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dangerous work for your friend。 Because of his belief in me as his
admiring and grateful protege and his belief in himself as my benefactor；
he was now utterly in my power。 I could take my time and choose my
opportunity。 Perhaps I should not have killed him； but I had sworn to
have my revenge … and there he was； poor vain fool； at my mercy。 I was
in no hurry。
〃Two years later I had to reconsider my position； for my revenge was
being taken out of my hands。 Mark began to drink。 Could I have
stopped him？ I don't think so； but to my immense surprise I found
myself trying to。 Instinct； perhaps； getting the better of reason； or did I
reason it out and tell myself that； if he drank himself to death； I should
lose my revenge？ Upon my word； I cannot tell you； but； for whatever
motive； I did genuinely want to stop it。 Drinking is such a beastly thing；
anyhow。
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The Red House Mystery
〃I could not stop him； but I kept him within certain bounds； so that
nobody but myself knew his secret。 Yes； I kept him outwardly decent；
and perhaps now I was becoming like the cannibal who keeps his victim in
good condition for his own ends。 I used to gloat over Mark； thinking
how utterly he was mine to ruin as I pleased； financially； morally；
whatever way would give me most satisfaction。 I had but to take my
hand away from him and he sank。 But again I was in no hurry。
〃Then he killed himself。 That futile little drunkard； eaten up with his
own selfishness and vanity； offered his beastliness to the truest and purest
woman on this earth。 You have seen her； Mr。 Gillingham； but you never
knew Mark Ablett。 Even if he had not been a drunkard； there was no
chance for her of happiness with him。 I had known him for many years；
but never once had I seen him moved by any generous emotion。 To have
lived with that shrivelled little soul would have been hell for her； and a
thousand times worse hell when he began to drink。
〃So he had to be killed。 I was the only one left to protect her； for her
mother was in league with Mark to bring about her ruin。 I would have
shot him openly for her sake； and with what gladness； but I had no mind to
sacrifice myself needlessly。 He was in my power； I could persuade him
to almost anything by flattery； surely it would not be difficult to give his
death the appearance of an accident。
〃I need not take up your time by telling you of the many plans I made
and rejected。 For some days I inclined towards an unfortunate boating
accident in the pond … Mark； a very indifferent swimmer； myself almost
exhausted in a gallant attempt to hold him up。 And then he himself gave
me the idea； he and Miss Norris between them； and so put himself in my
hands； without risk of discovery； I should have said； had you not
discovered me。
〃We were talking about ghosts。 Mark had been even more vain；
pompous and absurd than usual； and I could see that Miss Norris was
irritated by it。 After dinner she suggested dressing up as a ghost and
frightening him。 I thought it my duty to warn her that Mark took any
joke against himself badly； but she was determined to do it。 I gave way
reluctantly。 Reluctantly； also； I told her the secret of the passage。
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The Red House Mystery
（There is an underground passage from the library to the bowling…green。
You should exercise your ingenuity； Mr。 Gillingham； in trying to discover
it。 Mark came upon it by accident a year ago。 It was a godsend to him；
he could drink there in greater secrecy。 But he had to tell me about it。
He wanted an audience； even for his vices。）
〃I told Miss Norris； then； because it was necessary for my plan that
Mark should be thoroughly frightened。 Without the passage she could
never have got close enough to the bowling…green to alarm him properly；
but as I arranged it with her she made the most effective appearance； and
Mark was in just the state of rage and vindictiveness which I required。
Miss Norris； you understand； is a professional actress。 I need not say that
to her I appeared to be animated by no other feeling than a boyish desire to
bring off a good joke … a joke directed as much against the others as
against Mark。
〃He came to me that night； as I expected； still quivering with
indignation。 Miss Norris must never be asked to the house again； I was
to make a special note of it； never again。 It was outrageous。 Had he not a
reputation as a host to keep up； he would pack her off next morning。 As
it was； she could stay； hospitality demanded it； but never again would she
come to the Red House … he was absolutely determined about that。 I was
to make a special note of it。
〃I comforted him； I smoothed down his ruffled feathers。 She had
behaved very badly； but he was quite right； he must try not to show how
much he disapproved of her。 And of course she would never come again
…that was obvious。 And then suddenly I began to laugh。 He looked up
at me indignantly。
〃'Is there a joke？〃 he said coldly。
〃I laughed gently again。
〃'I was just thinking；' I said； 'that it would be rather amusing if you
well； had your revenge。
〃'My revenge？ How do you mean？'
〃'Well； paid her back in her own coin。'
〃'Do you mean try and frighten her？'
〃'No； no； but dressed up and pulled her leg a bit。 Made her look a
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The Red House Mystery
fool in front of the others。' I laughed to myself again。 'Serve her jolly
well right。'
〃He jumped up excitedly。
〃'By Jove； Cay！' he cried。 'If I could！ How？ You must think of a
way。
〃I don't know if Beverley has told you about Mark's acting。 He was
an amateur of all the arts； and vain of his little talents； but as an actor he
seemed to himself most wonderful。 Certainly he had some ability for the
stage； so long as he had the stage to himself and was playing to an
admiring audience。 As a professional actor in a small part he would have
been hopeless； as an amateur playing the leading part； he deserved all that
the local papers had ever said about him。 And so the idea of giving us a
private performance； directed against a professional actress who had made
fun of him； appealed equally to his vanity and his desire for retaliation。
If he； Mark Albett； by his wonderful acting could make Ruth Norris look a
fool in front of the others； could take her in； and then join in the laugh at
her afterwards； he would indeed have had a worthy revenge！
〃It strikes you as childish； Mr。 Gillingham？ Ah； you never knew
Mark Ablett。
〃'How； Cay； how？' he said eagerly。
〃'Well； I haven't really thought it out；' I protested。 'It was just an
idea。'
〃He began to think it out for himself。
〃'I might pretend to be a manager； come down to see her … but I
suppose she knows them all。 What about an interviewer？'
〃'It's going to be difficult；' I said thoughtfully。 'You've got rather a
characteristic face； you know。 And your beard …'
〃'I'd shave it off；' he snapped。
〃'My dear Mark！'
〃He looked away； and mumbled； 'I've been thinking of taking it off；
anyhow。 And besides； if I'm going to do the thing； I'm going to do it
properly。'
〃'Yes； you always were an artist；' I said； looking at him admiringly。
〃He purred。 To be called an artist was what he longed for most。 Now
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The Red House Mystery
I knew that I had him。
〃'All the same；' I went on； 'even without your beard and moustache
you might be recognizable。 Unless； of course …' I broke off。
〃'Unless what？'
〃'You pretend to be Robert。' I began to laugh to myself again。 'By
Jove！' I said； 'that's not a bad idea。 Pretend to be Robert； the wastrel
brother； and make yourself objectionable to Miss Norris。 Borrow money
from her； and that sort of thing。'
〃He looked at me； with his bright little eyes； nodding eagerly。
〃'Robert；' he said。 'Yes。 How shall we work it？'
〃There was really a Robert； Mr。 Gillingham； as I have no doubt you
and the Inspector both discovered。 And he was a wastrel and he went to
Australia。 But he never came to the Red House on Tuesday afternoon。
He couldn't have； because he died （unlamented） three years ago。 But
there was nobody who knew this； save Mark and myself； for Mark was the
only one of the family left； his sister having died last year。 Though I
doubt； anyhow； if she knew whether Robert was alive or dead。 He was
not talked about。
〃For the next two days Mark and I worked out our plans。 You
understand by now that our aims were not identical。 Mark's endeavour
was that his deception should last for； say； a couple of hours； mine that it
should go to the grave with him。 He had only to deceive Miss Norris and
the other guests； I had to deceive the world。 When he was dressed up as
Robert； I was going to kill him。 Robert would then be dead； Mark （of
course） missing。 What could anybody think but that Mark had killed
Robert？ But you see how important it was for Mark to enter fully into
his latest （and last） impersonation。 Half…measures would be fatal。
〃You will say that it was impossible so do the thing thoroughly enough。
I answer again that you never knew Mark。 He was being what he wished
mos