An Element of Chance by David Donachie

Author:David Donachie [Donachie, David]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-05T16:51:42.956000+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

James was right about Harry's initial reaction to Dreaver's information, though it didn't take the form of an explosion. But the grip he had on his tankard threatened to crush it, for all that it was made of stout pewter.

"A petition, you say?"

"That's what Dreaver said. But we have no way of knowing if it's true, and if it is, if it was delivered."

"He also mentioned a letter, " said Harry. "Which surely would not yet be aboard a mail packet?"

James leant forward and tapped the table. "If that letter is with the man who owns the postal service .. ."

"Then Bessborough must have the petition. Which means he knew all about our crew before we ever arrived."

"The address is in Kent, sir, " said the shopkeeper, giving Harry a sly look. He was a small man, bent with servitude, and the possessor of a slippery demeanour. He held the postal sinecure on Antigua, plus several others judging by the myriad signs outside his door.

"The superscription states quite clearly that it is for me, Mr. Bridge. And I am not in Kent, sir. I am, as you can very well see, here in the West Indies! "

"That's as maybe, Mr. Ludlow. An' I don't doubt you's who you says you are. But the man who will take this from Deal to your house has bought his office, just as I have. Good money paid out to a government that knows nothing about the difficulties of handling the mails. Nor do they know how hard it is for a decent man to turn an honest penny. Now it stands to reason that if I pass this to you, then him who has the Kent office will not receive payment for delivery. Having invested his coin, how would he feel to know that his colleague, which is me, sir, your humble servant, had dunned him out of his shillings?"

"Are you saying that my brother has to pay for this letter, even though it has not been sent?"

The shopkeeper looked at James and beamed, his head tilted sideways, before turning back to address Harry. "Now there's a gent that sees things plain an' no mistake. An' has a sense of justice t'go with it, too."

"Who gave you this letter?" asked Harry.

He was quick, this slimy shopkeeper, to see an advantage. Bridge didn't even pause for breath before upping his price. "Now that's what we, in the postal trade, calls confidential. An' where would folks be if we didn't know when to speak and when to keep mum?"

Harry reached for his purse as he spoke to James. "How often do they hang postmasters?"

James fixed the shopkeeper with his coldest stare. "Not often enough, brother."

If they'd hoped to dent the man's assurance, they failed. He just gave them a toothy grin and held out his stained, long-fingered hands. "Gents are pleased to jest, which is all right as long as they're prepared to pay. The person who brought this was a midshipman, who by his voice I would take to be a Scottish man.

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