Iain Pears - An Instance of the Fingerpost

I told Mr. Bennet of my suspicions. In full and, I now believe, in greater detail than I needed provide. I told him of Marco da Cola, and the threads of suspicion that had attached themselves to him. I told him of my understanding that he was, if not already here, then on his way to this country. And I told him of what I believed he planned to do when he arrived.

Bennet listened at first impatiently, then with becoming gravity, to my account. And when I had finished, he got up and stared for many minutes out of the window of the little chamber where he habitually carried on his business.

Eventually he turned to face me, and I could see from his expression that the anger had passed. I was not, however, to escape further reproof.

“I must commend you,” he said, “for the diligence your love of His Majesty has produced. I do not doubt for a minute that you have acted with the very best of intentions, and that your desire was simply and wholly the safety of the realm. You are a most excellent servant.”

“I thank you.”

“But in this matter, you have made a serious error. You must know that in diplomacy nothing is ever as it seems, and what may appear as common sense is often the opposite. We cannot go to war. Who should we fight? The Spanish? The French? The Dutch? All together or in combination? And with what are we meant to pay an army? Parliament will barely provide to keep a roof over the king’s head as it is. You know, I am sure, that I am partial to the Spanish, that I regard the French as our greatest enemy. Even so, I will not countenance an alliance with them, any more than I could support a pact against them. For the foreseeable future, at least, we must steer a delicate course between these obstacles, and allow nothing to push the king into the arms of one side or the other.”

“But you know as well, sir,” I said, “that Spanish agents are operating freely, spending their gold to buy support.”

“Of course they are. And so are the French and the Dutch. What of it? As long as all spend with the same enthusiasm, and none gains the upper hand, then no harm is done. Your comments in themselves do little harm, please do not think that. But if your suspicions become generally known, then the French interest will be strengthened. Young Louis has deep coffers. His Majesty is tempted already, even though it would be a disaster. It is imperative that nothing disturbs the balance which those who have the interest of the country at heart have created. Now, tell me, does anyone else know of this suspicion you have?”

“Absolutely not,” I said. “I am the only person with a full knowledge of it. My servant Matthew no doubt has some understanding, since he is an intelligent boy, but even he does not know the full story.”

“And he is where?”

“He is now back in England. But you need have no fears about him. He is totally bound to me.”

“Good. Talk to him and make sure he understands.”

“I am happy to obey your wishes in this matter,” I continued, “but I must repeat that, as far as I can see, the matter is a serious one nonetheless. With the sanction of the Spanish crown or not, this man is coming to the country, and I believe him to be very dangerous to us. What am I to do about it? Surely you do not think that he should be left in peace.”

Bennet smiled. “I do not think you need have any concern on that score, sir,” he said. “This is not the only tale of conspiracy, and I have finally persuaded His Majesty to increase the guard around him night and day. I see no chance of even the most desperate of assassins reaching him.”

“This is no ordinary soldier, sir,” I said. “He had a reputation for daring and ruthless murders against the Turks on Crete. He must not be underestimated.”

“I understand your concerns,” Bennet replied. “But I must point out that, if you are correct—and I do not accept that you are so—the comments you made to de Moledi will have been noted. He will take the greatest of care to make sure nothing occurs which thrusts us into the arms of his greatest enemy. An alliance with France would surely follow any such event, for this scheme could only work if its true author never became known, and you have ensured that that cannot be.”

There the interview ended. I left with my position badly, but not irrevocably, weakened. I had not lost his favor, and certainly had not been threatened with any sanction. Far more important was the fact that my confidence was shaken; I had not anticipated de Moledi’s reaction. He had, indeed, behaved as an innocent might well do in the circumstances, with surprise and protest. And what Mr. Bennet said was true; an assassination of the king now made no sense, if its sole achievement was to deliver England into the hands of the French.

I did not realize, although I was beginning to suspect, that my conclusions were based on faulty propositions; this required more and more terrible evidence, before all doubts were swept away.

I never discovered precisely when Marco da Cola arrived in England, or by what means, although I am certain he had already stepped ashore before I spoke to the Spanish ambassador; this belief was later confirmed by Jack Prestcott when I interrogated him. By the third week of March, Cola was in London and I assume he was warned that something of his purpose had become known to me; he must also have learned that Matthew was my servant, and that the lad also knew much that was dangerous.

I saw Matthew that morning; he came to my house in the greatest of hurry, his face flushed with achievement, to say that he had found Cola in London, and planned to go and see him. Instantly I knew I had to prevent any such encounter.

“You will not,” I said. “I forbid it.”

His face fell, then turned dark with anger, an expression I had never before seen on him. At once, all my fears returned after I had successfully kept them at bay, hoping that all would be well once more now he was back by my side. “Why? What nonsense is this? You look for this man, and when I find him for you, you forbid me to discover where exactly he is.”

“He is a killer, Matthew. A very dangerous man indeed.”

Matthew laughed in the lighthearted way he had, which had once given me such pleasure but did so no longer. “I do not think an Italian holds much danger for a child of London,” he said. “Certainly not this one.”

“Oh, but he does. You know the streets and the alleys, and all the ways across the town far better than he. But do not underrate him. Promise me you will leave him be.”

His laughter faded, and I could see I had wounded him once more. “Is that it? Or do you want to deny me a friend who might do me good, who might patronize me freely, without requiring so much in return? Who listens to me, and values my opinions instead of forever criticizing and imposing his own? I tell you, doctor, this man was kind and good to me; he did not beat me and always behaved well.”

“Stop it,” I cried, anguished that I should be compared to another in such a cruel way, and have this Cola’s success thrust at me merely to wound my heart. “It is true what I say. You must not go near him. I cannot bear the thought of him touching you, hurting you in any way. I wish to protect you.”

“I can look after myself. And I will show you that I can. I have known thieves and murderers and fanatics since the day I was born. Yet here I am, unscratched and unharmed. And you think nothing of this, and talk to me as though I were a child.”

“You owe me a great deal,” I said, angry with his anger, and wounded by his words. “And I will have your respect and courtesy.”

“But you will not give it, as I also deserve. You never have.”

“That is enough. Get out of my room, and come back when you are ready to apologize. I know why you wish to see him. I know what he is and what he wants of you; I see it better than you can. Why else would a man like him keep a boy like you by his side? Do you think it is for your wit? You have little. Your money? You have none. Your learning? You have what I gave you. Your breeding? I picked you up from the gutter. I tell you, if you go to him tonight, I will not have you in this house again. Do you understand?”