And Is There Honey Still For Tea? by Peter Murphy Read Free Book Online

ambition.’
    Wesley seemed on the point of replying, but checked himself. ‘Well, it may not matter,’ he said. ‘I was curious, that’s all. His motives may become obvious as we go along.’
    He paused again.
    â€˜May I suggest that we all take time to think about this for a day or so in the light of what we have discussed? If, James, you then wish to proceed, Ben will draft the pleadings quickly, Herbert will serve them, and we will get the case under way.’
    â€˜I don’t need any more time to discuss the matter,’ Digby said. ‘What I need is to start restoring my reputation. My instructions are to sue Hollander for libel without delay.’
    Wesley nodded. ‘Your instructions are that this article is wholly false?’
    Digby drew himself up in his chair.
    â€˜Bernard, do you think for one moment that I would be here if …?’
    â€˜I have an obligation to ask,’ Wesley replied. ‘Think carefully, James. Is there anything in your past that could give rise to suspicion, even if it were unfounded? Anything to explain why Hollander may have got the wrong idea about you, put two and two together and made five?’
    â€˜No,’ Digby said. ‘And it is not a matter of getting the wrong idea. He is lying about me. We need to proceed with the action without delay.’
    â€˜Very well,’ Wesley replied. ‘But perhaps you would indulge me for a moment?’
    â€˜Of course.’
    Wesley walked to the bookcase to the right of his desk and took a volume from a shelf.
    â€˜This is an anecdote of Chief Justice Holt in an old case called Johnson v Browning in 1704,’ he said. ‘The Chief Justice said he remembered: “ another case very lately where a fellow brought an action for saying of him that he was a highwayman; and it appearing upon the evidence that he was so, he was taken in court, committed to prison, and convicted and hanged at the next sessions of gaol delivery. So that people ought to be well advised before they bring such actions .”’
    Wesley closed the book.
    â€˜Just some food for thought,’ he said.

6
    Bernard Wesley had resumed his seat behind his desk. The consultation had ended, and everyone except Ben Schroeder and Jess Farrar had gone.
    â€˜I’ve asked the two of you to stay,’ he said, ‘because I think we need to make some further inquiries. I want to know more about Professor Francis R Hollander. I want to know who he is: his background, personal and academic; where he studied, what degrees he obtained; what his political affiliations are; and what he has written, apart from the present piece. If there is anything odd about him at all, I want to know. There is something not quite right about this case.’
    â€˜You mean, because he is making himself too available?’ Ben asked. ‘Acting as if he can’t wait to be sued?’
    â€˜That’s part of it, certainly,’ Wesley replied. ‘But I also want to know what his personal agenda is, and I want to know if there are people supporting him, people we can’t see at present. He claims to have had no contact with the CIA before he went to them with the Stepanov story. Is that true? Is there anything in his background which suggests otherwise?’
    â€˜I suppose it’s possible,’ Ben suggested, ‘that the American Government, or the CIA in particular, feels that it is not getting anywhere with our Government – too many people defecting and no one being held responsible – and they decided that it might be a good idea to bring it all out in public. If so, they might have put Hollander up to it.’
    â€˜Yes,’ Wesley agreed. ‘Then, the question becomes: have they done it speculatively, waiting to see what evidence might come out of the woodwork; or do they know something we don’t? We may not be able to find the answers to all these questions without some help from