‘They could have a double motive,’ suggested Jane.
‘I agree,’ said Jacob. ‘They know something is missing, likely still in circulation, and they want it most desperately. They want to stop us finding it first. Having searched thecomte’s houses, they think your brother, and those in his family or employed by him, might have it, so they’ve gone after us. Thornbury mentioned a final report. Is it not possible that thecomtewould lodge such a valuable thing with Mr Austen prior to delivering it if he felt it of particular value?’
‘I can see the logic to that, particularly if he wanted to negotiate a bonus payment from the government,’ said Dora. ‘Remove it from where it can be taken by a sneak thief, and let everyone know it exists so they can bid for it.’
Jacob nodded. ‘The Russians included. He used to work for them. He might have been playing us off against them.’
‘Which means he thought he was on to something very important, crucial to the war effort.’ What could it be? Dora wondered. Jacob had described the Comte D’Antraigues as a man who put the pieces of the puzzle together. Had he secured a critical piece and formed a picture that killed him?
‘But would thecomtebe so mercenary? Did he have no gratitude to the country that sheltered him?’ asked Jane.
Jacob gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘The man burned through his money, Miss Austen– entertaining his friends, two houses, an art collection to which he regularly added if I’many judge of these things, not to mention his wife and son. A thousand pound a year would soon vanish in London.’
Dora and Jane exchanged a glance on that statement from a man used to wealth. Both of them could live very comfortably indeed on so much.
‘But I thought he hated Bonaparte. Why withhold information that could lead to his downfall?’ persisted the writer.
That was a good point. Dora looked to Jacob for an answer. ‘Ditto to what she said.’
‘I doubt very much he was going to withhold it to the point that it was of no use. He was using the window of opportunity to get well paid for his insights,’ suggested Jacob.
‘Then what did he foresee, and who is after that report?’ asked Dora.
‘We must add the Russians to our list of suspects as they are sticking close to Julien. The Vorontsovs could be sincere friends, but they could also be hoping to find the report themselves. Top of the list of suspects must be the French, and then any other governments whose agents were asked to bid for the report– the Swedish, even the Americans might want it.’
Dora gave a huff of frustration. ‘That hasn’t narrowed down our suspects. Which of them is willing to commit murder for this?’
‘Men are dying in their thousands on the battlefields,’ said Jacob matter-of-factly. ‘Most government agents would be able to justify the death of a couple of people in London if it got them what they wanted for their country’s war effort.’
That was a grim thought. ‘I take it your brother has nothing like a report, or letters mentioning one, in his possession?’ Dora asked Jane.
The lady paled at the suggestion. ‘We must ask him directly, but I don’t believe so or he would’ve mentioned it earlier.’
‘Perhaps there is something in the bank’s vault?’
Jane laced her fingers around her cup. ‘That is a possibility. I simply don’t know.’
‘It looks like our next stop is the bank,’ said Jacob. ‘I’d like a look at the D’Antraigues account in any case, to see if that tells us anything.’
Jane drained her Oolong to the dregs and put the cup down with a decisive chink. ‘Then I believe we should ask them to put my order in a basket so I can take it with us. I for one do not want to wait to find out what answers may lie in Henry’s bank.’
The banking house was in Henrietta Street to the south of Covent Garden. In the hackney cab on the way, Dora decided to ask for more information about Jane’s brother’s profession as she didn’t think she’d ever met a banker before.
‘How did your brother end up with a bank in London?’ she asked.
Jane smiled. ‘Henry is full of surprises.’
‘I understand it is a small concern with only three partners?’ prompted Jacob.
‘That is correct. Henry has had the most unsettled of lives of all my brothers. He first tried the army life but found he enjoyed handling money more than marching in formation.’ Jane gave a soft laugh. ‘He probably misses the young ladies going into raptures over his red coat. He did look very gallant.’
‘Every girl loves an officer,’ said Dora, echoing the popular sentiment.
‘Quite so. He has opened a little branch of this bank near my home, where people know and trust him, but the main office is here.’
‘And how does he make his money?’ Dora knew it was a crude enquiry, but she wasn’t a lady like Jane and needn’t worry about offending anyone.
‘I’m afraid I… Well, in the usual way,’ said Jane delicately.
