Buckingham Palace Gardens - Anne Perry [50]
“Yes, it is,” Narraway replied. He saw Carlisle’s skepticism. “Believe me, it is.”
“It will take decades to build,” Carlisle pointed out, facing Narraway now. “If they do it at all. I cannot think, offhand, of anything less important.”
“I need to know about the issues, and the people involved,” Narraway told him. “Today. And even that may be too late.”
“But you expect me to tell you the truth.” Carlisle made it obvious that he did not believe Narraway. There was an irritation in his face, as if he felt Narraway was lying to him in order to use his skills. It was uncharacteristic of him. He was not a vain or short-tempered man.
“If I tell you, then it must be alone, not overheard, and if possible, not observed either.” Narraway yielded in order to save time. This was an ugly case. Because of the Prince’s involvement, they had to tread a great deal more delicately than in most instances of violence or threatened anarchy. A scandal uncovered could do damage impossible to predict. One never knew where it would end.
“Let us go up Great George Street to Birdcage Walk,” Carlisle replied. “When we are free of Westminster, you can tell me what it is you need to know, and I’ll give you any information I have. But I warn you, the entire project is only speculative. Cecil Rhodes would certainly back it, and that means a good deal. Highly ambitious man. You’re not mixed up with him, are you?”
“No,” Narraway said wryly. “At least I doubt it. This is much more immediate.”
“I suppose you know what you are talking about, but I’m damned if I do!” Carlisle remarked with a gesture of resignation. “But I’ll listen. Come on.” He led the way out to the street and slowly up the hill away from the river with its traffic of pleasure boats, barges, and ferries until finally they were all but alone on Birdcage Walk. The green expanse of St. James’s Park lay to their right, trees rustling in the slight breeze, and promenading couples totally uninterested in anyone but each other.
Narraway began at last. He had no idea if the murder had anything to do directly with the proposed railway or any of its diplomatic ramifications. The motives might be of ambition or personal greed that sprung from the power and the profits to be won. Or it could be simply that one of the men involved was a madman, and the time and place of his act a hideous coincidence.
Regardless, he needed to learn all he could. Carlisle was the last man to tell him, and at the same time the man he could most trust to absolute discretion.
“The Prince of Wales is interested in the Cape-to-Cairo railway,” he began aloud, phrasing it as briefly as he could. “He has as his personal guests at the Palace at the moment four men and their wives: Cahoon Dunkeld, Hamilton Quase, Julius Sorokine, and Simnel Marquand.”
“Planning to bid for the railway?” Carlisle asked, slowing to an amble.
“Yes. To obtain the Prince’s approval so he will favor them.” Narraway matched his stride.
“That makes sense. Why is it Special Branch’s concern? Is there one of them you distrust?”
Narraway smiled. “Profoundly,” he said bitterly. “The problem is that I don’t know which one. You see, two nights ago the gentlemen, including the Prince, had a rather wild party, with three prostitutes as guests for their entertainment. The following morning the corpse of one of them was discovered in the linen cupboard, throat cut and disemboweled. We have excluded the possibility of it having been any of the servants, and since it is the Palace, it is not difficult to exclude any intruders.”
Carlisle had stopped abruptly, almost losing his balance. “What?” He blinked. “What did you say?”
“Exactly what you thought I said,” Narraway replied softly. “It was not Dunkeld. He is accounted for. One of the other three has to have been responsible. I need to know which one, as quickly and discreetly as possible.”
“Get Thomas Pitt,” Carlisle answered, a flash of rueful humor in his eyes. “He’s the best man I know of to solve a complicated murder among the gentry.” He had his own reasons for knowing this. Narraway had heard