Andrew Swanston - The King's Return

There was a brief silence before Mary said brightly, ‘We will all take dinner together and there will be no mention of spies, money, traitors or anything else unpleasant. I will go and ask the cook for something special.’

Something special turned out to be a huge venison stew flavoured with nutmeg and ginger, and a rich orange pudding. They washed it down with Charles’s best claret and a bottle of Madeira.

Joseph was waiting for Thomas in the White Tower. ‘I have had Morland brought here,’ he told Thomas. ‘Let us see what he has to say.’ Morland was sent for and escorted in by two warders. He looked murderous.

‘Why am I here and how much longer have I to suffer this outrage, Williamson?’ thundered Morland. ‘You cannot hold me here without just cause and you know it. I demand to be released at once.’

‘This is a matter of national security, Morland, and you will remain here while we make our enquiries.’

Morland glared at Thomas. ‘Why is this man here?’

‘He is rendering me valuable assistance. Now sit down and compose yourself.’ Morland, still glaring, sat down. ‘Good. We have detained Chandle Stoner, in whose house a fragment of paper bearing your name was found. He has confessed to being a criminal. How do you explain your name being on that paper?’

‘Show me the letter.’

‘I think not.’

‘Then I deny it. I barely know Chandle Stoner, but if he chooses to write about me, he would not be the first to do so.’

‘We also have a witness who has connected you to Stoner.’

‘Who?’

Joseph ignored the question. ‘You and Stoner are members of a ring of spies centred on the Post Office.’

Morland went bright red and spittle flew from his mouth. ‘Preposterous. What proof of this absurd accusation do you have?’

‘Let us say that based on the information we have, it is a reasonable inference.’

‘Inferences are never reasonable. They are merely inferences. Intuition is always inferior to rational thought, as even you should know.’

‘Have a care, Morland. Insults will get you nowhere.’

‘Outrageous. You hold me here for no reason and complain of being insulted. May I not complain of your lack of evidence against me?’

‘What do you know of Aurum and Argentum?’

‘My Latin is certainly superior to your own.’ Morland’s haughty tone had returned.

‘The Alchemist?’

‘Alchemy is not a practice in which I have faith.’

‘Lemuel Squire has claimed that certain letters given to you for copying disappeared. Why was that?’

‘I do not trust actors. They pretend to be what they are not. Furthermore, Squire is an absurd little man. The copying machine is not yet perfected. Mistakes are made. And as long as I am in here, there will be no improvement.’

‘Have you anything more to tell us, Morland?’

‘About what, pray? I am guilty of nothing and have nothing to tell you. I demand to be released immediately.’

‘Take him away, warder, and bring the other prisoner.’

Shrugging off the warder’s attentions, Morland rose and stormed out of the room.

‘Arrogant and unpleasant, but guilty of treason?’ mused Williamson.

‘I’m unsure,’ replied Thomas. ‘His background is against him and he’s a hateful specimen, but we have only that scrap of paper and the woman’s word that she heard his name. There’s no real evidence. I couldn’t tell if he was lying.’

‘Nor I. Shall we talk to Stoner again?’

Unlike Morland, Stoner looked thoroughly defeated. The Tower had taken no time at all to crush his spirit, as it had crushed so many spirits. His eyes were red and his hands shaking. For several minutes Joseph stared at him in silence. Eventually he said, ‘Our conditions are the same, Stoner. If you lie or if we suspect you of lying, you will go to the rack. Is that clear?’

‘Yes. And if I tell the truth, have I your word that I shall be given safe passage to Denmark?’ Thomas heard the relief in his voice. The man was a craven coward.

‘Why Denmark?’

‘I have friends there. And I am willing to gather intelligence for you.’

‘You are prepared to work for me?’

‘I am. It is a simple business proposal.’

‘Your proposal is agreed,’ Joseph replied in a matter-of-fact way that made Thomas think he must receive this sort of offer every week. He turned to Thomas. ‘Would you care to continue? I shall sit and listen for lies.’

Thomas tried not to sound surprised. ‘As you wish, Joseph.’ He paused. ‘What is the connection between Quicksilver and Aurum and Argentum, Stoner?’

‘Aurum and Argentum are the code names of two men involved in the plan for which the money from Quicksilver was intended.’

‘What plan?’

Stoner smiled. ‘If you know about Aurum and Argentum, you know about the plan. Ever since the return of Charles Stuart, our Dutch friends have been talking to the French court. Both countries have reasons to act against England. The Dutch fear an English navy as powerful as their own and the French want a Catholic king on the English throne. An avowed Catholic, not a secret one. You are aware of that.’

‘So you are a traitor. Why?’

‘It has made me a wealthy man.’

‘Where is your money?’

‘In Copenhagen.’

‘Why were Smith, Babb, Winter and Copestick murdered?’

‘Babb was an old fool who threatened to expose Quicksilver.’

‘And the others?’

‘They had become dangerous. Winter and Smith in the city, Copestick in the Post Office.’

‘Who killed them?’

‘The Dutchman you met in Dartford. He bore a grudge.’

‘How do you know we met such a man?’

‘Of course I know. You did not kill him.’

‘Did you approve the murders?’

Stoner shrugged. ‘I had no say in the matter.’

‘Why was Madeleine Stewart abducted?’

‘We wanted to know how much you had learned. In view of your close friendship with the lady, we assumed she might know.’

‘She did not know. And the ransom?’

‘A change of plan, necessitated by her sickness.’

‘Who are Aurum and Argentum?’

‘That I shall tell you when I have Mr Williamson’s written guarantee of my safety.’

Williamson exploded. ‘You will not. You will tell us now. Remember where you are, Stoner.’

But having unburdened himself, Stoner had recovered some of his composure. ‘No, sir. Your guarantee in return for Aurum and Argentum.’

‘You’re playing a dangerous game, Stoner. Your life is in my hands.’

‘I am aware of that. And the information you want is in mine. Have we an agreement?’

‘You will know in an hour. Take him back to his room, warden, and return here.’

When they had gone, Thomas asked, ‘Do they always sing like song thrushes, Joseph? The man seemed ready to tell us almost anything. Except the identity of Aurum and Argentum, that is.’

‘It is very common. Stoical resistance followed by abject surrender. I have seen it often. The difference here is that he’s holding something back which he imagines will save his skin.’

‘Will it?’

‘It might.’

An hour later, Joseph sent for Stoner again. ‘I have a proposal,’ he began. ‘You will accept it or you will go to the rack. Which shall it be?’

‘It seems I have little choice. What do you propose?’

‘First, you will reveal the identities of Aurum and Argentum.’

Stoner looked surprised. ‘That is agreed.’

‘There are other conditions. You will sign a letter to your banker in Copenhagen authorizing the release of all the money to my representative. I will have the letter delivered and the money distributed appropriately.’

There was a slight hesitation. ‘Also agreed.’