Pol dressed in his formal wardrobe, complete with Queen's messenger sash for his appointment with Professor Maybury.

He had spent the morning talking to Pedlar, who was packing up, ready to take his trunk to the next village.
"I've done well, this visit. Apart from my usual customers, I sold a couple of linen handkerchiefs to the lady down the corridor, and some of my Gentleman's Superior Boot Polish to the gentleman. Plus, one of those new-fangled egg-beaters to the cook. Very happy she was, to get her hands on one of those. You turn the handle and the blades spin round and round! Much faster than a fork."

He snapped the lock shut on the lid and stood. "Well, it's been a pleasure sharing with you, young man, but I expect you'll be glad to get the room to yourself now." He winked.

Pol blushed, ever so slightly. Had he been that obvious? He hadn't thought so.

"I've seen her staring at you when you weren't looking," continued Pedlar, cheerfully. "Fine looking woman," he added with a wistful sigh.

"Really?" Pol was startled. Pedlar had to be talking about Ursula Fisher, Jareth's travelling companion. He honestly hadn't noticed her paying any special attention to him. He gave himself a mental shake; that wasn't good enough, he needed to be more vigilant.

Pedlar chuckled and heaved his trunk onto the trolley. "I'll be off then. Fare thee well, Mr Flynt."

"Safe travels, Pedlar." Pol closed the door thoughtfully behind him. He had a lot to think about.

~~

Standing amongst the trees, Jareth watched as Pol knocked on the door of the Hall gatehouse. A stocky man who was a stranger to Jareth, appeared from the rear of the gatehouse and opened the front gate.

"Thank you, Mason. I'm here for my appointment with the Professor," Pol said, his voice carrying.

"Follow me, please, Mr Flynt."

Jareth waited until both men disappeared from sight before approaching the gate. He and Ursula had been unable to arrange an appointment for themselves until the following day, but he had decided over lunch that Pol's visit to the Hall might provide a good opportunity for him to search the grounds unobserved. With Hobbs unexpected death yesterday, they would be one man short, and then a second man would be occupied, accompanying Pol. With any luck, there would be no one keeping watch in the grounds.

He felt a sense of satisfaction when he discovered that, although shut, the gate was unlocked. He entered, closed the gate carefully behind him and walked slowly down the drive, his mechanical eye scanning the surrounds.

He spotted a well-trodden, if narrow, path veering off towards the right, about thirty yards before the Hall entrance. Jareth wondered where it led. A summer house? Or something more interesting?

Only one way to find out. He trod cautiously, using his cane to test the ground as he went.

The garden was thick and overgrown on either side and the path soon became more of a tunnel.

After about a hundred yards, the path opened up into a small clearing. And all of a sudden, Jareth understood the secret behind Maybury's gold.

Facing him was a cave, cut into the side of a small escarpment. The entrance was large enough for him to take a few steps inside. The floor was bare dirt except for a large rock at one side, bearing a lantern which was cold to the touch. A hole had been dug into the ground at the rear of the cave and he could see the top of a ladder protruding from it.

He was so focussed on his discovery that he almost jumped out of his skin when a voice spoke behind him.

"A gold mine! I think we've discovered the source of Maybury's gold."

Ursula sounded disappointed.

"Where did you come from?" demanded Jareth. Damn it! He must be getting old. He hadn't heard a whisper of her approach.

"I followed you, of course," said Ursula with a faint smile in her voice. "Can we get down that ladder?" she asked.

Jareth moved to the edge of the hole and peered down into the depths. "You might be able to, but I wouldn't try it without the lantern. It's very dark."

A searing pain caught him in the back. Before he could react, a hard push sent him plummeting over the edge into the mine. He landed heavily, winded. He lay, utterly shocked, unable to move as he saw the ladder being hauled up.

Ursula's voice floated down.
"Gamer says, thank you for your work. But now it's time for you to retire." A small piece of cloth landed on his bent arm. "And Mr Flynt sends his best."