment you leave, they’ll know . And I don’t want them to know. I want to keep them guessing right up to the last.”
    “And now,” said Olivia, rising, “Andrew shall play us upstairs. Jonah and Richard are abnormal, but Andrew and John are half-dead for want of