The King's Return
- Автор: Swanston Andrew
- Серия: Thomas Hill #3
- Год: 2014
- Язык: английский
- Год: Transworld
- ISBN: 9781446487297
- Жанр: Исторические детективы
Электронная книга - «The King's Return». Краткое содержание книги:
Spring, 1661. After years of civil war followed by Oliver Cromwell’s joyless rule as Lord Protector, England awaits the coronation of King Charles II. The mood in London is one of relief and hope for a better future.
But when two respectable gentlemen are found in a foul lane with their throats cut, it becomes apparent that England’s enemies are using the newly re-established Post Office for their own ends. There are traitors at work and plans to overthrow the king. Another war is possible.
Thomas Hill, in London visiting friends, is approached by the king’s security advisor and asked to take charge of deciphering coded letters intercepted by the Post Office. As the body count rises and the killer starts preying on women, the action draws closer to Thomas – and his loved ones. He finds himself dragged into the hunt for the traitors and the murderer, but will he find them before it’s too late?
‘Why you, Thomas? Why do you have to go to that evil place? Why can’t you stay here and keep me company?’
‘Alas, my dear, there is nothing I should like more, but Charles as good as volunteered me for the task. I do not have to be there until nine o’clock. May I stay with you until then?’
‘I insist upon it. Then go and threaten to cut Stoner into small pieces if he does not tell you where that Dutchman is.’
A little after eight o’clock, Thomas gently detached his arm from around the sleeping patient’s shoulders, slipped out of the room and set off for the Tower. Thirty minutes later his carriage arrived outside the outer wall, where he presented himself to a yeoman warder and was escorted through a gatehouse in the inner wall. At the White Tower, where the Constable of the Tower had rooms, he was shown into an antechamber and asked to wait while the yeoman announced his arrival.
Joseph soon came bustling in. ‘Good evening, Thomas. Thank you for coming. I have arranged with the Constable for our prisoners to be brought to us here. I thought we would see the woman first. I doubt she has much to tell us, but a little warning won’t hurt.’
‘As you wish, Joseph. Is there anything you particularly want me to do?’
‘Ask whatever questions you like and watch for signs of dissembling. Extra pairs of eyes and ears are always useful.’
The Molly who was brought into the antechamber was every bit as foul-mouthed and ill-tempered as the Molly whom they had found in bed with Stoner. So far, the Tower had done nothing for her composure. ‘Where’s that little shit Mottershead?’ she screeched. ‘Bring ’im ’ere and ’e’ll feel the sharp end of my tongue.’
‘Mr Mottershead is otherwise engaged,’ replied Joseph calmly. ‘Now sit down and answer our questions. If you give us any trouble, the warder will bind your hands and ankles.’ With a look of pure hatred, Molly sat. ‘Good. Now, first of all, how did you meet Chandle Stoner?’
‘’Ow do you think? ’E came to the ’ouse.’
‘The house in Wild Street?’ Molly nodded. ‘And when was that?’
‘Around Christmas time, it was. It was so cold the privy was frozen up and we ’ad to shit on the ice.’
‘And when did you leave the house?’
‘The day after the coronation. ’E took me to Lambeth and said ’e’d keep me there in comfort, as long as I didn’t tell no one about it.’
‘And you agreed?’
‘Course I did. I’m not stupid. A big ’ouse and plenty of money. Better than spreading my legs for poxy old men for a few shillings. ’E gave me money for clothes, too.’
‘But no servants?’
‘No, ’e wouldn’t allow servants.’
‘Did he have any visitors?’
‘’E did, but I never saw them. I ’ad to go to the bedroom when anyone came. What’s this all about? What’s ’e done?’
‘All in good time. Did he tell you anything about himself?’
‘Not much. Said ’e was in business. Spent a lot of time in coffee ’ouses, ’e said.’
‘How often did he visit you?’
‘Two or three times a week, until ’e moved in for good. Said ’e wanted to be private.’
‘When was that?’
‘About a week ago.’
Throughout the questioning, Thomas had been watching Molly’s face carefully. He had seen not a glimmer of a lie nor a hint of guilt. She was what she said she was – a London whore who had enjoyed a slice of luck. The luck had run out, but she was neither a traitor nor a murderer.
Williamson clearly thought the same. ‘That will do for now,’ he told her. ‘You will be kept here for the present in case you remember anything of use to us. If you do, ask the warder to send word to me. And don’t forget that you are still under suspicion of being involved in crimes for which you could hang. Your best chance of release is to tell us everything you remember. Names, events, anything. Is that clear?’
‘I’ve told you what I know, and it ain’t much. ’E wouldn’t ’ave told me about ’is business, would ’e? I’m just ’is ’ore. Ask ’im yourself if you don’t believe me.’
‘Not now you aren’t, Molly,’ said Thomas. ‘You won’t be keeping Chandle Stoner warm any longer.’
‘Piss on ’im then. Never liked the shit.’
‘Take her back to her room, warder, please,’ Williamson ordered, ‘and bring Stoner.’
‘She was telling the truth,’ said Thomas, when they had gone.
‘I fear so. But she might remember something. We’ll keep her here just in case.’
Chandle Stoner had evidently decided that his best defence was attack. He stormed into the room and launched straight into a tirade. ‘By what authority do you keep me here, may I enquire? I am not unknown in this city and have friends who will want to know why I have been treated like a common criminal.’
‘Sit down, Stoner, and answer our questions.’ Williamson’s voice was icy.
‘On the contrary, sir. You will answer my questions.’
Williamson stared at him. ‘Bind his hands, warder, and tie him to the chair. If he resists, break his arm.’ When Stoner was bound and sitting, Williamson continued. ‘Understand that you are in no position to make demands. I have the authority of the king to do whatever I believe to be necessary for the defence of His Majesty and his realm. That includes hanging you if I choose.’
‘And on what grounds do you propose to do that?’
‘You are suspected of being a murderer, a thief and a traitor.’
Stoner laughed. ‘And do you intend to hang me three times for these three crimes, not one of which I am guilty of?’
Williamson ignored the question. ‘Have you any knowledge of an enterprise named Quicksilver?’
‘I certainly have. A mining venture from which a number of my friends have made considerable profits.’
‘And others have made losses.’
Stoner shrugged. ‘Business carries risk.’
‘Why did you leave your home in Cheapside and go to Lambeth?’
‘That is none of your affair.’
Williamson nodded to the warder, who clipped Stoner on the ear with his staff. ‘I think you will find that it is. Why?’
‘A man in my position needs privacy.’
‘What position is that?’
‘I am a man of business.’
‘Why did you burn all your documents before leaving the house?’
‘That is my standard procedure for all confidential documents and correspondence that are no longer needed.’
‘Did you know Sir Montford Babb?’
‘Possibly. I meet many people in the course of business.’
‘Did he have an interest in Quicksilver?’
‘I cannot recall.’
‘Did you know Matthew Smith, John Winter or Henry Copestick?’
‘No.’
‘Do you know who murdered them?’
‘That is an absurd question.’ Another nod to the warder and another clip on the ear. ‘No.’
‘Do the names Aurum and Argentum mean anything to you?’
‘As much as they do to you. Gold and silver. What of it?’
‘On one of the letters you burned we found the name Morland. Was this Sir Samuel Morland?’
‘Possibly. I don’t remember the contents of every document.’
‘We think that it was. What business had you with him?’
‘None. Now if you have no more questions, kindly release me. I have nothing more to tell you and nothing to hide.’
‘You will remain here for the present. You should know, also, that I saw the king this morning. At his request, the Privy Council has authorized the use of the rack if I should deem it necessary.’ Stoner went white. No one could withstand the rack and the Council authorized it only in the most serious cases. ‘Keep that in mind when we return tomorrow.’ Williamson turned to Thomas. ‘Have you any questions, Thomas?’