being kin to the laird and subscribed to the view that in this remote village outside time, where the Elriggs ruled supreme, assassins and murderers never lurked.
Chapter 8
As he followed Constable Dewar across the field, Faro noticed on the other side of the copse an area roped off on the raised plateau with evidence of an archaeological dig.
That's Mr Hector Elrigg's domain,' Dewar told him.
Faro looked at him. 'Another Elrigg?'
'Sir Archie's nephew,' said Dewar, and continued, 'the old hillfort was built long before the Romans came - or anyone else for that matter. Except the cattle, of course - they were roaming about long before men set foot in the Cheviots. Mr Hector's been digging there for years. I think he's hoping for buried treasure...
'Claims that all this is rightly his, that his father was tricked out of his inheritance. Not to put too fine a point on it, sir, it was all wine, women and gambling with Mr Malcolm, the young Master of Elrigg. He was not a good man,' said Dewar reluctantly, 'and he'd have gone to prison and the estate sold, if it hadn't been for Mr Archie, his younger brother.
'Mr Archie was completely different. As he didn't expect to inherit the title he'd gone off and built up a fine shipping line in Newcastle. He paid off all of his brother's debts, but Mr Archie was a keen businessman and the price was high - Elrigg was to be turned over to him - and his heirs.
'No one believed that Mr Malcolm would agree to such terms, but agree he did. He signed the document, took a boat out at Almouth and was never seen again. Mr Hector feels bitter about it. A man can understand that. Having to lose his rightful inheritance, in payment of his father's sins.'
As the village came in sight, Dewar asked: 'Where shall I set you down, sir?'
'I'll come back with you, if I may, and have a word with Sergeant Yarrow.'
'As you please, sir.'
'What can I do for you, Mr Faro?'
Sergeant Yarrow smiled, his greeting friendly and, as he indicated a seat opposite, Faro decided that their first meeting must have taken him at a bad moment, his calm ruffled by the stormy interview with Hector Elrigg.
'Has Dewar been helpful?'
'Indeed he has. We have just returned from the site of the accident.'
Yarrow nodded. 'And he gave you a report on what happened?'
'He did. There are just a few questions which you might be able to answer, sir.' Faro paused and Yarrow nodded agreement.
'Of course, I'll be glad to help, if I can.'
'Sir Archie was already dead when you reached him?'
'Alas, yes, I was too late.'
'What did you think when you examined the body, Sergeant?'
'That he hadn't been lying there very long. Perhaps half an hour. After sending Dewar off for help, I didn't reach the copse as fast as I intended. My damned horse went lame and I had to lead her the last part - very cautiously I can tell you, with the cattle roaming about.
'Fortunately I knew exactly where to find him. The copse is the only bit of shelter this side of the hill. But the gentleman's directions were very precise, considering the state he was in. White as a sheet and very upset he was. Almost in tears.'
He sighed. 'Alas, by the time I got there, it was too late. There was no sign of Sir Archie's horse. The cattle - they were grazing nearby - and someone, presumably the gentleman in his panic, had left the gate open.'
'And you think a bull had been attracted by the noise and had charged the man on the ground?'
Even as Faro said the words, he found such a statement most unlikely. The beast, he thought, was more likely to have been scared off.
'You see, sir, the old bull, the king bull, would be enraged by the blood, they smell blood - and fear, too, so I'm told.'
'Blood? I didn't know Sir Archie was bleeding.'
Yarrow shook his head. 'Not His Lordship's blood - his own. Dewar probably mentioned that there had been a shoot earlier in the week. It happens from time to time when guests who want a shoot come to the castle. It was the
Chapter 8
As he followed Constable Dewar across the field, Faro noticed on the other side of the copse an area roped off on the raised plateau with evidence of an archaeological dig.
That's Mr Hector Elrigg's domain,' Dewar told him.
Faro looked at him. 'Another Elrigg?'
'Sir Archie's nephew,' said Dewar, and continued, 'the old hillfort was built long before the Romans came - or anyone else for that matter. Except the cattle, of course - they were roaming about long before men set foot in the Cheviots. Mr Hector's been digging there for years. I think he's hoping for buried treasure...
'Claims that all this is rightly his, that his father was tricked out of his inheritance. Not to put too fine a point on it, sir, it was all wine, women and gambling with Mr Malcolm, the young Master of Elrigg. He was not a good man,' said Dewar reluctantly, 'and he'd have gone to prison and the estate sold, if it hadn't been for Mr Archie, his younger brother.
'Mr Archie was completely different. As he didn't expect to inherit the title he'd gone off and built up a fine shipping line in Newcastle. He paid off all of his brother's debts, but Mr Archie was a keen businessman and the price was high - Elrigg was to be turned over to him - and his heirs.
'No one believed that Mr Malcolm would agree to such terms, but agree he did. He signed the document, took a boat out at Almouth and was never seen again. Mr Hector feels bitter about it. A man can understand that. Having to lose his rightful inheritance, in payment of his father's sins.'
As the village came in sight, Dewar asked: 'Where shall I set you down, sir?'
'I'll come back with you, if I may, and have a word with Sergeant Yarrow.'
'As you please, sir.'
'What can I do for you, Mr Faro?'
Sergeant Yarrow smiled, his greeting friendly and, as he indicated a seat opposite, Faro decided that their first meeting must have taken him at a bad moment, his calm ruffled by the stormy interview with Hector Elrigg.
'Has Dewar been helpful?'
'Indeed he has. We have just returned from the site of the accident.'
Yarrow nodded. 'And he gave you a report on what happened?'
'He did. There are just a few questions which you might be able to answer, sir.' Faro paused and Yarrow nodded agreement.
'Of course, I'll be glad to help, if I can.'
'Sir Archie was already dead when you reached him?'
'Alas, yes, I was too late.'
'What did you think when you examined the body, Sergeant?'
'That he hadn't been lying there very long. Perhaps half an hour. After sending Dewar off for help, I didn't reach the copse as fast as I intended. My damned horse went lame and I had to lead her the last part - very cautiously I can tell you, with the cattle roaming about.
'Fortunately I knew exactly where to find him. The copse is the only bit of shelter this side of the hill. But the gentleman's directions were very precise, considering the state he was in. White as a sheet and very upset he was. Almost in tears.'
He sighed. 'Alas, by the time I got there, it was too late. There was no sign of Sir Archie's horse. The cattle - they were grazing nearby - and someone, presumably the gentleman in his panic, had left the gate open.'
'And you think a bull had been attracted by the noise and had charged the man on the ground?'
Even as Faro said the words, he found such a statement most unlikely. The beast, he thought, was more likely to have been scared off.
'You see, sir, the old bull, the king bull, would be enraged by the blood, they smell blood - and fear, too, so I'm told.'
'Blood? I didn't know Sir Archie was bleeding.'
Yarrow shook his head. 'Not His Lordship's blood - his own. Dewar probably mentioned that there had been a shoot earlier in the week. It happens from time to time when guests who want a shoot come to the castle. It was the
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