Free Another Small Kingdom by James Green Page A

which were five names, each with a brief biography. When he had made his choice, he prepared the official papers for the arrests. He then prepared the orders for the closed court military trial. In a separate, sealed envelope addressed as ‘personal and secret’, he added the necessary instructions for the verdict and execution of the two Philadelphia men he had chosen, a businessman and a local politician.
    As he worked, he thought about the man in the next office who could arrange for such things to happen. He knew that George Washington had chosen him personally for the role he now performed, and that when he was required to answer to anyone, he answered to the President in person, to Jefferson now, as he had so recently done to Adams.
    Jeremiah’s work was reports, endless reports. But from those reports and many sessions with the General, Jones had developed a firm grasp of the political landscape.
    Washington had seen that powers outside America could use internal divisions to undermine not only the government but the very independence of the new country. He never doubted the loyalty of men like Adams or Hamilton, who so vigorously opposed each other over the way the new country should develop, a strong central government or strong state governments. But it was an argument which could be used to worsen the already growing North-South divide and Washington was only too aware that certain interests, even certain American interests, would want to manipulate America’s growing pains so that power fell into their own hands. And he knew such interests wouldn’t be too scrupulous about how it was done. It was to guard against any conspiracy which might grow out of legitimate dissent that Washington had established an agency, within the government but separate from it. Not secret but not official, it was given powers to gather information, interpret that information and, when necessary, advise and act upon it. The man he had chosen to lead the agency was a man who had commanded under him in the War of Independence. That man had finished the war with the rank of General. Now somewhat elderly, the General still had a mind like a steel trap and a loyalty to his country which was absolute and unshakeable. It was this man, the General, who now sat in his office while Jeremiah Jones finished his papers. Jeremiah went to the door and called out loudly into the darkness of the corridor, ‘Courier.’
    He waited and after a minute the sound of boots could be heard approaching hurriedly towards the doorway.A man with a lantern and dressed for riding came out of the dark. He took the papers, looked at the address and put them into a satchel slung across his shoulder.
    â€˜They’re urgent.’
    â€˜When are they not?’
    The man disappeared down the corridor and Jeremiah Jones turned back and went to the doorway connecting the two offices.
    â€˜I’ll go now, sir, if you don’t need me further.’
    â€˜Not yet. There’s a question I need to take your mind on.’ Jeremiah went to the desk and waited. He knew the General’s methods. If the question was of importance he would marshal his words as he had once marshalled men. ‘We know the game is being played for no less a prize than America itself and the strings are being pulled from Paris by their Minister of Police, Fouché.’
    â€˜Agreed, and if Fouché is pulling the strings it means he has found some powerful and highly placed puppets.’
    â€˜Just so. But what about the British? They’re in this somewhere, but where and how deep? They wouldn’t just sit back and let Fouché have a clear run.’
    â€˜No, sir, they most definitely would not.’
    â€˜How am I running in this race do you think, Jeremiah? Am I still up with the hounds or left behind while they’re closing on the kill?’
    It was now Jeremiah’s turn to carefully marshal his words. Much, he knew, depended on his