Free Murder on High Holborn by Susanna Gregory

when Cromwell was in power. But he died, and along came the King, so I decided to leave London and head north, where false friends encouraged me to join a bit of an uprising…’
    ‘The Northern Plot,’ recalled Chaloner, ‘which was more than a “bit of an uprising”. It had the makings of a full-blown rebellion.’
    Leving shrugged carelessly. ‘Well, I was caught and sentenced to hang, even though my heart was never really in it. It was grossly unjust, actually.’
    ‘Right,’ said Chaloner, wondering if there was a way to dump Leving and investigate the Fifth Monarchists by himself.
    ‘But I convinced Spymaster Williamson that I would be of more use alive. He let me “escape” to come here, where I shall help him snare those insurgents who evaded his clutches in York.’
    Chaloner was confused. ‘Your remit is to track down Northern Plot rebels? I thought we were supposed to be chasing Fifth Monarchists.’
    ‘We shall do both,’ declared Leving, all childish delight. ‘Because two of the Northern Plot’s leaders are also Fifth Monarchists. This was news to Williamson, and he was very grateful to me for pointing it out. He has not said so, but I know he considers me his most valuable asset.’
    ‘Christ,’ muttered Chaloner.
    ‘Their names are Jones and Strange,’ Leving chattered on. ‘Both very desperate villains.’
    ‘Jones?’ asked Chaloner, recalling the man outside Temperance’s club. Yet it was a common name and he imagined there must be dozens of them in London alone.
    ‘Roger Jones,’ elaborated Leving. ‘And Nat Strange.’
    Chaloner had never met Nat Strange or Roger Jones, but he had certainly heard of them, because they had rebelled against Cromwell, too. Like most fanatics, they did not know what they wanted from a government, only what they did
not
want, which meant no regime could ever win their approval and they were doomed to perpetual discontent.
    ‘I could have bested them by myself,’ Leving went on when Chaloner made no reply. ‘But Williamson insisted on appointing you to help me. For the glory, I imagine – he wants an excuse to claim some of the credit when they are caught.’
    Or to ensure they were actually thwarted, thought Chaloner acidly, which was unlikely if Leving was left to his own devices.
    ‘Strange and Jones are dangerous,’ he said. ‘Why does Williamson not arrest them at once?’
    ‘He wants to know what they are planning first. Besides, they have so many minions that apprehending them now will not stop what has been set in motion. I call it the High Holborn Plot, because most meetings take place up here. It runs off the tongue much more readily than “the Scheme that Involves Fifth Monarchy Men Making a Nuisance of Themselves in London”.’
    Chaloner listened with growing alarm, thinking Williamson must be short-handed indeed to have recruited Leving, because it was folly to set someone like him against seasoned dissidents like Strange and Jones. ‘Do you know the names of these minions?’
    ‘Yes, I have learned seven so far. Williamson wants me to compile a complete list, although it will not be easy when there are so many.’ Leving recited the ones he had, but none meant anything to Chaloner.
    ‘Have you attended their meetings?’ When Leving nodded, Chaloner asked, ‘So what are they proposing to do?’
    ‘Put King Jesus on the throne instead of King Charles.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Chaloner, striving for patience. ‘That is the stated aim of all Fifth Monarchists. But how will they do it?’
    ‘I have no idea, but it will involve explosions, because their gunpowder man blew himself up recently, and they have been desperate to find another. They will be delighted when I arrive with you in tow – an old Parliamentarian soldier with a regicide uncle.’ Leving winked conspiratorially. ‘Williamson told me all about you.’
    ‘Did he?’ Chaloner was unimpressed; it was hardly professional.
    ‘He did, and I think you will