arrangements.’
Croxdale was staring at him, his face drawn, cheeks flushed. ‘I see. Yes, of course you are right. Then this socialist plot seems very deep. Perhaps this Frobisher is as dangerous as you first thought, and poor West was killed to prevent you from learning the full extent of it. No doubt Gower kept you along with him when he went to France so you could be duped into believing Frobisher harmless, and sending that misinformation back to London.’ He smiled bleakly, just for an instant. ‘Thank God you were clever enough to see through it, and agile enough to survive his attack on you. You are the right man for this job, Pitt. Whatever else he may be guilty of, Narraway did well when he brought you into the Service.’
Pitt felt he should thank him for the compliment, and for his trust, but he wanted to argue and say how little he was really suited to it. He ended by inclining his head, thanking Croxdale briefly, and moving on to the more pressing problem of the present.
‘We need to know very urgently, sir, what information Gower himself may have passed back to London, and — more specifically — to whom. I don’t know who I can trust.’
‘No,’ Croxdale said thoughtfully. ‘No, neither do I. We need to look at this a great deal more closely, Pitt. Austwick has reported to me at least three times since Narraway left. I have the papers here. We need to go through all this information and you must tell me what you know to be accurate, or inaccurate, and what we still need to test. Some picture should emerge. I’m sorry, but this may very well require all night. I’ll have someone fetch us supper.’ He shook his head. ‘God, what a miserable business.’
There was no question of argument.
Croxdale had other notes, not only of what Austwick had reported to him, but, going back further, what Narraway also had written. It was curious looking at the different papers. Austwick’s writing was neat, his notes carefully thought out and finely presented. Narraway’s Pitt viewed with a jolt of familiarity, and a new sense of how alone he was in Narraway’s place. The writing was smaller, more flowing, as if it were casual, and yet there were fewer words. There was no hesitation. He had thought before he began, and there was no attempt to conceal the fact that he was giving Croxdale only the minimum. Was that an agreement between them, and Croxdale could read between the lines? Or had Narraway simply not bothered to conceal the fact that he was telling only part of what he knew?
Pitt studied Croxdale’s face, and did not know the answer.
They read them carefully. A servant brought in a tray of light toast and pate, then cheese and finally a heavy fruit cake, along with brandy, which Pitt declined.
It was now totally dark outside. The wind was rising a little, spattering rain against the windows.
Croxdale put down the last paper. ‘Narraway obviously thought there was something to this business in Paris, but not major. Austwick seems to disagree, and thinks there is nothing but noise and posturing. Unlike Narraway, he believes it will not affect us here in Britain. What do you think, Pitt?’
It was the question Pitt had dreaded, but it was inevitable that it would come. There was no room for excuses, no matter how easy to justify. He would be judged on the accuracy of his answer. He had lain awake weighing everything he knew, hoping Croxdale’s information would top the balance one way or the other.
Again he answered with barely a hesitation. ‘I think that Narraway was on the brink of finding out something crucial, and he was got rid of before he could do so.’
Croxdale waited a long time before he answered.
‘Do you realise that if that is true, then you are also saying that Austwick is either incompetent to a most serious degree, or else — far worse than that — he is complicit in what is going on?’
‘Yes, sir, I’m afraid that has to be the case,’ Pitt agreed. ‘But Gower was reporting to someone, so we know that at least one person within the service is a traitor.’
‘I’ve known Charles Austwick for years,’ Croxdale said softly. ‘But perhaps we don’t know anyone as well as we imagine.’ He sighed. ‘I’ve sent for Stoker. Apparently he’s newly back from Ireland. He may be able to throw some light on things. Do you trust him?’
‘Yes. But I trusted Gower, so I’m not sure my opinion is worth a great deal,’ Pitt said ruefully. ‘Do you?’
Croxdale gave him a bleak smile. ‘
‘I’m quite sure, thank you, sir.’
There was a knock on the door and, at Croxdale’s word, Stoker came in. He looked tired. There were shadows around his eyes and his face was pinched with fatigue. However, he stood to attention until Croxdale gave him permission to sit. Stoker acknowledged Pitt, but only so much as courtesy demanded.
‘When did you get back from Ireland?’ Croxdale asked him.
‘About two hours ago, sir,’ Stoker replied. ‘Weather’s a bit poor.’
‘Mr Pitt doesn’t believe the charge of embezzlement against Narraway,’ Croxdale went on. ‘He thinks it is possibly false, manufactured to get rid of him because he was on the verge of gaining information about a serious socialist plot of violence that would affect Britain.’ He was completely ignoring Pitt, his eyes fixed on Stoker so intently they might have been alone in the room.
‘Sir?’ Stoker said with amazement, but he did not look at Pitt either.
‘You worked with Narraway,’ Croxdale continued. ‘Does that seem likely to you? What is the news from Ireland now?’
Stoker’s jaw tightened as if he were labouring under some profound emotion. His face was pale as he leaned forward a little into the light. He seemed leached of colour by exhaustion. ‘I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t see any reason to question the evidence. It’s amazing what lack of money can do, and how it can change your view of things.’
Pitt felt as if he had been struck. The sting of Stoker’s words was hard enough to have been physical. He would rather it had been.
‘I see,’ Croxdale sighed. ‘And what is the state of affairs in Dublin at present?’
‘Mr Narraway is in prison accused of murdering Cormac O’Neil,’ Stoker answered.
‘Murder!’ Croxdale looked aghast.
Pitt’s thoughts were in disarray. The Narraway he knew was not a murderer. And what of Charlotte? Was she now alone and frightened? Yet Pitt could not ask Stoker.
‘It seems he quarrelled with him rather publicly, making no secret of the fact he believed O’Neil to be responsible for creating the evidence that made it seem he was guilty of embezzling the money intended for Mulhare. And to be honest, that could well be true.’
‘Could it?’ Croxdale asked, a lift of hope in his voice.
‘From what I can make out, yes, sir, it could,’ Stoker replied. ‘Only problem is how he got the information he’d need to get it into Mr Narraway’s account. I’ve been trying to find the answer to that, and I think I’ll get there.’
‘Someone at Lisson Grove?’ Croxdale said.
‘No, sir,’ Stoker answered without a flicker in his face. ‘Not as far as I can see.’
Croxdale’s eyes narrowed. ‘Then who? Who else would be able to do that?’
Stoker did not hesitate. ‘Looks like it could be someone at Mr Narraway’s bank, sir. I dare say one time and another he’s made some enemies. Or it could just be someone willing to be paid. Nice to think that wouldn’t happen, but maybe a bit innocent. There’d be those with enough money to buy most things.’
‘I suppose so,’ Croxdale replied. ‘Perhaps Narraway found out already? That would explain a great deal. What other news have you from Ireland?’
Stoker told him about Narraway’s connections, who he had spoken to and their reactions, the confrontation with O’Neil at the concert. Never once did he mention Charlotte. At least some of what he described was so unlike Narraway — panicky and protective — that it seemed as if his whole character had fallen apart.
Pitt listened with disbelief and mounting anger at what he felt had to be a betrayal.
‘Thank you, Stoker,’ Croxdale said sadly. ‘A tragic end to what was a fine career. Give your report on Ireland to Mr Pitt.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Stoker left, and Croxdale turned to Pitt. ‘I think that makes the picture clearer. Gower was the traitor, which I admit I still find hard to credit, but what you say makes it impossible to deny.We may have the disaster contained, but we can’t take it for granted. Investigate as fully as you can, Pitt, and report to me. Keep an eye to what’s going on in Europe, and if there is anything we should inform the French about, then we’ll do so. In the meantime there’s
