Appleby at Allington Read Online Free Page B

rather like this. Let’s have at least a sonata, Appleby.’
    Appleby put out a hand and flicked a switch – a shade impatiently, since he was beginning to think all this pretty silly. All that happened was that the arc of lights on the terrace vanished.
    ‘Try again, my dear fellow.’ This effect of defeated expectation appeared to have amused Allington very much, for he was laughing loudly. ‘We’ll call that the tap of the conductor’s baton, calling the orchestra to order. And over the audience a hush descends. Now carry on.’
    ‘All right – and we’ll begin by having those back again.’ Appleby flicked the same switch, and the lights on the terrace reappeared. ‘Now we’ll try the one next door… How very odd!’ This time, instead of vanishing, the sickle of lights had played a sort of leapfrog over the arm of the lake which separated the house from the castle, so that they now appeared far to Appleby’s right.
    ‘Interesting,’ Allington said, ‘–although not one of the designed effects. Shove in that button just above.’
    Appleby shoved in the button, and at once the lights changed colour and form. They were now flickering and ruddy.
    ‘That’s it!’ Allington was delighted. ‘Torches, you know. A curved line of torches in front of the castle when there was a grand outdoor masque to amuse Queen Elizabeth. There was a complete sea-battle on the lake, culminating in the appearance of Neptune and a lot of tritons. Neptune made a speech in praise of Her Highness and in celebration of English valour. In 1589, that is. In 1967 we didn’t manage the ships or the mythology. But we had the gunfire, and the voices of both Neptune and the Queen. It was a great success.’
    ‘I’m sure it was.’ Appleby manipulated another switch. This time, the effect was spectacular. The whole castle had appeared in a blaze of light. ‘Well, I’m blessed!’ Appleby said. ‘Castle Dargan’s ruins all lit.’
    ‘What’s that?’
    ‘Just some poem by Yeats. The Electricity Board, by the way, must have had quite a business bringing you all that juice.’
    ‘They’re going to send in the devil of a bill. Try the one to the left.’
    The one to the left set the castle on fire – or presented a very colourable appearance of that. The flames leapt and flared in the night. The Roundheads, it was to be presumed, were burning the place down. Appleby flicked the switch again. The fatal conflagration instantly vanished.
    ‘It’s all most ingenious,’ he said. He was now dreadfully sleepy, and indisposed entirely to conceal the fact. ‘But I’m not sure there isn’t more fun in fireworks.’
    Allington accepted this hint of satiety, and made a movement to depart.
    ‘I think I’m a bit of a showman,’ he said. ‘So I get rather fascinated by this sort of thing. Still, I’ve had enough of it. So let’s go. Unless, of course, you’d like me to turn on the part about the treasure.’
    ‘It might set me digging in your park in the small hours. So I think I’d better call it a day.’ Appleby moved towards the trapdoor guarding the ladder. ‘It seems to me, by the way, that they’ll be pretty smart if they get this whole installation away by noon tomorrow.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘I ought to say by noon today.’
    ‘I rather agree – although I’ve told them they must be at work at first light.’ Allington took a final glance around. ‘There’s an uncommon lot of junk even up here. What’s that bundle of stuff in the corner?’
    Appleby followed Allington’s glance. Gazing out, as they had been doing, at a succession of illuminations, they still saw little by the low amber light in which they stood.
    ‘Surely–’ Appleby said, and broke off. He reached the corner in three strides, stooped down and suddenly went very still. It was the better part of a minute before he straightened up again. ‘It’s not a bundle of stuff,’ he said. ‘It’s a man.’
    ‘It’s what ?’ Allington spoke