Andrew Swanston - The King's Return

He followed Hill back to Piccadilly, waited outside the Carringtons’ house long enough to be sure that he would not be returning to Fleet Street and then made his way back to Wapping. Tomorrow he would visit the inn in Bishopsgate and put his report behind the loose brick.

Then he would await further instructions.

WHEN THOMAS RETURNED, Mary asked him if he had visited Madeleine. ‘I have,’ replied Thomas, ‘and if you will have me, I would like to stay in London a while longer.’

Charles roared with laughter, spilling his claret in the process. ‘I told you it would work. Down on one knee was it? Humble apology, bedroom, all’s well again? Never fails.’

‘Something like that,’ replied Thomas, unable to hide a sheepish grin.

Mary, too, was delighted. ‘Of course we’ll have you, Thomas, and perhaps we’ll see more of you and Madeleine now that you’ve made up and your work is finished. We must go to the theatre again. And that reminds me that we haven’t given our own little performance yet. We must find an occasion for it. You’d like to see it, Thomas, wouldn’t you?’

‘Is that the one you performed on the ship, in which you play Charles’s miscreant son?’

‘It is. I’m sure you’d enjoy it, and Madeleine would too.’

‘I’m sure we would.’ There was a knock on the door and Smythe came in to announce the arrival of a visitor.

‘Mr Stoner is here, madam,’ he said.

‘Show him in at once,’ said Charles, jumping up. ‘More good news, I fancy. It’s a day for good news.’

Chandle Stoner was immaculately turned out and looking as if he had just been given the crown jewels.

‘Chandle, my friend, come in, sit down and share a glass.’ Charles was effusive. ‘It’s good to see you. What news do you bring?’

‘Good evening Mary,’ replied Stoner, taking a glass from Smythe. ‘Good evening, Thomas. I trust I find you both well.’ He turned to Charles. ‘Excellent news, I’m pleased to say. A ship arrived last week with a letter from my agent in Jamaica. He reports that the new mine is showing great promise and is confident that it will prove to be our best yet. A hundred ounces of silver have already been extracted.’

Charles raised his glass to Stoner. ‘Your health, Chandle, and our gratitude for introducing us to this venture. It sounds as if we shall soon be able to retire in ease and comfort. None too soon, mind, sugar planting is not an occupation for old men. Eh, Mary, my dear?’

‘Let us hope so. Chandle, when might we expect to receive our first return?’

‘Well now, Mary,’ replied Stoner, leaning forward in his chair, ‘I’m glad you’ve raised that. The agent tells me that the more men they employ at the new mine, the quicker they will find the deeper seams which are always the richest and the sooner our investors will receive a healthy return.’

‘What is to stop them employing more men?’ asked Mary. ‘Surely there are plenty of workers to be had in Jamaica?’

‘As ever, my dear, money. They need money to recruit men and to pay them until the seams are found and the profits start pouring in.’

‘What about the money already invested?’

‘Exploration, wages, payments to local officials and all manner of sundry other costs. Only to be expected in a venture of this kind, of course. I’ve seen it before a hundred times. Initial investment, proof of potential, second investment, revenues, profits. It’s how business works.’ Stoner laughed. ‘My apologies, Charles, of course I don’t need to explain that to you of all people. You must have been through much the same experience in Barbados.’

‘Much the same, Chandle, much the same,’ replied Charles affably. ‘What do you advise?’

‘I have given this serious thought, Charles, and my advice is to invest exactly the same amount as before. You will then maintain your share of the venture and may hope for an earlier return than might otherwise have been the case.’

‘So this investment will be on the same terms as before, will it, Chandle?’ asked Mary. ‘Is that usual?’

‘Oh, quite usual. We would not want to put a higher value on the venture at this stage. Although within a year or so, it will certainly be worth many, many times more.’

‘It seems to me to be a matter of trust, my dear,’ said Charles. ‘I for one trust Chandle and I think we should take his advice. What do you think?’

‘In matters of business, Charles dear, I have always trusted your judgement. If you wish to invest more in the venture, let us do so.’

‘Very well. Chandle, you may count on us for a further investment of a thousand guineas. Will tomorrow do?’

‘Tomorrow would be splendid.’ Stoner was clearly delighted at Charles’s decision. ‘And what about you, Thomas? Are you tempted to follow suit?’

‘In matters of business I am little more than a babe in arms,’ replied Thomas. ‘Such capital as I have came to me from an unexpected source. I try to avoid things I do not understand.’

‘Oh, quite, quite. Most prudent, if I may say so. In this case, however, you have Charles and Mary’s example to follow. Might that sway you? I do like to see my friends profiting from my advice.’

‘It might. I shall think about it.’

‘Very wise. Talk to Mary and Charles. Take their advice. And if you do decide to join us, I shall be able to tell you the name of the venture. Until then, it must remain confidential, eh, Charles?’

‘Confidential. Indeed. Much the best way. Don’t want every tinker and tailor getting wind of it.’

Stoner rose to take his leave. ‘It’s time I was about my business. You’ve made the right decision, Charles. I’ll call again tomorrow. Good evening, Mary. Good evening, Thomas. Do think about it, won’t you?’ Thomas smiled and nodded and Charles escorted Stoner to the door.

‘Well,’ said Charles when he returned, ‘I knew it would be a good day. First Thomas and Madeleine and now this excellent news from Chandle. I shall sleep well tonight.’

‘You sleep well every night,’ replied Mary tartly, ‘and you snore like a forest boar. Still, I expect you’re right. It’s just that two thousand guineas is such a large amount.’

‘Not as much as fifty thousand, which is what it will soon become. I’m quite confident of it. What do you think, Thomas?’

‘I think I shall keep to my books. You know where my money came from – the bottom of a foul hole in Barbados. I am much better at spending the stuff than making it, so I shall leave Chandle’s venture to you and hope it makes you enormously wealthy.’

‘What do you make of him?’ asked Mary.

‘I found him affable enough, if a little vague on facts. How well do you know him?’

‘Not very. We relied on Drax’s recommendation. Why?’

‘It’s just that he described himself as a financier. That strikes me as being like my describing myself as a mathematician. What exactly does a financier or a mathematician do?’

‘One makes money and the other counts it,’ laughed Charles. ‘Mary has reservations, but I trust the man. We’ll take our profits when the time comes and go home even wealthier than when we arrived.’

‘I am sure you will, Charles. Forgive my cynicism. Money always brings out the worst in me.’

‘In that, Thomas,’ said Mary, ‘you are not alone.’

When Thomas called at a little after two in the afternoon the next day, Madeleine Stewart opened the door herself. ‘Agnes is out, so we shall have to look after ourselves,’ she said archly. ‘Are you hungry?’