Authors: William Savage
‘So war is coming again,’ Adam said.
‘Almost certainly,’ Mr. Wicken said. ‘My own judgement is that it may be as soon as the end of this year or shortly after.’
‘These two rumours – the secret meetings and the pathway across the seas – were they linked?’ Adam asked.
‘We did not know then and do not know now,’ Mr. Wicken replied. ‘All I can say is that any such route needs secure places along the way where those using it may wait to move onwards. Yet our spies found none, though they questioned innkeepers and livery stable owners most carefully. It seems this route was not using any of the usual types of staging point. In country areas, strangers are quickly noticed and cannot easily pass themselves off as other than they are.’
‘But visitors to gentlemen’s houses need not worry,’ Adam said. ‘They might be described as visiting friends or distant family members. No one would ask anything further.’
‘Exactly,’ Mr. Wicken said, smiling.’I said you were of quick mind, did I not? Now you have proved it. If the rumoured secret meetings of gentlemen were linked to this pathway, could they be discussing amongst themselves where the next people passing through should stop to rest?’
‘But gentlemen, sir,’ Adam replied. ‘Can we believe such as these would act against their own king and country?’
‘Why not? The Jacobites joined in outright armed rebellion. Wilkes had to flee to France because of his disloyal outbursts.’
‘So you had your spies look there,’ Adam said.
‘Not just there,’ Mr. Wicken said. ‘There is another sort of person who may move easily from place to place without arousing suspicion. Our land has many dissenting preachers and evangelists who are constantly travelling from congregation to congregation.’
‘Of course!’ Adam cried. ‘That is why you needed the archdeacon.’
‘You are far ahead of me,’ Mr. Wicken admitted. ‘You are right, of course, but give me leave to explain a little more before we come to him. To place spies amongst the gentry is almost impossible, save by using their servants, which would be abhorrent to all decency. Amongst men of God, it is no easier. What we required were people in a position to ask questions without attracting attention. Clergymen and ministers of religion move amongst the rich all the time. Now, before you protest that none would consent to act as spies, however worthwhile the cause, let me add this. Not all those who supply us with information know that they are doing so. It is often better for us to use an intermediary who can solicit information without appearing to do so. Many men gossip when at ease, as do many ladies. Might it not be worthwhile to have one or two present at such relaxed times to pick up snippets and make sure they reach the right ears?’
‘Who might do that,’ Adam asked, ‘yet not be a clergyman, preacher or gentleman himself?’
‘I will give you the name and address of one right here in Norwich before I leave,’ Mr. Wicken said. ‘Indeed, I have warned him to expect your visit, for I hope to have you speak with him to see if I have missed anything in his tale. But let us return to Dr. Ross.
‘The Archdeacon of Norwich was well placed to know what was happening in the parishes under his supervision. It was also known that he had a strong dislike of dissenters and non-conformists and was ever alert to what they might be doing. He seemed perfect for our purpose, since he was also an ambitious and vain man. Such people love nothing better than to show off their knowledge, especially if they believe it must exceed what others know. All that was needed was to arrange for a suitable person to urge him on and supply the admiration he so craved, then listen to what he revealed. Thus we might gain some insight into the gentry and wandering preachers at the same time. If some of these were offering shelter and silence, we might discover them.’
‘I understand, sir,’ Adam said. ‘Yet Dr. Ross, from all that I have heard, might as easily alert suspicion as disclose it.’
‘One aspect of my work is paramount, Dr. Bascom,’ Mr. Wicken replied. ‘I need to be a most sound judge of men and women. In this case, I failed miserably. I often seek out those with weaknesses of character. Such are of the greatest use to me. I thought I understood enough of Dr. Ross’s weaknesses to use him for my purpose. I did not. I thought I could control his actions. Again, I was wrong. Worst of all, I thought I could use him in a limited way, without his knowledge, and leave him much as before. Instead, I may have provoked his death. Yet, please believe me, I neither intended that outcome nor had any part in bringing it about.’
Mr. Wicken paused to take a second great draught of punch, for he had been speaking almost without a break. Adam was fascinated by the tale that was unfolding. He did not doubt that it was true, just as he believed at once Mr. Wicken’s assertion that he had not planned, nor brought about, the archdeacon’s death. Whether what was being revealed to him was the whole truth…well, that was another matter. For the moment, he would wait to discover what more his visitor had to say.
Since Mr. Wicken now seemed reluctant to go on, Adam assumed that everything he had said so far was of small importance. What came next must be the crucial element of his story. He had to call up considerable resolve to proceed. ‘Dr. Bascom. What I am now going to relate is of a most secret nature. Most of those with whom I work would believe me mad even to go as far as I have. Yet if we are going to assist each other, as I hope we will, you must understand the situation in complete detail. Still, I must needs point out that what you will learn here is of the gravest importance to the defence of our country against vicious and implacable foes. If they knew how far we understood their purposes, they would change their strategy and we would need to begin again. I am trusting in your good sense and discretion. If my trust is misplaced, it will ruin us both.’
‘Your words are far from comforting, sir,’ Adam said. ‘Part of me wishes to avoid such a heavy responsibility and would have you stop at once. Yet another part, probably the strongest, is so intrigued by your narrative that to walk away without knowing more feels unbearable. Proceed, Mr. Wicken. I am a loyal Englishman. I am also well used to hearing matters that demand total silence on my part.’
‘Thank you again for your honesty, doctor,’ Mr. Wicken replied. ‘If you did not feel uncertainty of the highest degree about the wisdom of allowing me to continue, I should mistrust you at once.
A
gain
, Mr. Wicken paused and drank. He seemed totally immersed in the recollection of this period of frustration and indecision. It was as if he had forgotten Adam’s presence. Now he was talking to himself, reviewing for the thousandth time what he knew, what he reasoned and what still lay beyond his grasp. Adam imagined his mind running over the meagre facts again and again, looking for anything missed, inferences passed over, links ignored. The silence grew longer.
At last, he spoke again. ‘By means I need not disclose, we found that the activity of our mystery group was focused on a small area in the north of this county. It seemed to cover the coast between Wells and Cromer, with a focus on Gressington. Their actions were purposeful, but we could make little sense of them. We also knew the local smugglers used places around this area to bring contraband ashore from larger vessels standing well out to sea. The German Ocean is large, doctor, and full of dangerous shoals and sandbanks. Ideal waters for any ship that wishes to be unobserved or elude capture.
‘Our only hope was to find where the people in whom we were interested assembled before being taken out to sea. We needed someone who might pick up rumours of hidden comings and goings from amongst the great houses in the area. Someone who might also remark on any sudden increase in the passage of so-called preachers or dissident ministers. We needed someone like Dr. Nathaniel Ross, the recently appointed Archdeacon of Norwich.’
‘Could you trust him?’ Adam said, amazed. ‘From what I have heard that would be risky indeed. The man was, if you will pardon my frankness, a most contumacious, narrow-minded and damnable bigot.’
‘You have him captured, sir. No, of course we did not trust him. Indeed, we went to great lengths to make sure he knew nothing of our existence. Our intent was to make use of him to flush the group into the open. He had no need to know what I have told you. We did not wish him to do anything he did not do already. All we wanted was for him to continue to stir up controversy and damn all who questioned the status quo. Revolutionaries are hot-headed. We hoped that they would not be able to restrain themselves from fighting back. We have found from our experience in Ireland that open denunciations of Popery are always met with a violent response. Thus the Irish rebels reveal themselves to us. Maybe this group would do the same.
‘Our plan was to have Dr. Ross talk openly about what he saw and heard to the person we had instructed to become his friend and confidant. That was our mistake. We should have known – I should have known – how unwise it was to assume anything of the actions of someone so obsessed.’
‘You mentioned a confidant,’ Adam said.
‘That is the person I am asking you to visit, doctor,’ Mr. Wicken said. ‘He may tell you about his part in this in greater detail, if he trusts you. For our purposes at that time, nothing mattered save that Dr. Ross should look out for any group meeting in secret, especially one holding views he would find unacceptable.’
‘He took your bait.’
‘Indeed he did. Sadly, it seemed not so much to sharpen his attention as to inflame his passions. He began to preach ever more wildly of the evils of dissent. He accused all manner of persons of the most heinous crimes against God. Instead of directing his gaze towards groups of a clandestine nature, he hurled his venom everywhere. Wesleyans, Quakers, Unitarians and anyone not of his opinion on theological matters were fair game. We should have stepped back and had no more to do with him. It was plain that he was more like to scare the quarry away than point to their presence. My only excuse is, I own, a poor one. I was desperate; at the end of my resources. In my stupidity, I tried to recover what I should have abandoned. I told our agent to suggest to Ross that he had heard of one group of ill-minded persons, based somewhere around Gressington.’
‘So Dr. Ross went off to Gressington to find them,’ Adam said.
‘Worse than that. He seems to have gone to confront them himself. He fed his ambition and pride on fantasies of catching the criminals and parading his cleverness to the world. What better way to discountenance his detractors? How he thought he had identified these persons I cannot say, for he told no one.’
‘Whoever he found, the result was his death.’
‘Perhaps. That remains unclear. What was most glaring was that his death, with the subsequent enquiries it must bring, would frighten away the people we most wanted to apprehend. Now I am sure you can see why your questions – reasonable as they were – had to be discouraged so rudely. It was essential that our quarry should believe we accepted a simple explanation for the Archdeacon’s death. That we would investigate no further. The local constable, Garnet, suggested a way. From the start, he was determined to brand the death an unfortunate accident. Since we did not suspect him of any other motive than laziness, which is a near-universal trait in parish constables, we followed his lead. I instructed Dr. Allsop to use the law to bring in a plausible verdict of accidental death. In doing so, he came near to overstepping the mark. Yet you did not press your doubts and I had no idea you would do more than complain to one or two friends of the stupidity of country coroners. I expected trouble from Dr. Ross’s wife and family about the verdict. None came and I was grateful. Only later did I wonder what kept them so silent. Mr. Harmsworthy was also told to accept the verdict. He too agreed, though now I also wonder about him.’
‘My brother said he was a most diligent magistrate,’ Adam said.
‘You add to my worries, doctor, but I have no time to pursue that concern. I am almost at the end of my tale and it becomes pressing for me to take my leave.’
‘Proceed, Mr. Wicken. I promise to restrain my curiosity.’
‘
M
ost of the
rest you must know. We allowed time for those concerned to believe we had lost interest, or never had any. That part of my plan worked, as did the careful attempt to direct interest far away to Lynn. We knew the smuggling gang we suspected of involvement was planning to bring ashore a large consignment of contraband at Gressington. In time we knew when. The trap was set. When it was sprung, we had the whole gang and their ship offshore, plus a good deal of contraband to please His Majesty’s Revenue. That was our cover. What we were seeking was a lone boat containing a few passengers. We found that too, though the people on board fought hard to escape.
‘The constable and the Frenchman,’ Adam said.
‘The constable indeed. We had not suspected him of anything, save idleness and the kind of accommodation with smugglers typical of his kind. Now we discovered he was the key to the operation. He was the man who collected people in his boat, landed them secretly, and took others back to the ship. Just as we had done, he was using the smuggling operation to conceal his true intentions.’
‘So the smugglers were just that?’ Adam said. ‘Smugglers?’
‘Precisely,’ Mr. Wicken replied. ‘They were well paid to take no notice of any strangers aboard the ship and what became of them.’
‘And the constable’s ‘cargo’? The lone Frenchman?’
‘Now you please me again, doctor. We could hardly pretend there had been no small boat and no passenger. One of our men was dead and another sorely hurt. The Frenchman we felt we could admit to, given the fears now abroad. But that was all.’
‘There were others?’ Adam said.
‘One other. An Irishman. A notorious member of that hot-bed of sedition the United Irishmen. It seems our good constable had quite a business, for he would arrange the secret movements of any who might pay him enough. Our net was closed. The prey was taken. But it was not the prey we wanted.’
‘That was all?’
‘Not quite. When taken, Garnet had about him a bundle of letters to and from various French agents in England. Again, a most useful haul, but not what we sought. Believe me, we have questioned Garnet with some rigour, but he denies knowing anything about the people he carried. He claims he never knew from where or why they came. He never met the person who arranged his involvement. His instructions came by letter only, without signature. When the deed was done, he would be instructed where to find the cash that was his payment.’
‘You believe him?’ Adam said.
‘I do. This group is far too careful and well-organised to put any trust in a greedy fool like Garnet. He will hang for what he has done and they will, in time, find another such person. For the moment, this route is blocked and our quarry scattered. Who knows where they may be found next time?’
For a while, they sat in silence, each absorbed in the events of the past. Then Mr. Wicken stood up. ‘You know, that constable was a most enterprising fellow. When we searched his house, we found a package, neatly wrapped and hidden. In it were four books containing stories and illustrations of an extremely lewd nature. He must have had an extra business in the import of pornography. I would have believed such material was easy enough for gentlemen to find in this country. Still, this was pornography of a most particular nature. Perhaps those with tastes of this kind soon tire of what they can find in England, especially in a country district. However, enough of that. Now I must take my leave, as I said, but first I must ask for your help.’
‘How can I help you, sir? I have neither skill nor knowledge in these matters’ Adam said.
‘What you have is better than that,’ Mr. Wicken replied. ‘You have a sharp mind and abundant curiosity. I can spare no more resources to continue to watch this area. I had to beg for what was made available to me last time. Thank goodness my haul included enough to please my masters. I will get no more to pursue what one called ‘Wicken’s chimaeras’ for a long time. Yet, as I hope I have shown you, all my efforts produced nothing with regard to my primary objective. No, my friend. All I want of you is what I wanted of Dr. Ross: information garnered by careful observation. In your case, I have told you all I can, so that you may watch and listen with knowledge of what I want and why. There will be no intermediary this time either. What you find – assuming you agree to aid me – I wish you to communicate to me alone, either by letter or, if the need warrants, in person. I know where to find you. I will tell you where to find me. Guard the information well, I beg you. There are those who would pay much for it and thus bring about what they most desire: my death.’
Without saying more, he gave Adam a small piece of folded paper. Then he hurried out, calling back over his shoulder that he knew the way and required no servant to show him to the door. Adam, too stunned even to speak, let him go.
The front door banged, footsteps could be heard descending the steps to the street, and Mr. Wicken was on his way.
A
moment later
, a maid hurried into the room. ‘Has your visitor gone, sir? I thought I heard the front door.’
‘He has gone.’
‘But the mistress gave me most particular orders to listen for signs of departure and make sure he was escorted from the house in a polite manner.’
‘Do not worry, child. I will explain all to my mother. He desired no politenesses and would wait for none. It was not your fault.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ the maid said. ‘Will you join your mother in her parlour? She said to tell you she has asked cook to send up your favourite pastries.’
Adam smiled, but declined. Time enough to endure his mother’s questions, for her curiosity was as great as his own. He suspected the same of Miss Lasalle, who would doubtless join them. ‘Please tell your mistress that I am most cognisant of her kindness, but I must sit alone for a while. I will join her later, perhaps. Oh and…what is your name?’
‘Ellen, sir.’
‘Well, Ellen, please be ready either to take an urgent letter for me yourself or send someone else who can do so. It will not need to be taken far, but I will want the messenger to wait for an answer. Do you understand?’
The girl nodded and he waved her away. What he needed now above all was silence and solitude. He had much to consider.
On a sudden, he remembered the paper Mr. Wicken had given him. What it contained was an address in London where he might find Mr. Wicken, together with another name and address. Well, he would go and see this other man before he left Norwich. Whether it would serve any better purpose than curiosity, he did not know.