Andrew Swanston - The King's Return

‘Now, Thomas, allow me to demonstrate.’ Squire patted the machine as if it were a favourite child. ‘Bear in mind, however, that it is not yet perfected. Morland is working on an improved version. Still, this will give you a good idea of what we can do.’

He carefully laid a sheet of paper half covered in a closely written script face up on a metal plate which formed the lower half of the machine. Then he took another sheet from the other pile and held it up. ‘This is tissue paper, made from good rag pulp.’

He laid the tissue paper on top of the first sheet, dipped the cloth in water and very gently pressed it on the papers until the top sheet was damp. Then he closed the top half of the machine by means of a handle at the side so that the two halves were held firmly together with the papers between them. After perhaps ten seconds, Squire raised the top half to reveal the papers. So carefully that Thomas found himself holding his breath, he lifted the top sheet to reveal that it had absorbed a mirror image of the writing on the bottom sheet. He replaced the original with the damp sheet and put a clean sheet from the first pile on top of it. He closed the lid again and waited another ten seconds. Then he reopened the lid, removed the upper sheet and, with a flourish, turned it over for Thomas to see.

‘Now what do you make of that, sir?’ enquired Squire. ‘Ingenious, is it not?’

Thomas examined the paper and held it against the original. The mirror image had been reversed and it was clear and easy to read. ‘Indeed it is, Lemuel. And how many copies can you make of one original?’

‘As long as we keep changing the tissue paper, an unlimited number. One paper, however, will begin to mark an original after about six copies. Happily, we seldom need more than one immediately. We can always make more copies later from the first copy if we need to. And Morland is working on improvements.’

‘So you can unseal a letter, make a copy, reseal it and send it on its way without any noticeable delay.’

‘Exactly. You’ve put your finger on the matter. Those with access to this room can be sure of copying intercepted correspondence undetected. Now that we have Bishop’s Mark, if the post is delayed there are complaints and questions are asked.’

‘And who has access to this room?’

‘At present only Morland and I. And Bishop himself, of course.’

The door to the copying room was thrown open and Sir Samuel Morland, his face a mask of furious disbelief, stood in the doorway. For a long moment all three men stared at each other. It was Morland who broke the silence. He pointed at Thomas.

‘And what, may I ask, is the meaning of this? Who has given permission for this man to be here?’

‘Now, now, Samuel, calm yourself,’ replied Squire, taking a step towards him. ‘We did not expect you to return so soon. I merely thought to show Thomas how your excellent copying machine works.’

Morland was not placated. ‘To what end, pray? So that he can steal my invention or so that he can inform our enemies of it?’ His voice had risen to a bellow.

‘That is absurd, Samuel, and you know it. Thomas has been appointed by Mr Williamson to assist us in the absence of Dr Wallis. He is not a thief and he is as loyal to the crown as you or I.’

‘He has no business being in this room. It is bad enough that I have been forced to relinquish my duties as cryptographer to an inferior man. That such a man who is not even an officer of the state should also be privy to our unique method of copying is intolerable. I shall inform Williamson at once and will lodge the strongest possible protest. No doubt he will reconsider Hill’s position.’

Thomas spoke quietly. ‘Your opinion of my competence as a cryptographer is your affair, Sir Samuel, although I would point out that it was I who broke the Vigenère cipher. However, your insinuation that I am anything other than loyal to the king is insupportable. I demand that you retract it at once.’

‘And if I do not? Will you go whining to Williamson or will you challenge me to a duel?’

‘Neither. I shall simply mark you as a ridiculous bag of wind whose feeble mind cannot grasp a simple fact and whose own loyalty is questionable. You did, after all, serve John Thurloe, Cromwell’s head of security.’

Morland balled his hands into fists and took half a step into the room. Thomas thought that Morland was about to strike him.

Squire stepped between them. ‘Gentlemen, please. Enough of this. Let us put our differences aside and repair to the Queen’s Head.’

‘Hold your tongue, Squire. This ignorant intruder needs to be taught some simple facts himself.’ Morland rounded on Thomas, head thrust forward and eyes blazing. ‘For your information, Hill, it was I who was sent to Breda to meet the king and I who helped pave the way for his return. I was warmly welcomed by His Majesty, who graciously conferred a baronetcy upon me for my services to him. Those are the facts and it is you, not I, who should withdraw your allegation.’

Thomas was on the point of asking why Morland had changed his allegiance from Commonwealth to Crown when Henry Bishop arrived.

‘For the love of God, what is all this noise about? They can hear you in the post room.’

Squire held up his hands. ‘It is nothing, Henry, just a minor altercation. We were about to visit the Queen’s Head. Would you care to join us?’

Bishop looked incredulous. ‘It sounded like rather more than a minor altercation. What have you to say, Samuel?’

To Thomas’s relief, Morland had decided that this was not the moment to pursue the matter. ‘It was nothing. I shall return to my work.’ And with that, he was gone.

‘I do not believe you, Lemuel,’ said Bishop, ‘but I shall let it pass. In future, however, be so good as to see that no further opportunities for such a disturbance arise. As far as is possible, Thomas and Samuel are to be kept apart. That is why he has a room at my house in which to carry out his work. Lemuel, I look to you in this.’

‘You may depend upon me, Henry. Now, will you accompany us to the Queen’s Head?’

‘I think not, thank you. Good morning, gentlemen.’

While devoting his attention to the finest the Queen’s Head had to offer, Squire said very little. He even looked rather miserable, perhaps regretting having invited Thomas to Cloak Lane. Thomas watched him swallow cutlets of lamb, half a chicken and a thick slab of bread, all washed down with a pint of claret, and wondered that the sky-blue satins could take the strain.

Eventually, adequately refuelled, the little round man sat back and belched loudly. ‘Far better out than in,’ he announced with an angelic smile. ‘Have you had sufficient, Thomas?’

‘Quite sufficient, Lemuel, thank you,’ replied Thomas, who had done no more than pick at a chicken leg.

‘Splendid. Thomas, I do apologize for Morland’s behaviour. Really, the man can be quite insufferable.’

‘Think no more of it. You said that Morland is working on improvements to the copying machine. What might they be, if I may ask?’

‘Certainly you may ask, my dear fellow. Some inks resist our method of copying. A letter written in such an ink must first be copied using a different ink. That, of course, rather defeats the object of the exercise. Morland is experimenting with crêped papers which will absorb any ink.’

‘For all his temper and ill manners, Sir Samuel is an extraordinary man.’

Squire tapped the side of his nose. ‘Extraordinary, yes. But cave artem , as my dear father was fond of saying.’

Thomas looked quizzical. ‘What do you mean, Lemuel? Is Morland’s loyalty really in doubt?’

‘Good Lord, no. Dear me, no. Heaven forfend such a thing.’ Squire mopped his brow with a large red handkerchief. ‘It is merely the odd story about his change of allegiance which I have always found hard to believe.’