“How did you…I thought he sold it…?” he stammered.
“This isn’t your watch, sir, but you have confirmed that you owned one like it,” Beatrice said in crisp tones. “There’s no reason for further prevarication. We wish to know the origin of the watch, and we will pay you for the information.”
Yard wetted his lips. “How much?”
Wick withdrew a twenty-pound banknote. When Yard reached for it, he held it back, saying, “This is yours—if your information proves useful.”
“If I tell you, you have to swear you’ll tell no one you heard it from me.” Yard’s eyes darted toward the door. “Mrs. Yard is out shopping at the moment, but if she finds out about this, my life will be worth even less than it is now.”
“We will not reveal the source of the information,” Wick said. “You may speak freely.”
“Back in the day, I was part of a club,” Yard said after a moment. “A secret club open only to men and women with money and power. The membership was quite exclusive.”
“A secret society,” Beatrice breathed.
Wick lifted his brows. “What do the initials H. C. stand for?”
“Hellfire Club,” Yard replied. “Although it wasn’t like what they describe in the papers: we had no satanic rituals, nor did we summon ghostly apparitions. The purpose of our club was the pursuit of earthly pleasures.”
He paused, sliding a glance at Beatrice, whose eyes were as big as dinnerplates.
“If you want your blunt, continue,” Wick said.
“The founders railed against the puritanical constraints of society. Why should we be barred from the enjoyments that our natures demanded? As long as we hurt no one and were willing to pay for the entertainment.” Yard’s gaze had a faraway quality, as if he were allowing himself to sink into the memories of his better days. “I was a member for two years, until my fortunes changed. Then I could no longer afford the membership. The founders did have a scholarship program of sorts, for select men and women who added to the club’s prestige but could not afford the fees. Alas, I did not qualify.”
“We’ll need to know the names of the founders and members,” Wick said.
“That I cannot tell you. For the one inviolable tenet of the club was anonymity: the members wore masks and took pains to conceal their identity. When I applied for admission, I had my interview with a secretary and was told that any indiscretion concerning the club and its members would lead to disbarment.
“The only thing members knew about one another was that we were titans of industry, aristocrats, and leaders of communities. Given the, ahem, nature of the activities conducted within the club,” Yard said, “I’m sure you’ll understand why these people would not tolerate being exposed.”
“What was the nature of the activities, precisely?” This came from Beatrice.
Yard had the grace to redden. “With a few exceptions, whatever the member desired was usually available. Bacchanals, for instance, were a popular offering.”
“Where is the club located?” Wick asked.
“In a private house in Mayfair,” Yard replied. “The secretary conducts all Hellfire Club business from that address. The club events are held on the first Saturday evening of every month.”
“That’s tonight,” Beatrice said in an undertone.
Wick’s thoughts were headed in the same direction. Going to the club might be the only way of finding the watch’s owner. But how would he get inside?
“How does one apply for admission to the Hellfire Club?” he asked Yard.
“Typically, through the referral of an existing member. In this instance, however, you may not need it.”
Wick angled his head. “Why not?”
“You’re holding the admission ticket. The watch,” Yard explained, “permits entry for you and a guest. As long as it has not been deactivated.”
Bea pursed her lips. “What do you mean by ‘deactivated’?”
“When my membership was withdrawn, they took the watch from me. I raised a fuss since I’d paid for the blasted thing; as I’d lost my bank and my fortune, I needed every quid I could get.” The ex-banker huffed. “The watch was finally returned to me, with a note saying that it would no longer provide valid entry into the club. When I examined the watch, I saw that the face of the dial had indeed been subtly altered. Here, let me take a look at the one you have.”
Wick handed over the watch, and Yard flipped open the cover.
“Ah, yes. This watch appears to be still active,” he said.
