The ruby in the smoke

67 The ruby 1 in the smoke

The year is 1872. Sally Lockhart, 16 years old, is in the middle of a mystery 2. Her mother died in India when Sally was only a baby. Her father died three months ago when his ship sank in the South China Sea. And somebody has just sent her a strange letter from Singapore: She goes to her father’s old office to ask someone about this strange message and 3 talks to Mr Higgs. But when he hears the phrase ‘The Seven Blessings’, he falls over dead. Major 5 Marchbanks reads about this in the newspaper and sends a letter to Sally right away. He tells Sally that she is in great danger 6 and that she should come to his house in Kent as soon as she can; he must give her some very important information …

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She watched the grey city turn into the grey country, and looked at the sea to her left. There were always five or six ships going up or down the Thames. The town of Swaleness was not very large. She decided not to take a cab7 from the station, but to save her money and walk. “Foreland House is not far away, maybe a mile,” a man told her. “Take the river path.” She went at once. The town was sad and cold, the river was brown, and the country around her was empty. The path followed the bank8 of the river, and finally she came to some trees. There was the house – the paint was old; the garden, too, was untidy9. It was a very unhappy place. She went up to the door and was ready to ring the bell when the door opened and a man came out. He put his finger to his lips10 and closed the door. He was careful not to make a sound. “Please,” he whispered11. “Not a word. Follow me, quickly …” Sally followed and he took her quickly around the side of the house and into a little verandah. He closed the door behind her, listened, and then held out12 his hand. “Miss Lockhart, I am Major Marchbanks.” She shook his hand. He was about 60, she guessed. His face was thin and his clothes were a little too big for him. His eyes were dark and fine. His voice was familiar13 in some strange way. There was something in his face that scared her, until she realized that he was scared, too: much more than she was.

1 ruby !*ru:bi? • 2 mystery !*mIstri? • 3(to) beware of !bI*weEEv? • 4 blessing !*blesIN? • 5 major !*meIdZE? • 6 danger !*deIndZE? • 7 cab !kxb? • 8 bank !bxNk? • 9 untidy !0n*taIdi? • 10 lip !lIp? • 11 (to) whisper !*wIspE? • 12 (to) hold out !hEUld-*aUt? • 13 familiar !fE*mIlIE?

“Your letter came this morning,” she said. “Did my father write and ask you to see me?” “No …” He sounded surprised. “Then – have you ever heard the phrase ‘The Seven Blessings’?” Sally asked. Major Marchbanks’ face didn’t change14. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Did you come here to ask me that? I’m so sorry. Did your father –”Major Marchbanks suddenly looked sad and lost. “I have an enemy15, Miss Lockhart,” he whispered, “and that enemy is now yours, too. She – it is a woman – is wholly evil16. She is in this house now, which is why we must hide out here, and why you must leave very soon. Your father –” “But why? What have I done to her? Who is she?” “Please – I can’t explain now. I shall, believe me. I know nothing of ‘The Seven Blessings’ , nothing of the South China Sea, nothing of ships. Your father could not know … I can’t help you. I can do nothing.” She saw terrible unhappiness in his face. She saw that he had no hope and it scared her. She could only think of the letter from the East. “Did you once live in Chatham?” she asked. “Yes – a long time ago. But please – there’s no time. Take this – ” He took out a brown paper package17 that was about six inches long. “This will tell you everything. Maybe, because he said nothing to you about it, I shouldn’t either18 … You will have a shock when you read this. Please be ready for it. But your life is in danger if you know it or not, and at least19 you’ll know why.” She took the package. Her hands were shaking badly; he saw it, and for one strange moment took them in both of his and put his head on them. Then a door opened. He jumped away, grey in the face; a woman looked around the door. “Major – she’s in the garden, sir,” she said. She looked as unhappy as he did. Major Marchbanks looked at Sally. “Through the door,” he said. “Quickly now …” The major took her through the house; she felt empty rooms, cold floors and sadness. “Please,” she said as they arrived at the door, “who is this enemy? I don’t know anything! You must tell me her name, at least.” “She’s called Mrs Holland,” he whispered and opened the door a little. He looked through. “Please – leave now. You walked? You’re young, strong, quick – don’t wait. Go straight to town. Oh, I’m so sorry …” He almost cried. And she was outside, and he closed the door. Ten minutes after her arrival, she was leaving again. She looked up at the wall of the house and thought: was this enemy watching? Halfway along20 the river bank, she stopped and looked back. Why she looked she did not know, but she saw a small figure21 by the trees – a woman in black. An old woman. She was hurrying after Sally. Sally finds out that Mrs Holland is looking for a beautiful ruby from India that is missing and which she says is hers. She also finds out that not everything she has heard about her parents is really true …

14 (to) change !tSeIndZ? • 15 enemy !*enEmi? • 16 evil !*i:vl? • 17 package !*pxkIdZ? • 18 not either !nOt *aIDE? • 19 at least !Et *li:st? • 20 along !E*lON? • 21 figure !*fIGE?