Game of Kings - Dorothy Dunnett [252]
Argyll said, “It’s after two, Lauder. Let’s get rid of the new charges first. Dealings with Wharton.” He addressed the prisoner direct. “You’re accused of consistently giving help and selling information to Lord Wharton, the English Warden. Notably … When, Lauder?”
Lauder said agreeably, “We are informed that you were a member of Lord Wharton’s force for a period in 1545, and that while there you acted under his orders in a number of raids and other activities directly detrimental to Scotland. Have you any answer?”
The sure voice said laconically, “Yes: but no proof. I offered my services to Lord Wharton over a period of four months and won his confidence by taking part in three small raids. On the fourth, major raid I misled him so that the English force was seriously damaged. I left him the same night.”
“I am sure you were wise. As an experienced soldier and tactician the throwing away of a troop—even a deliberate throwing away—must have been an ordeal for you.”
“Not at all,” said the prisoner briefly. “I had never commanded a force before.”
“Ah!” said Harry Lauder, who was perfectly aware of that fact.
“—But I’ve studied geography and I know my chess.”
“Indeed.” There was a rustle of amusement. “Excellent qualifications in themselves, but …”
Lymond said mildly, “The one shows you where to go, and the other what to do when you get there. A man so fortified would be unique in Scottish arms, don’t you think?”
“Since, as you say, you have no proof,” said Lauder, “we must leave it to Parliament to decide how far your overthrow was deliberate and how much of your motive was selfless, against the tenor of your general character and behaviour. You are further charged,” said Lauder mildly, “with conspiring to lay misleading information about the intentions of the English army during the western invasion of September last year; of attacking a Scottish force under Lord Culter and the Master of Erskine, and of taking from their possession an English messenger bearing a valuable dispatch.”
He smiled up at the beams. “Doubtless the—misunderstanding—of 1545 between yourself and Lord Wharton had by that time cleared up, that you took such pains to help his invasion, Mr. Crawford?”
“Until the present moment, my lord, there was no misunderstanding over what happened in 1545. Lord Wharton had placed the sum of a thousand crowns on my head.”
“And yet you passed freely enough in and out of England, we hear. You offered to spy for him if he appeared to reject you?”
“No.”
“What fee did you receive from him for the services you did render?”
“After 1545 I received no voluntary payment from Lord Wharton.”
The Bishop, leaning forward, missed the significant word. He tapped the copy of the indictment before him. “That, Mr. Crawford, is untrue. According to several witnesses, you agreed to a suggestion by your brother that Lord Wharton was paying you.”
“I beg Your Grace’s pardon. What I said, more precisely, is that my money came from Lord Wharton,” said the Master coolly. “It did. I had just extracted it by force. Mr. Scott will perhaps confirm it if you wish.”
Scott was already on his feet, but Lauder conceded the point without calling on him. “Very well. I am prepared to accept the fact that a personal enmity had been established between yourself and Lord Wharton for reasons we shall not specify. You were not however freeing his messenger from purely humanitarian reasons?”
“Not precisely. He was a very silly man,” said the Master reminiscently. “I thought perhaps he would irritate the English less than he irritated me.”
“And for that profound reason you engineered a vicious attack on your brother’s force, from which he was only saved by Mr. Erskine?”
For the first time Lymond was momentarily silent. Then he said, “I was not on good terms with my brother. To such an extent that he would disbelieve automatically any statement which came from me.”
“We are all familiar with the sensation,” said Lauder