The Luminaries
sideboard. ‘Care for a drop of something, Miss Anna Wetherell?’
‘No, thank you.’
He picked up a bottle and tilted it at her. ‘No because you don’t have a taste for liquor, or no because you’re being polite?’
‘I only just arrived.’
‘You’ve told me so once already, my girl, and anyway, that doesn’t answer the question I asked.’
‘I wouldn’t want to take advantage of Mrs. Wells’s hospitality,’ said Anna, with a slight emphasis of disapproval—as though to communicate that he ought not to, either.
Crosbie uncorked the bottle, sniffed, and recorked it. ‘Oh, there’s no such thing as hospitality,’ he said, returning the bottle to the tray, and selecting another. ‘You’ll be billed for everything you touch in this room, and quick as thieves. You mark my words.’
‘No,’ Anna said. ‘It’s all been paid for. And Mrs. Wells has been wonderfully hospitable. I’m staying at her personal request.’
He was amused by this. ‘Oh yes? Nearest and dearest, are you? Old friends?’
Anna frowned. ‘We met at the quay this afternoon.’
‘Just by accident, I suppose.’
‘Yes. There was a young woman—a Miss Mackay—who didn’tmake the sailing. Her cousin’s cousin. When Miss Mackay didn’t show, Mrs. Wells invited me in place of her. The room and board is all paid in advance.’
‘Oho,’ said the man, pouring out a glassful of liquor.
‘Have you just returned from the fields?’ said Anna, stalling for time.
‘I have,’ said the man. ‘Up in the high country. Arrived back this morning.’ He drank, expelled a breath, and then said, ‘No. It’s not right if I don’t tell you. You’ve been euchred.’
‘I’ve been what?’
‘Euchred.’
‘I don’t know what that means, Mr. Crosbie.’
He smiled at her mistake, but did not correct her. ‘There’s always a Miss Mackay,’ he explained. ‘It’s a line she spins. So you believe her, and you follow her home, and before you know it, you’re beholden. Aren’t you, now? She’s given you a fine meal and a hot bath and nothing but the milk of kindness, and what have you given her? Oh’—he wagged his finger—‘but there
will
be something , Miss Anna Wetherell. There
will
be something that you can give.’ He seemed to perceive Anna’s anxiety, for he added, in a gentler tone, ‘Here’s something you ought to know. There’s no charity in a gold town. If it looks like charity, look again.’
‘Oh,’ said Anna.
He drained his glass and set it down. ‘Are you partial to a drink or not?’
‘Not today, thank you.’
He reached into his pocket, withdrew something, and then held up a closed fist. ‘Can you guess what I’m holding?’ he said.
‘No.’
‘Go on. Have a guess.’
‘A coin?’
‘Better than a coin. Guess again.’
‘I can’t think,’ she said, in panic.
He opened his fist to reveal a nugget of gold around the size and shape of a chestnut, laughed again at her expression, and then tossed it to her. She caught it in the heels of her hands. ‘That’senough in gold to buy every last bottle on this tray, with pounds left over,’ he said. ‘It’s yours, if you’ll keep me company until the mistress comes back. How about it? You’ll have a heads-up on those debts, when they start mounting.’
‘I’ve never touched a piece of gold,’ Anna said, turning it over. It was heavier than she had imagined it would be, and more elemental . It seemed to turn dull in her hands.
‘Come here,’ said Crosbie. He took the brandy bottle to the little sofa, sat down, and patted the space beside him. ‘Share a drink with a fellow, my girl. I’ve been walking for two weeks, and I’m thirsty as hell, and I want something nice to look at. Come here. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Mrs. Lydia Wells.’
CRUX
In which two verdicts are delivered, and the justice fits the sentence to the crime.
Te Rau Tauwhare had not been invited to testify at either trial. He had watched the day’s proceedings from the rear of the courtroom, his expression sombre, his back against the wall. When Justice Kemp called for a final recess, giving the order for all the day’s witnesses to be remanded in custody, Tauwhare left the courthouse with the rest. Outside he saw the armoured carriage, waiting to transport the felons back to the gaol, and went to greet the duty sergeant , who was standing by.
‘Hello, Mr. Tauwhare,’ the sergeant said.
‘Hello.’
‘How’s your
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