An Experiment in Treason by Bruce Alexander Read Free Book Online

room?”
    “You amaze me, Sir John. Indeed you do sense another present. He is Sir Thomas Dexter.”
    “Ah, the solicitor general. He must be here to ensure that you are not too helpful.”
    The two men laughed politely and in chorus at that; Sir John bowed in their general direction.
    “It is a pleasure to meet you at last, ” said he who had been identified as Sir Thomas. “You were much discussed when I read law.”
    “That could not have been so very long ago, judging from the sound of your voice. May I ask, sir, what is your age?”
    “I have attained twenty-five years, sir.”
    “Only that? Why sir, you seem a fair infant prodigy of the law. I believe I knew your father whilst I was in the Navy. He is Lord of the Admiralty, is he not?”
    “Just so.”
    “Remember me to him, if you please.” Then, after I had positioned him carefully so that the chair provided was directly beneath his backside, he took a seat. The other two returned to their chairs, and I, having nowhere else to go, took a post behind Sir John.
    At a nod from the solicitor general. Lord Hillsborough cleared his throat and began: “As you may have gleaned from my welcoming remark. Sir John, I am prepared to be more cooperative than I was at our last meeting.”
    “That, at least, is a start.”
    “I must confess that on that occasion I was not altogether forthcoming.”
    “You knew, in other words, what the burglars were after?”
    “Well …yes.”
    “Because you had already found that it was missing?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Was it something of value to you? Of course it was. But was it of value to the burglars? Monetary value? Not money, evidently, nor something that could have been sold immediately? “
    “No, no, no,” said Lord Hillsborough, “not money, nor something that could be easily sold. I believe I can make things considerably easier for you if I tell you that what was stolen could only have value to a very few men here in London. I would hazard that the burglars were, so to speak, hired to accomplish the theft.”
    “And who do you suppose would have ordered this done?”
    Before Lord Hillsborough could respond. Sir Thomas cleared his throat sharply that he might catch the attention of the nobleman.
    Once he had it, he rose from his chair and stepped across the short space which separated them, raised his hand to shield his hps, and whispered in his ear.
    “That I cannot answer at th’u time,” said Hillsborough, emphasizing the temporary nature of the stricture which had been placed upon him.
    “But at another time soon?” queried Sir John.
    “Perhaps.”
    “You seem determined to make this more difficult than it need be, my Lord. Why not now?”
    “Because, sir,” said the young solicitor general, “to answer that question we need the permission of one who is not at this moment readily available to us.”
    Oddly, Sir Thomas Dexter had not left Hillsborough’s side. He stood by his chair so that he might be more immediately available to give advice.
    “I appreciate your frankness, if not your lack of response,” said the magistrate. “But perhaps now, since you’ve made clear to me your limitations, we can move through this a bit more quickly.”
    “I hope so,” said Sir Thomas.
    “Lord Hillsborough, you’ve made it rather clear what the stolen object was not, so perhaps nowyou can tell me what it was.”
    “It was a packet of letters.”
    “Indeed? Then I must repeat one of the questions I put to you the other night, and that is, to wit, whether these letters are of a private and personal nature, the sort that might be used to embarrass you?”
    “No,” said Hillsborough, dismissing the notion out of hand, “nothing of that kind — certainly not.”
    “Were you then the sender or recipient of these letters?”
    “Neither.”
    Sir John seemed truly puzzled. “These letters must then have come into your possession in your capacity as secretary of state for the American colonies. Is that