A Maggot - John Fowles (9 page)

HISTORICAL CHRONICAL April 1736
 

Barnstaple, Thursday, June 17th. The
Discovery six Weeks since, in a Wood of a Parish some 10 Miles from
this Place, of a Stranger hang'd by his own Hand, or so adjudg'd by
the Coroner, whose first Inquiries could find no Name to this Felon
de se nor Cause for so ghastly a Deed, now raises upon fresh-found
Informations Alarm of a far greater Crime. It is now learn'd he was
Manservant, tho' deaf and dumb, to a Gentleman named Bartholomew that
pass'd for Bideford, with three others, in April last, but not heard
of, nor his Companions, since that Time. 'Tis thought the mute
Servant may have kill'd all, and hid their Corses, in a fit of
lunatick Madness; then overcome by Remorse, or Fear of justice, ended
his wretched Days; but the more to be wonder'd, that to this Present
no Inquiry is made by Mr Bartholomew's Friends.
The
Western Gazette, 1736

The Examination and Deposition of
Thomas Puddicombe
the which
doth attest upon his sworn
oath, this one and
thirtieth day
of July in the tenth year of
the
reign of our sovereign Lord George the
second, by the grace of God King of Great
Britain and of England, &c.

I am three score years
and six of age. I am landlord of the Black Hart Inn. I have been so
nigh upon these forty years and my father before me. I am capital
burgess of this town. I have been thrice its mayor, and justice also,
in that office.

* * *

Q. Now, Master Puddicombe, I would have you first
affirm that this portrait in miniature I have shown and now show you
again is that of the younger of the two gentlemen that stayed in this
your inn some three months past.

A. To the best of my belief, sir. 'Tis very like. I
will swear thus far. Tho' he was dressed less fine.

Q. Look upon his face. The dress matters not. A. So I
judge it. 'Tis he.

Q. Very well. When came they?

A. The last day of April past. I remember it well, I
shall never forget it.

Q. At what hour?

A. The man came first, a three hours before sunset,
to command chambers and victuals. For he said they had dined ill, and
had empty bellies.

Q. His name?

A. Farthing. Then rode back to conduct them, and they
came as he promised, a little after six of the clock, or thereabout.

Q. Five in all?

A. The uncle and nephew. The two men and the maid.

Q. Mr Brown and Mr Bartholomew, they so gave
themselves?

A. That they did, sir.

Q. Marked you whatsoever untoward in their manner?

A. Not at that time. Until what ye know of was
discovered.

Q. But on this night they stayed?

A. Why, sir, they seemed in all what they said, that
is, journeying for Bideford. I spake very little with either
gentleman. The younger went straight to his chamber on the coming and
did not show his face outside until he left. I know no more of him
than one I might pass in the street. He supped, he slept, woke up and
brake his fast. 'Twas all within these four walls. And then he went.

Q. And the uncle?

A. I can tell ye little else, sir. But that he took
chay after supper with Mr Beckford and -

Q. Who is this?

A. Our curate. For he came with his compliments to
the gentlemen.

Q. He knew them?

A. I think not, sir. When I told them he was below,
they seemed not to know him.

Q. How soon was this upon their coming?

A. An hour, sir. Mayhap more. They had supped.

Q. But they did speak with him?

A. Mr Brown came down, sir, in a few minutes. And sat
with Mr Beckford in the private parlour.

Q. That is the uncle? The nephew was not present?

A. But the uncle, sir.

Q. How long?

A. Not an hour, sir. I think less.

Q. Did you hear the subject of their conversation?

A. No, sir.

Q. Not a word?

A. No, sir. My maid Dorcas served them. She said -

Q. I will hear that from her. Tell what you know of
your own eyes and ears.

A. I took Mr Brown to where Mr Beckford was in wait.
They bowed and sat, there was manners and compliments, but I did not
mark them, I went to see for their chay.

Q. Met they as strangers - or as men who had
fore-acquaintance?

A. As strangers, sir. Mr Beckford does often thus.

Q. How so?

A. Why, with they of quality who pass here. They who
have letters and Latin:

Q. In sum, two gentlemen encountered by chance?

A:So I thought to it, sir.

Q. Did Mr Beckford speak to you afterwards of this
meeting? Of what passed?

A. No, sir. Save as he went, he said I should see the
two gentlemen well served and lodged. That the uncle was a worthy
person of London, on Christian business. He said that, sir. Christian
business.

Q. To wit?

A. He did not say, sir. But the man Farthing had
spake in the kitchen of why they travelled. Of the young gentleman's
a-coming to court his aunt, at Bideford. A rich lady, he said, sister
to Mr Brown. Rich as a sultaness, so 'twas said. And the maid carried
from London to serve her and dress her hair, the like.

Q. But there is none such at Bideford?

A. No, for they have lately inquired. And when I said
I knew her not, this Farthing said 'twas not to be wondered, for she
lived much retired, and not in Bideford town itself, but near. But he
lied, the rogue, they have asked all about, and there is none such
lady of that name.

Q. What said Farthing of Mr Brown's profession?

A. That he was London merchant, and alderman of that
city, and had children of his own, but was left guardian of the
nephew on his parents' decease. For he was child to another sister,
who was dead, and her husband also.

Q. And he had inherited no fortune of his own, this
nephew?

A. All spent and wasted. So I took the man to mean.
Tho' he lied in all.

Q. Was aught said of Mr Bartholomew's dead parents?

A. No, sir. But that their son had grown above
himself.

Q. Very well. I would have your closer remembrance of
the servants.

A. One is easy said, sir. The nephew's man, he that
was found,

him I might make nothing of.

Q. His name?

A. They called him Dick, no other name, sir. Farthing
told tales of him, of a kind I would not have had my maids hear. I
had a scolding for that, when Mistress Puddicombe came home. She was
away to Molton for our youngest daughter's lyingin, who bore a -

Q. Yes, yes, Master Puddicombe. What tales?

A. Why, that he was moon-struck, and a lecher into
the bargain. But I put no credence in Farthing. He was Welsh. They
are not to be believed.

Q. You are sure he was Welsh?

A. As I am of my own name, sir. By his voice, first.
Then his bluster and bragging, for that he was ancient sergeant of
marines, or so would have us believe. He was one who would seem to
know much, to be wiser than us. He boasted but to make favour with my
maids. And as for the lechery, it turned out he could have better
charged himself than him they called Dick.

Q. Why?

A. I did not hear till they was gone, sir, the girl
was afraid to tell till then. My maid Dorcas, sir. He would have made
free of her in the night. He offered her a shilling for it. Though
she is a good girl, and promised, and gave no encouragement.

Q. What else did he speak of?

A. Much on military matters, and his past prowess
therein. Then he would have us believe him better than he was. Thus
always he spake of my friend Mr Brown when 'twas clear he was servant
to the gentleman. He made more noise than a company of dragoons. I
counted him an idle fellow, sir, and well named. As hollow as brass,
and as bold. And then his going off before sunrise, there was more to
that than met the eye.

Q. What was this?

A. Why, sir, he was saddled and gone before dawn, and
ne'er a word of warning.

Q. He was sent ahead for some purpose?

A. He was gone when we rose. 'Tis all I know.

Q. You would say, without his master's knowledge?

A. I know not, sir.

Q. Did Mr Brown show surprise that Farthing was gone?

A. No, sir.

Q. Nor any of the others?

A. No, sir. 'Twas not spoken of.

Q. And yet you say there was more in it than meets
the eye?

A. That he said nothing of it when we supped.

Q. What age was he?

A. He did say he was drummer-boy in a battle of '18,
by which I did have him to be born, a year or two given, these thirty
years past; to which also he might answer, by his present looks.

Q. And as to those - had he especial that you marked?

A. Save his mustachios, that he wore quilled, like
the false Turk he was. For the general, did show more tall than short
and carried more lard than meat beside, of which my table and cellar
did bear the proving. For he did so eat and drink that my cook did
call him, tho' then in jest, Sergeant Cut and Come-again.

Q. But a well-built fellow, in appearance?

A. More in the eye than truth, sir, or my name is not
Puddicombe.

Q. What colour were his eyes?

A. Dark and quick, not as an honest man's.

Q. And he bore no scars, ancient wounds, I know not,
that you saw?

A. No, sir.

Q. Nor was halt, or limped in his gait?

A. No, sir. Us doubts us now he had fought an inch,
outside of taverns or in his cups.

Q. Very well. And the other fellow, this Dick? What
of him?

A. Said not a word, sir. Since he could not. But I
saw somewhat in his eye that Farthing was no more in his books than
mine. For which I blame him not one whit, seeing he must dure that
Farthing would use him for a Jack-a-Lent. For the rest, brisk to his
work, so far as I could tell.

Q. And no lunatick?

A. He seemed simple, sir. Able for nothing beyond the
doing of his duties. But rather a poor dog of a man than aught else.
Poor dog for his wits, that is. A strapping fellow for his body, I
would I had one such in my service. I think he meant no harm. For all
they say now.

Q. Nor lecher, neither?

A. Farthing told tattle when he took water to the
maid upstairs and was slow to come down again. Which us did credit a
little then.

Q. He made no advances to your maids?

A. No, sir.

Q. And this maid they brought - what name had she?

A. A strange one, sir, that is after the king of
France, God rot him. Louise, 'twas said, or some such.

Q. She was French?

A. No, sir, or not by her voice, that sounded of
Bristow or thereabout. Tho' in manner, she was fine enough to be of
France, such as I have heard tell. But Farthing said, 'twas these
times the mode in London for such as she, that are lady's maids, to
ape their betters.

Q. She came from London?

A. So 'twas given, sir.

Q. But she did speak as one born in Bristol, you say?

A. Yes, sir, and would sup in her room, like a lady,
and not share it neither. Which we found strange. Farthing spoke
great ill of her and her fine airs. In contrary my girl Dorcas said
she spake kind, and made no great pretence of being other than she
was. And said she would not sup below because she had the megrims,
would rest, so asked to be excused. I fancy 'twas Farthing she could
not abide, not us.

Q. What manner of looks had she?

A. Fair enough, sir, fair enough. A trifle pale and
city sickly, but well featured, tho' small in flesh. I do not forget
her eyes, that were brown and grave as hind or hare's - aye, that
spake doubt of all. I mind not to have seen her once smile.

Q. What mean you by doubt of all, Master Puddicombe?

A. Why, sir, doubt of why she was come among us; as
trout before oven, so say we here.

Q. She said little?

A. No, sir, except it be to Dorcas.

Q. Might she have been no maid, but a person of
breeding in disguise?

A. Well, sir, some now think her such, some lady upon
an adventure.

Q. An elopement, you would say?

A. I say nothing, sir. 'Tis Betty the cook and
Mistress Puddicombe will have it so. And I can't decide, sir.

Q. Very well. Now I have an important question. Did
what this rogue Farthing say of Mr Bartholomew fit his demeanour?
Seemed he to be such, one who had lived above his fortune and was
now- come, albeit against his will, to grovel at his aunt's feet?