“He asked Welby to ferretout the truth. I was also to use my influence to dissuade them fromsuch an action. But before we could act, Bonaparte was dead. Wedidn’t know whether the poisoning had been carried out or not, butButterworth remained nervous. He intended to discover the truthwhen he returned to England. Then shortly after that he too wasdead.”
“Am I to be told the nameof this possible assassin?” Jack asked curtly. “I suspect Caindalehas some knowledge, but he thus far refuses to enlightenme.”
“Butterstone had hissuspicions, but he wasn’t prepared to say anything until he hadfurther proof. We hoped you might be able to tell us. There’s asuggestion royalty was involved,” Welby said bluntly.
Jack leaned forward. “Are yousuggesting that one of George’s set killed Butterworth to silencehim?”
“No, no. We don’t know. Butit’s possible that someone of influence didn’t like Butterfieldbringing this to light,” Welby said moodily.
“Could he have had anytangible evidence?” Jack asked, remaining skeptical. “Have youconsidered how difficult it would be to murder Bonaparte? How wouldthe poison have been administered?”
“Through his jailor, SirHudson Lowe?” Atworth posed.
“The gentleman fiercelydenies any knowledge of it,” Jack said.
“Lowe is a vindictive man,”Atworth said. “Napoleon said of him that he had a villainouscountenance.”
Jack found finding Atworthincreasingly annoying. “Still, it would not have been easy, when hewas seldom there.”
“But not impossible,” Welbysaid, firming his jaw.
These two were like dogs with a bone.And he’d learned nothing from them. Either they didn’t trust him,or they knew less than he did. Jack threw back the last of thewhiskey and put down his glass. “I’m not sure what you ask of me,gentlemen.”
“To work with us,” Welbysaid. “Pass on any information you glean from Bascombe andCaindale.”
Jack had no intention of it. TheColonel would want to keep his dealings in this affair secret. ButCaindale was another matter. “I expect you’ll keep meinformed?”
“We will, restassured.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “But nothingis to appear in print until it’s verified?”
“You have my word,” Welbysaid, looking a little annoyed.
Jack stood. “If you’llexcuse me, gentlemen. I have business to attend to.” He had a housein Mayfair to visit. Thepied-à-terrehis father had left him.But first he wished to advise Bascombe that these two were watchinghim.
At the colonel’s home, Jack relayed toBascombe, Welby and Atwood’s request to be kept up to date withinformation and that they were watching him.
“I knew the fellow waslurking about. Could spot him a mile off,” Bascombe said. “Found itamusing.”
“The editor suspectssomeone acting for the king had a hand in it.”
Bascombe shook his head. “Georgealways had a grudging respect for Bonaparte, a superb tactician,and a brave soldier which the king wished he could have been. Lookat those ridiculously elaborate uniforms he designed for himself.Possible that he was jealous of Bonaparte, but I doubt he’d go tothose lengths.” He dragged on his cheroot. “Welby is a keenjournalist who has sniffed out a story which would give himrecognition, no question. Atwood is a profligate who sees money tobe made from it. Don’t trust either of them.”
“Atwood is fond of waving apistol around.”
“Shouldn’t let that botheryou. Probably doesn’t know which end the ball comesout.”
That made him even more dangerous inJack’s view. “I’ve begun to doubt Butterstone did take them intohis confidence, because he told them nothing of importance. Theywere looking to me for information. Why are they watchingCaindale?”
“Caindale’s involvement inthis affair bears looking into.” Bascombe rose and replenishedtheir glasses from the decanter. “I viewed Bonaparte’s autopsy,” hecontinued when he resumed his seat. “The opinion of the fivedoctors was inconclusive. It was decided on balance that he diedfrom a stomach tumor.”
“No question ofpoisoning?”
“There’s always a question.The symptoms of arsenic poisoning can bemisinterpreted.”
“Who could have carried itout?”
“He’d need constant accessto Bonaparte’s food and drink over a period. Difficult for anEnglishman to visit St. Helena often enough to managethat.”
