too many avenues of villainy. Too many men had too much power and knowledge, but none could be made to answer for their crimes because they hid themselves in endless mazes of deceit and fiction. It was, as my father had written, a conspiracy of paper that allowed these men to prosper. They inscribed their fictions upon banknotes, which the world read and believed.
My stomach was empty, and I felt quite lightheaded, so I stopped into a tavern to take some refreshment. When I sat, however, I found myself in no mind for food, so I called for a mug of a thick ale. And then perhaps I called for another. I suppose by the time I had my fourth mug of ale, all on an empty stomach, I had turned from dejected to morose. I now contemplated the sorrow of not being ten years younger than I was, of having brought about the death of Kate Cole, of having shot Jemmy, of having turned my back on my family. In such a mood I at last returned to my uncle’s house on Broad Court. I settled comfortably in the dark of the parlor, conveniently close to a bottle of Madeira, of which I partook as I tried once more to understand all I had seen.
I sat in the dark I don’t know how long, but the sound of someone descending the stairs shattered my stupor. I had been in my trade and on the more dangerous side of the law too long not to recognize the sound of someone walking with the hope of making no noise, so I set my glass down upon the table and slowly pushed myself to my feet. Once at the doorway, which afforded me a fair view of the staircase, I saw Miriam creeping down the stairs. She wore a greatcoat over her gown, and she had all pulled up past her ankles so she could take each step with quiet care.
I held myself back until she moved past the parlor and then to the front of the house, which she skillfully— and I could only assume that she was not without practice—maneuvered noiselessly and then stepped out into the courtyard.
I waited only a moment before following, and saw that she entered a hackney that was a few yards past the entrance of my uncle’s house.
The hackney began to roll down the street, and I then sprinted after it, making my way as best I could upon an injured leg, and, as I had done once before when following Deloney, I leapt onto the back of the coach. In the cover of the London darkness, I hardly needed to pay the coachman for my ride, so I crouched low that he would not see me, and held on as the carriage rode in the direction of Spitalfields. I hoped it would not be a long ride, for I had not the protection of an outer coat, and I grew cold quickly.
The hackney soon stopped on Princes Street, and Miriam hurried into a public house. At least, I noted with some relief, it had the looks of a respectable place, but I could still hardly check my concern. I waited a moment, rubbed my hands together for warmth, and then entered, keeping close to the door in case Miriam was still in full sight. She was not. Here was a cozy sort of place with a warm fireplace and a collection of middling tradesmen, and some ladies too, scattered about the tables. I saw nothing of Miriam, so I approached the tapman, gave him a coin, and learned that she had met a gentleman in a room on the second floor.
I climbed the stairs and found the room the tapman had specified. The door was closed, but it was also none the sturdiest, so I knew that even if it were locked, I should have little difficulty making my way inside. I pressed my ear to the door, and I heard voices, but I could little tell their disposition. Another door opened, and I stepped away, that I might now look like a madman, but I think I attempted this masquerade unsuccessfully, for the gentleman who emerged down the hall cast me the most suspicious look as he squeezed past me and descended the stairs.
I could hardly endure the thought of standing here all night, lurking in the halls while patrons cast me suspicious looks, so I formed a strategy. That is to say, I turned the doorknob, and finding it yielded to my pressure, I opened the door.
Miriam and Deloney stood facing each other at a small distance. I cannot say how pleased I was to see that they were both red with anger and not, as I had feared, tangled in a lovers’ embrace. Both stopped speaking as I entered the room and closed the door behind me.
“Weaver,” Deloney spat. “What is this outrage?”
“What are you doing here?” Miriam stammered.
I could not stand to see her uneasy, but could stand even less to think that whatever conflict they had might eventually resolve itself, so sowed some bitter seeds for Deloney. “You
Miriam knew not how to respond to my ruse, but she hardly had to.
“What do you mean by this?” Deloney demanded of her. “You so little trusted me that you felt the need to bring in this ruffian. I cannot endure this.”
“You cannot endure?” I moved forward, and Miriam stepped out of my way. I saw at once that her rupture with Deloney was complete, for she did nothing to stop me or temper my approach. “What is it that you cannot endure, Deloney? The thought of having tricked this woman out of her money or that of having done business with a murderer?”
“A murderer?” he demanded. “You had better choose your words with care, sir, lest you know my wrath.”
“If I could gather together all the gentlemen of this city who would welcome the chance to know your wrath, they could hardly fit in the opera house, sir. What fear I of so hollow a promise as your wrath? I shall brook no prevarication. I must know at once the nature of your dealings with Martin Rochester.”
“I’ve never heard of anyone named—”
I could scarce comprehend that he would lie thus, and the effrontery of it—the way in which he presumed me so easily deceived—filled me with outrage. I grabbed him by his coat collar and pushed him hard against the wall. From behind my back, I could hear Miriam begin to utter a protest and then stifle herself.
“I know you have had dealings with him. You will tell me about them.”
He held out his hands submissively, and I could see in his downcast gaze that he had no more fight in him. “I arranged to buy stock from him. Nothing more.”
I released my grip and took a step back, but I remained close enough to make him feel the threat of my presence. Proximity, I have learned, is often as effective as violence. “How did you conduct your business with him?”
“He would never meet with me, but he contacted me one day by letter, saying he knew of my interest in raising money upon the ’Change.”
“Your false projects,” I said.
“Projects, yes. He told me he could sell me South Sea stock discounted. I needed only arrange the sales and send him the money, and he would provide the stock.”
“And to whom did you sell besides Miriam?”
He shook his head. “No one.”
“And why have you been seeking him out? Why did you follow the messenger when I sent the note for Rochester?”
“I bought some shares myself. I then began to suspect there was something wrong. I was motivated at first by my desire to acquire the stock cheap, but I then began to wonder how he could have ordered the matter. When I tried to contact him, he had disappeared.”
“Very well. You will take me to see those shares now.” If I could lay my hands upon more false issues, I thought, then I might have some leverage with the South Sea Company. But I saw at once that I could never hope to acquire any forged stock from Deloney.
“There are circumstances that make that difficult.” He gritted his teeth as though the ineptitude of his lie caused him pain. But why would he lie? Because he had no wish to surrender his stock? No, for by now he knew it was false. There was only one answer that seemed within the limits of probability.
“You never bought any of the stock yourself.” I spoke it like a statement of fact.
He shook his head, half relieved, half shamed to have the truth aired. “No, I never did.”
Miriam stared at him, but he refused to meet her gaze. I guessed that he had lied to her, told her that he had invested heavily in order to convince her to do the same.
“You said you sold to no one but Miriam,” I observed. “How so? If this scheme was so profitable, why did you not exploit it further?”
“I had trouble finding buyers,” Deloney said haltingly.
“Of course.” I now understood clearly. I was not the only man to think on what was probable. “Your false projects had made your name a mockery to any man with a substantial amount to invest. You could find no
