CHAPTER 2

The street is deserted. Further up, a carriage rattles by, and from the pub of the inn, they can hear groans.

"Walk to the front door," Hastings commands. "I will handle all the talking."

He follows them inside. They find themselves in a small vestibule with a window in one inner wall. Hastings knocks on it and an old woman appears. She grumbles under her breath and looks dissatisfied by the disturbance, but upon seeing the well-dressed visitors, she suddenly smiles warmly and bows politely.

"Before the woman can speak," Hastings interrupts impatiently.

"We would like to stay here tonight. We will need two rooms and someone to fetch our luggage from the dock."

"Of course, sir, very well," the old woman replies. She claps her hands, and a servant runs down the hall. She orders him to prepare the rooms immediately. Then she turns back to the three strangers.

"You may have traveled far, are you hungry?"

"We are not hungry and would like to go to our rooms immediately, and... since my friend leaves early tomorrow morning, I will pay in advance for our lodging. My sister and I will stay here until breakfast tomorrow."

D'Southy and his sister both look quickly at Hastings when he refers to Sylvia as his sister. They have already given up trying to understand what his plan is, but this development brings a look of fear to the young girl's eyes.

Edward Hastings is aware of this, and he does not give the old woman a chance to see the frightened expressions on his fellow travelers' faces. He speaks to her sternly once again.

"As I have already told you, I want to make arrangements immediately to have our belongings brought here from the dock."

Once again, the old woman claps her hands, and when there is no immediate response, she walks to a door on the opposite wall and opens it. The noise from the pub can now be heard clearly.

With what she shouted to her husband, the woman returns hastily and apologizes for having made the distinguished visitors wait, but assures them that her husband will come immediately.

Moments later, the innkeeper appears and asks what he can do for them, his hands open in a gesture of surrender.

Hastings orders him to fetch their luggage from the dock and warns him of dire consequences if anything is lost. Then he places a handful of money in the innkeeper's hand and gestures for Marcus and Sylvia to go up the stairs in the direction the servant had disappeared to prepare the rooms. The old woman hurries forward to show them the way. In the hallway on the first floor, she opens a door and steps back politely.

"This is the lady's room," she says apologetically.

"Thank you." Hastings gestures for D'Southy and Sylvia to enter immediately. He follows them, but as he turns in the doorway, he suddenly faces the old woman. "We will not need your help anymore," he says curtly.

She still wants to explain to him where the other room is, but the commanding look in Hastings' eyes changes her mind, and she hurries down the stairs. Hastings closes the door behind him.

He steps forward slowly, and suddenly, he smiles. It is as if his whole body relaxes, and where he leans against the wardrobe, he looks like a man without a care in the world. A smile of satisfaction plays on his lips.

"You may sit," he says calmly, but his voice is full of amusement.

Marcus D'Southy looks at him with suspicion.

"If you do not mind," he says, slightly relieved due to Hastings' changed attitude but still entirely cautious, "I would be glad if you could explain what has happened to you now."

Hastings laughs.

"My friend, it will take a while to tell you what has really happened to me, but I can tell you at least that I have never heard of another man whose plans have been crowned with such success without him preparing for it in the least."

"I do not understand you at all," D'Southy retorts, slightly annoyed. "If you think you are joking, I can assure you that you are the only one who thinks so."

"A joke?" Hastings laughs mockingly. "My esteemed soldier boy, this is one of the most serious matters you have ever been involved in."

Sylvia D'Southy speaks for the first time since they landed. Her face is pale, but the signs of fear that were present earlier have now disappeared.

"Edward," she says calmly, "I think you are crazy to act like this. You can stop now."

He is still laughing.

"Apparently, you still do not understand what is going on. But wait, I will explain. A friend of mine was shot dead here in the Cape some time ago. He was on the trail of a villain, but he was gruesomely murdered through some dirty trickery. I plan to take that legendary figure you find so romantic, down myself."

They stand in astonishment for a moment. Then Marcus D'Southy speaks. "You mean the Masked Robber?"

Hastings nods.

"That is why you looked so upset when we talked about him tonight!" Sylvia exclaims.

He nods again.

"But what does this have to do with us? Why are you forcing us here with a gun?" Marcus asks.

"It is simple, my friend. To apprehend such a dreaded bandit and murderer, one must have a certain degree of authority. For example, I think if the captain of the garrison here in the Cape were to wake up, he could do it easily."

Marcus D'Southy regards him attentively.

"I intend to be on the alert," he said slowly and emphatically, "and it will indeed be my duty to catch bandits and murderers."

"I do not doubt your words," said Hastings calmly, "but I just think that I would be better suited for that position."

The satisfied smile appeared on his face again.

"Do you understand now?"

They did not answer. Sylvia looked bewildered at her brother, who was still staring fixedly at the man in front of them.

"You are out of your mind, Hastings!" he exclaimed. "I will never allow it!"

The smile disappeared from Hastings' face. The corners of his lips twisted cruelly downwards. A fanatical rage burned in his eyes. He suddenly stood up. His hand slipped into his pocket. The next moment, the gun was once again pointed threateningly at Sylvia D'Southy.

"I will not allow it? Foolish idiot! Just as this gun now threatens your sister, her life will be in danger every moment of the day. I advise you to carry out my orders strictly."

Marcus was as white as a sheet. He hissed through his teeth.

"If you harm her, you will die!"

"That will depend on your behavior, D'Southy," Hastings replied dryly.

At that moment, they heard heavy footsteps outside on the stairs. Hastings hurriedly walked back to the door.

"Sit on the bed and behave yourselves!" he barked curtly as he put the gun back in his pocket.

A moment later, there was a soft knock on the door. He opened it.

"Yes?" he asked abruptly.

The innkeeper stood before the door, and behind him were a few men carrying the heavy bags of the three travelers. Hastings ordered them to bring in the luggage, and when they left the room, he closed the door behind them. He looked at his two prisoners for a moment.

"You might be interested to hear that my name is not Edward Hastings," he said slowly. "However, I see no reason why I need to provide any further explanation to you. I want your introduction and appointment letters, D'Southy, as well as your certificates and any other documents you may have. Also give me the reports that Wycliffe requested you to hand in at the Castle."

D'Southy stared at him intently.

"I refuse," he said firmly.

The flames of uncontrolled anger rose again in Hastings' eyes. He pulled out the gun and aimed it at Sylvia.

"It is in that small bag on top of the suitcase," Marcus said helplessly.

"I thought you would sing a different tune soon," Hastings said as he stepped forward and picked up the bag. He placed it on the table in the middle of the room and then looked around the room.

"Stand against the opposite wall," he snarled at them. "Turn your faces to the wall and make sure you do not talk to each other or turn around."

They obey. He waits until they have taken up the desired positions and then pulls a chair closer. He takes the oil lamp off the dressing table and places it in front of him. Alongside lies the gun with the barrel pointing towards the two figures on the opposite wall. He opens the bag and quickly searches through the papers. He quickly reads through the open documents, and sets aside temporarily those that are sealed or glued shut. After a while, he puts his hand in his jacket pocket and pulls out a crumpled letter. He unfolds it and smooths it out on the table in front of him. He reads the letter that Percival Philip wrote to him almost a year ago in the afternoon before his death, for the umpteenth time. The address is given at the top of the letter as The Castle, Cape of Good Hope. The letter reads:

My dear friend Joseph,

I am writing quickly because my time is limited. A ship is leaving for England in an hour, and I am sending this letter with the seaman. Many things have happened to me since I left England and last saw you. I will tell you everything when you come here. And that is why I am writing to you now. There is a wonderful opportunity for both of us to finally collect those treasures that we have been dreaming about together for so many years but have still eluded us. I will briefly explain the position to you. I have...