The Masters of Bow Street Read Online Free PDF Page B

- ‘the justice of the peace for the Commission of the Tower of London. And as there are other justices at some of these places—’
    ‘Justices? Profligates and thieves, the scum of the earth who will condemn an innocent man to death for their share of the State’s forty-pound reward. Do you know what they call the man who preceded you here? Do you—’
    ‘Permit me a word, William,’ interrupted John Furnival. ‘If his desires had been more temperate - if he had not needed so much money to live on, that is - he would probably have lacked sufficient motives to carry through the—’ Furnival paused and looked at the ceiling before adding abruptly, ‘Ah, I remember! Through a multiplicity of business so important to society.’ He paused again and then asked, ‘Have I recalled the phraseology, William?’
    ‘Have you remembered that his business was condemning men to death or transportation to the Americas for life?’
    ‘Bad men, William. Wicked men. In one of his petitions to the government he boasted of having sentenced to death or transportation nearly two thousand men, and asked for some financial reward.’
    ‘Thought of him makes me sick.’
    ‘It should not. He was a clever and courageous man and he fought crime as best he could. So do I. So shall I. I tell you the future you offer with commerce and banking is not the life for me.’
    ‘You speak as if it were offensive to you.’
    ‘No, Will.’
    ‘The very expression in your eyes and the tone of your voice are derogatory and disparaging.’
    ‘Whereas your tone and expression about my chosen occupation are full of reverence and praise,’ John retorted. ‘Will, you and the family do well enough, far-better than most. What did I read in the The Daily Courant only yesterday? That Furnival and Sons is now the third most powerful private banking house in London, second only to the Mattazinis and the Gallos. And one day last week the Goldsmiths’ Guild gave high praise, the Lord Mayor said you are the richest and most powerful, while of all the magnificent imports brought from the Orient more than one-tenth is carried in Furnival ships and stored in Furnival warehouses. The spices and the unguents, the silks and the carpets and the jewels. And you have a finger in most large building firms. Why, before the century is halfway through you will own every other fine square in London! You don’t need me.’
    ‘You’ve no right to sneer,’ William objected.
    ‘I don’t sneer, Will. I marvel and respect. But I don’t envy you.’
    ‘It is not fitting that a member of our family should spend his life dealing with thieves and thief-takers, with people who stink of corruption. The stench of every other magistrate is on you. You must see what discredit this brings upon us.’ When his brother made no immediate answer, William Furnival took a step nearer, held out a hand as if in supplication and actually bent one knee. ‘John, give all this up. Corruption will only corrupt you. You have lost two wives of broken hearts already, good women who could not live to share your folly. Come and rejoin the family circle, marry a woman who can give you the sons the family needs. There are not enough males of the younger generation with us. Must I remind you that you are past fifty, John? Fifty, and with no issue.’
    He broke off.
    He saw the expression in John’s tawny eyes and on the face that could be so mild. He saw the thin line of lips which could be so well shaped and full of laughter. He stopped, straightened up and drew back. A log, part glowing red and part white ash, fell heavily in the iron dogs of the fire. He remembered such an expression only once before when he and other men of the family had said many of the same things and so set off the most explosive quarrel ever known among them.
    Slowly, very slowly, John Furnival’s tension relaxed and he even began to smile again.
    ‘I told you before, you should change your informers,’ he said.