Free An Experiment in Treason by Bruce Alexander

he were awake or sleeping.
    Whether it was one or the other made little difference, for the moment we came to the residence of the Lord Chief Justice, and the ‘wheels of the coach stopped turning, he was alert and upright.
    The door to the coach was thrown open by the footman, and we descended to the pavement. And a minute later, we were in the house, following the detested butler to Lord Mansfield’s study.
    “Please sit down, Sir John,” said the Chief Justice. “I’ve not much time, and I wish to get this done as quickly as possible.”
    I arranged the chair beneath the magistrate and tapped him to indicate that he might seat himself.
    “That will suit me well,” said Sir John.
    “I have heard once again from Lord Hillsborough and from the solicitor general, whom I believe you met during your visit to Lord Hillsborough yesterday.”
    “It was a singularly unfruitful visit.”
    “Well, you’ll not have to repeat it — not today, an3rway.”
    “You know not how happy I am to hear that.”
    “No, I have been asked by them to urge you to continue your investigation and to suggest to you — and I quote — ‘in the strongest terms possible’ to question Benjamin Franklin regarding the matter of the burglary.”
    “Benjamin Franklin?” echoed Sir John in a loud tone of exasperation, “what has he to do with this? “
    “Quite a bit, if I’m to believe them.”
    “And do you?”
    “That’s neither here nor there, unless he appears before me and I hear the evidence against him.”
    “Evidence which I’m expected to assemble.”
    “Well … yes.”
    “Don’t you think it rather an odd way to go about an investigation: to pick out the culprit first and then search about for the evidence to convict him? Who is conducting this investigation, may I ask? Is it you, Lord Mansfield? Is it the solicitor general? Is it Lord Hillsborough himself? Or someone higher — the prime minister, perhaps? Or — “
    “All I can say to that, Sir John, is that I am not the one conducting the investigation. As for the others you mentioned, I can tell you that Dexter and Lord Hillsborough hinted broadly that they were simply passing on to me the wishes of another, obviously of one with greater authority than either one of them have. You mentioned the Prime Minister — yes, it could be he.”
    “Or another member of the Privy Council.”
    “That, too, is possible.”
    “In short, you don’t know.” At that Sir John paused. Then, in a more accommodating tone: “I don’t mean to belabor this, Lord Mansfield, but you must understand my position. If I’m to be the cat’s paw for another, I would like to know who that other is.”
    “I understand,” said the Chief Justice. “I only regret that I cannot satisfy you in this regard. But do give me your assurance, sir, that you will question this man, Franklin.”
    “Well and good, I shall question this distinguished personage, but it will be at my own time and in my own way.”
    “Yes, yes, do it your own way, by all means. Do it any way you choose.”
    From the sly expression that lingered upon Sir John’s face following this concession, I was fair certain that he had something planned. Yet what that something would be, I could not possibly, at this point, have divined.
    “And now, Sir John, since I have twice routed you from your bed at an ungodly hour, let me at least see you back to Bow Street in my coach — unless you’d prefer to go afoot …”
    “By no means,” said Sir John. “Certainly I accept your offer. There remains something I should like to discuss with you. We could do so along the way.”
    “Excellent, ” said Lord Mansfield, rising from his chair. “Shall we then be off?”
    Thus we went, Sir John at my elbow and Lord Mansfield leading the way. The butler was nowhere in sight until we arrived at the door to the street, and then did he pop out from a large closet and offer his master a cloak to wear against the morning chill. He assisted