Traitors Gate Read Online Free PDF

amounts to. No. So far as I know, and from everything Father said, the Inner Circle interests are besserved by Britain remaining as powerful and as rich as possible. Britain’s loss in Africa would be theirs as well. Their robbing us is one thing; the Germans doing it is quite another.” He smiled bitterly at the irony of it. “Why do you ask? Do you think there are Inner Circle members in the Colonial Office?”
    “Probably, but I’m quite sure there are in the police. Of what rank I have no idea.”
    “As high as assistant commissioner?” Matthew asked.
    Pitt ate the last of his toast and marmalade.
    “Certainly, but I meant of what rank in the Inner Circle. The two have no connection, which is one of the things that makes it so appallingly dangerous.”
    “I don’t understand you.”
    “You can find that someone in a position of great financial or political power,” Pitt explained, “is quite junior in the Circle, and owes some kind of obedience to an Inner Circle member who appears to be nobody significant in the world. You don’t ever know where the real power lies.”
    “But surely that …” Matthew began, then trailed off, his eyes puzzled. “That would account for some very strange discoveries….” he started again. “A web of loyalties under the surface, conflicting with, and stronger than, all the ones you can see.” His face was pale and tight. “God, that’s very frightening. I hadn’t perceived it quite like that. No wonder Father was so distressed. I knew well enough why he was angry, but not the helplessness, at least not the depth of it.” He stopped and sat silent for several moments. Then he went on suddenly. “But even if it is all hopeless, I shall still try. I can’t let it … just lie like this.”
    Pitt said nothing.
    “I’m sorry.” Matthew bit his lip. “You were not trying to dissuade me, were you? I’m a little frightened of it myself. But you will take up the matter of the information from the Colonial Office?”
    “Of course. As soon as I go in to Bow Street. I assumeyou are making the official Foreign Office request? I may use your name?”
    “Yes, certainly.” He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out an envelope. He passed it to Pitt. “Here is a letter of authority. And Thomas … thank you.”
    Pitt did not know what to say. To brush it aside as a small matter also dismissed their friendship and reduced it to mere good manners.
    “What are you going to do now?” he asked instead.
    Matthew looked so inwardly weary, the night’s sleep, if indeed he had slept, was merely a superficial relief. He set his napkin aside and stood up.
    “There are arrangements to be made. They—” He took a deep breath. “They are having the inquest the day after tomorrow.”
    “I’ll be there.”
    “Thank you.”
    “And … the funeral?”
    “Two days after that, on the sixth. You’ll be there, won’t you? It’s in Brackley, naturally. He’ll be buried in the family vault.”
    “Of course I will.” Pitt stood up also. “Where are you going now? Back to the Hall?”
    “No. No, the inquest is here in London. I still have things to do.”
    “Is there anyone … if you want to come back here?”
    Matthew smiled. “Thank you, but I really should go and see Harriet. I …” He looked faintly embarrassed.
    Pitt waited.
    “I recently became betrothed,” Matthew went on with a faint color marking his cheeks.
    “Congratulations!” Pitt meant it. He would have been delighted for him at any time, but now it seemed particularly fortunate that he had someone who could support him and share this time of loss. “Yes of course you should see her, tell her what has happened before she sees it in some newspaper, or hears it from someone else.”
    Matthew pulled a face. “She won’t be reading newspapers, Thomas!”
    Pitt realized with a jolt that he had committed a social gaffe. Ladies did not read newspapers, except for the court circulars or fashion columns. He