CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Although it was almost ten o’clock there was plenty of light in the sky. But soon though, the coal braziers and tar torches would be lit.

    Jake felt his excitement rise as he saw John Slasher Stubbs swagger into the ring amid loud cheering from the throng of men. The fun would start soon.

    Stubbs, stripped to the waist and wearing a flowing red cape, strutted around the ring, showing of his muscles. He was the master of ceremonies and also the referee and was making the most of it.

    Jake could not help chuckling. He was getting his money’s worth tonight. When Lord Langdon entered the ring the crowds went mad. He was their favourite and he had their full support.

    Langdon cut an impressive figure. He was heavy set and muscled, but in Jake’s opinion, his lordship was running to seed.

    Finally his opponent came on the scene. As the toff climbed into the ring Jake looked him over. He was younger than Langdon and taller. He had massive shoulders and a deep wide chest.

    Looking at his physique Jake began to worry about his shilling bet. Perhaps he had been too hasty.

    A bell rang and Langdon began to dance around, light on his feet, bobbing this way and that, like a snake hypnotising a rabbit. The toff just stood there, fists raised in defence, looking rather bewildered at his opponent’s antics.

    Jake smiled. His shilling was safe after all.

    Suddenly, with the swiftness of a snake striking, Langdon landed the first blow. It caught the toff on the nose. He staggered back for a moment and blood spurted.

    The crowd roared. A chant began.

    ‘Claret! Claret! Claret!

    Grinning from ear to ear, Jake congratulated himself on finding this high perch.

    All at once something bumped and scraped along the side of the coach that faced the stable wall.

    What was that? Was someone trying to climb up?

    Jake swivelled his prone body around and looked down over the edge of the coach. A man was standing perfectly still in the very narrow gap between coach and wall. A lamp was on in the stables and Jake could see the man clearly.

    He managed to stifle a gasp as he recognised Mr Frederick Granville. Granville remained still for a moment as though listening and then began to move stealthily on.

    Jake saw he had something slung over his shoulder. Oh Gawd! That looked like a corpse he was carrying. As Jake watched something slim and white slipped from under the blanket. An arm; a woman’s arm!

    Jake lay low, watching Granville’s every move as he swiftly carried his burden to the outside staircase, climbed up and entered the rooms above the stables.

    Jake waited, the fight forgotten.

    Then, right above his head candle light glowed in a window. If he stretched up he would be able to look over the edge of the wooden window sill and see into the room.

    Carefully, Jake got to his feet and standing on the very edge of the coach’s roof peered in. He almost lost his footing at what met his gaze.

    Granville had thrown the woman onto the bed. She did not make a movement or sound and Jake realised she was either dead or unconscious.

    Granville’s next action made clear the woman was merely unconscious, for he began to tie her hands to the iron headboard. When he tied her legs to the footboard Jake felt deep disgust.

    There were evil doings here, all right!

    But who was the poor creature? Her clothes were those of a woman of wealth. Jake tried to peer at her face.

    As the candle light flickered over the delicate white features, Jake had a severe shock.

    Her ladyship! It was her ladyship!

    Suddenly, a tar torch flared into life in the yard below. Jake ducked his head below the sill. Almost immediately the candle was extinguished.

    Jake got back onto the roof of the coach and lay face down. He watched Granville leave the rooms above the stables, descend the staircase and walk purposefully towards the crowds and the back of the club.

    Jake watched him disappear and then he climbed down from the coach.

    He was shaking all over but he knew what he had to do. He moved stealthily to the staircase and climbed. To a man of Jake’s stamp locks were no barriers. He entered the rooms and made his way carefully to where he believed her ladyship must lie.

    Entering the room, Jake was almost overcome. Oh Gawd! He hurried to the bed and began to fumble with the ropes at her hands. He stopped now and then to shake her by a shoulder.

    ‘Wake up, your ladyship!’ he whispered hoarsely. ‘Wake up, for the Lord’s sake!’

    He got her hands free and then he began untie her feet, pleading all the while for her to wake.

    ‘Ladyship, we got to get away from here afore he comes back. Oh Gawd!’

    At last she was untied, but her body remained inert. There was only one thing for it. He would have to carry her. He was pulling the blanket around her, when he thought he heard a sound.

    He jumped in fright. What was that! He listened with bated breath but no further sound came.

    He finally got her body into position so that when he knelt down he could get her over his shoulder.

    He knelt, pulled her over his thin bony shoulder and then tried to stand up. His knees almost buckled at the weight. He staggered a few steps and then got his balance.

    The coal braziers had been lit outside and he was able to see his way to the door. He managed the stairs by clinging for dear life to the handrail with his free hand.

    The fight was in full flow, and the noise of the crowds deafening. Jake moved unsteadily towards the stables. If only she would wake, then he could get her away easy. But she remained a dead weight on him.

    He must hide her body until he could get help. He must find Mr Quipp.

    Jake looked about him. Where to hide her though where no one would find her? Not in the stables. In the coach? No! Wait! He had it!

    Attached to the back of the coach was a stout wooden luggage box. It had a simple staple and wood bung for a lock. No one would look in there and she would not be able to get out should she wake before he returned.

    Looking around to make sure no one was watching him, he opened the box and with a supreme effort got her inside, and then forced the wood bung through the overlapping staples.

    Then he ran as fast as he could though the back gate of the club.

    Outside late comers to the fight were alighting from hansom cabs. Jake hailed one.

    ‘Pig and Thistle, as fast as you can.’

    The cabbie looked down on him with a sneer. ‘Oh, yerse!’

    Jake held up two shilling pieces.

    ‘I got money, more than enough.’

    ‘All right then, Hop in.’

    ‘Fast!’ Jake yelled at him. ‘It’s a matter of life or death. And don’t spare the horse.’