Free Masque of Betrayal by Andrea Kane

identity.”
    “Nevertheless, I’d like to hear it.” Hamilton glanced past Dane to verify that the door was carefully closed, ensuring total privacy. Satisfied that they could not be overheard, he turned expectantly back to Dane. “Tell me your plan.”
    Dane nodded. “Once we know which of our supposed colleagues is Laffey, we isolate him, feed him highly confidential but volatile political information, and wait for him to disclose it in his column.”
    Hamilton stared. “But in the process of baiting Laffey, we will be endangering our country.”
    “Not if the facts we give him are false.”
    Slowly, a smile of comprehension spread across Hamilton’s face. “So we provide Laffey with inflammatory but inaccurate data and wait for it to appear in the Advertiser .”
    “Yes. Then we step forward and reveal the information as totally false, discrediting Laffey and his column before all of Philadelphia.” Dane spread his hands in a triumphant sweep. “In short,” he concluded, “Laffey will hang himself. But in order to do that, you and I must first determine who he is.”
    A tentative knock interrupted Hamilton’s reply. “Yes?”
    John Edgars entered the office, rubbing his hands against his breeches in a nervous gesture. “I am really sorry to intrude, sir,” he began, looking at Dane.
    “John? What is it?” Dane was curious. His clerk never sought him out unless something required his immediate attention.
    Edgars cleared his throat. “You received an emergency package from George Holt this morning. He requested that it be dispatched on our ship leaving for Europe today. I didn’t know how you wanted me to handle it. …”
    Dane frowned. “That is highly unusual for Holt. Customarily, he makes his shipping arrangements several weeks in advance.”
    “I know, sir.” Edgars nodded. “But he was insistent. Shall I tell him no?”
    “I suppose not. If Holt needs to send something to the mainland, I imagine we can oblige him. Go ahead and make the necessary provisions.”
    Hamilton remained silent throughout the exchange. Interestingly, this was the second time in minutes that George Holt’s name had come up in conversation. First, in connection with his daughter, Jacqueline, and now, because of a deviation in his normally precise business procedure.
    Hamilton tapped his chin thoughtfully. While he himself had little direct contact with the successful owner of Holt Trading Company, he knew that Dane dealt with him often and well. He also knew that Holt traveled in powerful political circles and had friendships with both Federalists and Republicans alike. Personally, Hamilton had always found Holt to be an affable enough fellow, though a bit too pro-French to suit the Secretary’s tastes.
    Now, it appeared, Holt had done something quite out of character.
    “Evidently, George Holt is a bit on the impulsive side,” Hamilton mused aloud once Edgars had scurried off.
    Dane shook his head in puzzlement. “Anything but. The man is painstakingly well organized. He generally supplies me with his schedule weeks in advance. This conduct is highly unusual.”
    “Really.” Hamilton’s own tone was speculative. The timing of Holt’s mysterious action nagged at him. Perhaps, he reflected, he was growing overly suspicious, for there was no tangible reason for him to dwell on the incident—other than the fact that, by nature, Hamilton despised unresolved questions. That, together with his own unsettled state of mind, were probably the true culprits. He was plagued by anxiety over America’s plight with England and agitated by Laffey’s inflammatory columns. The combination had left him on edge. Still … he tucked the episode away to ponder further when he was alone.
    Had Dane not been so preoccupied with the earlier subject of their conversation, he would have recognized the contemplative look on his friend’s face. But, as it was, Dane’s thoughts had already returned to Laffey and the problem of