Jamaica Inn: Part 8: A shocking discovery

After the shocking events on the coast, Mary's uncle is now planning to escape from Jamaica Inn. He fears that someone is coming to kill him – someone who has been giving him the orders to wreck ships.  She has to escape first to tell someone what she has seen but who can she trust? 

Transcript

Mary narrating
My uncle is planning our escape from Jamaica Inn tonight. He's afraid that someone is coming to kill him – someone who has been giving him the orders to wreck ships. He thinks I'm resting in my room and he has locked my door. But I climbed out of the window and am hurrying to the vicar's house before my uncle discovers I've gone. The vicar will help me, I'm sure …

Ah there's the church and the vicarage. I can't see any lights, though.

Mary
Mr Davey… Mr Davey… It's Mary … Mary Yellan. No one's here…

Excuse me, is the vicar in the church? I've been knocking at the house but there's no answer.

Woman
No, he left this morning and won't be back until tomorrow.

Mary
Are you sure? Oh… what shall I do?... I've got to find someone to help me…

Woman
Why don't you go to Mr Bassat, the magistrate?  He lives at North Hill, but it's four miles away.

Mary
I'll have to go there…But first… I must … write … a note for Mr Davey. Here… can you give this to him…?

Woman
But you can't walk! – it's getting dark …

Mary narrating
In my note, I explained about the wreck and my uncle's plan to escape… I'll have to walk quickly to North Hill. If my uncle discovers I've gone, he'll know I've betrayed him and he'll kill me.

Mary
I need to see Mr Bassat – it's urgent!

Mrs Bassat
I'm afraid he's not here.

Mary
Oh no!… If I don't see him, something terrible will happen!

Mrs Bassat
It's not about the horses is it? … I know one was quite ill this morning…

Mary
No … When will Mr Bassat be back?

Mrs Bassat
I really don't know. Actually, I'm very worried. He knows a man called Joss Merlyn who's very dangerous, so he might be in serious danger.

Mary
What do you mean?

Mrs Bassat
My husband has suspected for a long time that's he committed serious crimes and this morning, he suddenly got proof. He's gone to Launceston to get men and will surround the Inn this evening… there may be fighting…but do you know this man Merlyn? Wait a moment…you are the girl my husband told me about, aren't you? Don't move…!

Mary
Don't… I won't hurt you… I came to tell Mr Bassat that my uncle is planning to escape tonight. But I've ruined your husband's plan. When my uncle sees I'm not in my room, he'll leave before your husband gets there…

Mrs Bassat
I can see you're telling the truth. How can I help you…?

Mary
I must go back and help my aunt. I'm really worried about her… [puzzled and trying to work out] But how did Mr Bassat find out the truth so soon?

Mrs Bassat
I've no idea. He left very suddenly … But you can't possibly walk back alone now – it's dark. Our servant, James, will see you home safely.

Mary
Really … there's no need. I'm used to the roads at night…

Mary narrating
But she insisted… so I am once again on the road to Jamaica Inn. The moor is cold and still tonight… James has two guns and if I have to … I'll use one… There is the inn …

Mary
It looks like Mr Bassat hasn't got here yet.  I must find my aunt… Perhaps they've already gone. I'll go in alone. Give me a gun James. If you hear a shot, then come.

Strange… the house is dark… but the horses are still here. So they haven't gone yet! Unless they went on foot, but no… my aunt wouldn't have done that. How odd!

Mary narrating
The kitchen is empty. The fire is dead. Nothing but a deathly silence. I creep to the hall, terrified of meeting my uncle with a gun. [gasps!]

A terrible sight is there before me… I turn and run as fast as I can…

Let's meet again in the next episode – after the shocking events of today I go to the safety of the vicar's house – he has something important to tell me, but what can it be?

Vocabulary

wreck
to make a ship sink

vicarage
house where a vicar lives

magistrate
an officer of law

betrayed (to betray)
given information that has put someone in danger

suspected (to suspect)
believe that someone has committed a crime

proof
information that shows that something is true

ruined (to ruin)
spoilt

odd
strange

creep
to move quietly and carefully so no one will see or hear you