Part 11 (1/2)

”I was wondering how many he prints, and when he's printing the next sheet. Do you know?”

”I believe we printed three-hundred copies of that one.” And every six-hundred back-and-fronts recalled by the muscles of his shoulder in levering that d.a.m.ned press down upon the typeface form and holding each one at pressure for fifteen seconds. ”I understand Mr. Grigsby wants to print the next sheet within a few days, if possible.”

”Even though we're still negotiating for an office, I think we should consider asking your friend to run a notice for us. Something quiet, of course. Just that the Herrald Agency is opening soon, and that we specialize in finding...” She paused. ”What is lost,” she decided. ”And finding answers to delicate questions.”

”I'd like to see the response to that,” Greathouse said, as he pressed the napkin to each corner of his mouth with a huge hand. ”Farmer Jones wishes to know the answer to why his daughter Lovey comes to dinner with hay in her hair.”

”To start, one must begin,” Mrs. Herrald answered, with a slight shrug. ”Isn't that true?” She'd directed the question to Matthew.

”It is,” he agreed, ”but I do wonder why you've chosen this place, at this time. I understand much valuable cargo pa.s.ses through New York, and many wealthy people with items of value. But, after all, New York isn't London. I can verify that the criminal element here is not exactly overpowering the judicial system.” He realized he was echoing the statement of High Constable Lillehorne. ”Why, exactly, have you chosen New York?”

Mrs. Herrald stared into his eyes, and by the steady candlelight Matthew thought there was a serenity and certainty of purpose about her that was almost unsettling, being from a woman. He wondered if those who sat in the presence of Queen Anne felt such an emanation of cool willpower as he felt now from Katherine Herrald. He had to sit back in his chair a bit, for the force of it was almost like a fist against his chest.

”Now you've asked for it.” Greathouse stood up. ”Want a gla.s.s of wine?”

”No, thank you.”

”I'll help myself, then. Don't mind me.” He clomped off toward the rear of the house.

Mrs. Herrald said, her eyes still fixed on his, ”Matthew, New York is the town.”

”Yes, madam, I know it's the town.”

”Not just any town,” she corrected. ”The town. I've kept up with the colonies. With the other towns in Ma.s.sachusetts, Pennsylvania, and down through Virginia and Carolina. I've educated myself on the reports that find their way from this new world to the old one. The census figures. The harbor logbooks. The credits and payments that bear international stamps and are fussed over by all the Queen's men. I do have friends in places both high and low, Matthew, and they tell me what I already know: this is the town.”

”Pardon,” Matthew said, feeling he must be thick-headed, ”but I'm not following you.”

”The future,” she replied patiently, ”is here. In New York. Now please don't misunderstand. Boston will become a great city, as will Philadelphia. Even New Roch.e.l.le, most likely, and Orangeburg too. But I look at New York, and I see an uncommon city that will not be matched by any town on the coast. Boston is growing by leaps and bounds, yes, but the weather there is more inclement and the Puritans still run the place. Philadelphia has its potential as a world port, but the Free Society of Traders went bankrupt there twenty years ago, so the jury is still out. The Dutch set up a very organized system of international trade in New York, and we English took that over when we took the colony. I think the Dutch were relieved, really. Now they can make money as business partners and not have to spend it on maintaining a colony.”

”I see,” Matthew said, though he was waiting for her point.

She gave it to him. ”New York is the future business center of perhaps the entire English endeavor. It's not much to look at now, no, though it has its certain...charms. But I believe that in ten years, twenty years, or thirty...however long it takes...this town will be a city that may even dare to rival London.”

”Rival London?” Matthew almost laughed at that one, but he kept a straight face. ”I agree that the town has potential, but New York has a long way to go before it rivals London. Half the streets are still dirt!”

”I didn't say it would happen soon. London was born at the dawn of time, if you listen to the balladeers on Golding Lane. But New York will find its time, and I believe there will be fortunes to be made and lost here, even with half the streets dirt.”

Matthew nodded pensively. ”I'm glad you have such belief in the town's future. So that's why you wish to open the office?”

”Not only that. If I have done my research and come to this belief, others also have.”

”Others?”

Mrs. Herrald didn't answer for a moment. She picked up her fork and used it to slowly stir the remaining liquid in the bowl before her, as if she were probing for the bottom of a swamp.

She said, ”You can be sure, Matthew, that the criminal element of not only England but also greater Europe is looking in this direction, and has already seen the potential. Whatever it might be: kidnapping, forgery, public and private theft, murder for hire. Domination of the mind and spirit, thereby to gain illicit profit. I could give you a list of the names of individual criminals who will most likely be lured here at some time or another, but it's not those petty thugs who concern me. It's the society that thrives underground, that pulls the marionette strings. The very powerful and very deadly group of men-and women-who even now are sitting at dinner just as we are, but they hold carving knives over a map of the new world and their appet.i.tes are ravenous.”

She ceased her stirring and again locked her gaze with his. ”You say that currently the criminal element is not overpowering the judicial system. That's today. There are going to be many tomorrows in the life of this colony and this city, Matthew. If we don't prepare for the future, it will be taken from us by those who do.” She lifted her arched eyebrows. ”Please don't be blind to the fact that there's already an element of...shall we say...evil at work here? The 'Masker,' as Mr. Grigsby calls him. There have been several murders in Boston and Philadelphia that are still unsolved and unlikely to be as more time goes past. Oh, it's already here, Matthew. And it will thrive unless the enforcement of law is strong and organized. Which it currently is not.”

Greathouse came back in with a winegla.s.s full to the brim. ”Have I missed the sermon?”

”I was just getting to the 'amen,'” Mrs. Herrald answered. ”I hope I haven't frightened our junior a.s.sociate too very much.”

”There were some, I recall, who up and bolted.” Greathouse settled himself in his chair. ”What say, Matthew? Still in the game?”

It was time for Matthew to ask an indelicate question, but one that must be posed. ”How much money am I to be paid?”

”Ah!” Greathouse grinned. He lifted his gla.s.s in a toast. ”That's the spirit!”

”To be negotiated,” said Mrs. Herrald. ”You can be sure it's more money than you've ever seen, and will continue to be improved as your experience and training improves.”

”Training? What training?”

”Had to be a catch,” Greathouse said.

”Your training from junior to full a.s.sociate, which may take some time,” came the reply. ”You won't be given anything you can't handle, that I promise.” Matthew didn't like the sound of that training part, yet he a.s.sumed it probably had to do with learning a new language or improving his processes of logic and deduction by further reading. Still, his hesitation made Greathouse say, ”You know what the dockmen say in London, Matthew? 'Don't sweat over the small crates, and everything's a small crate.'”

”I would say some crates are not as small as others, but I echo the sentiment...I suppose,” said Mrs. Herrald with a slight smile. ”We need you, Matthew. You'll be well-paid and well-challenged. Probably well-travelled too, before long. Certainly well-educated in the complexities of life, and of the criminal mind. Have I frightened you off?”

”No, madam,” Matthew answered quickly and firmly. ”Not in the least.”

”That's what I wished to hear.” She looked out the window and saw a flash of lightning in the distance, toward town. ”I don't think you should try the road this time of night, and in this weather. If you'd care to stay, you can sleep in the downstairs bedroom. Get an early start at sunup, if you like.”

Matthew thought that would be the wisest course, and thanked Mrs. Herrald for her hospitality. As the night moved on, Greathouse brought a chessboard and pieces from another room, set it up on the table, and had a game with Matthew as he downed a second brimful gla.s.s of wine. Matthew a.s.sumed Greathouse would be an easy victim with all that liquor in his brain, but the man caused grievous difficulty with his knights before Matthew shredded him with a queen-and-bishop combination.

After a second game in which Matthew showed no mercy from the beginning and coldly cut Greathouse to pieces left and right until the swordsman's king was trapped in a corner like a miserable rat, Greathouse yawned and stretched his huge self until his backbone cracked. Then he said goodnight and retired to the carriage-house, where he resided.

Mrs. Herrald had already gone to bed during the second chess game, so Matthew went into the small but comfortable bedroom downstairs, took off his clothes, and put on a nights.h.i.+rt she'd laid out for him. He washed his face in a waterbowl, cleaned his teeth with a brush and peppermint dental powder left for his convenience, blew out his candle, and went to bed as the distant lightning flashed and flared over Manhattan.

There was much to think about. To deeply ponder and consider. Matthew spent about three minutes thinking about Mrs. Herrald's ”sermon” at the table before the weariness crashed over him and he was out as quickly and absolutely as his candle.

Thus it was with some confusion and grogginess that he came back to his senses with someone pulling at him and a lantern in his face. The rain was still falling from the dark, hitting the bedroom's window. He sat up, squinting in what seemed like noonday's sun thrown in his eyes.

”Up and dressed,” said Hudson Greathouse, standing over him. His voice was all business and as sober as Sunday. ”Your training starts now.”

Twelve.

Matthew was urged by Hudson Greathouse through the drizzling rain toward the brown stone carriage-house, where illumination showed at the windows. He doubted he'd been allowed to slumber for more than two hours, and he was dog-tired and heavy-limbed. He walked before the light of Greathouse's lantern through the open doorway, finding himself standing on a dirt floor with eight more lanterns set about in a large circle.

Greathouse closed the door and, to Matthew's unease, dropped the bolt across it. There was no carriage in the place, but a set of steps led up to a second level and what must have been Greathouse's living area. Greathouse set the lamp he was carrying on a wallhook, and it was then that Matthew saw the glint of yellow light on the grips and handguards of four swords in scabbards also resting horizontally on hooks. That wasn't all of the man's a.r.s.enal. On display along with the swords were two pistols, three daggers, and-of all things-an oversized slingshot.

”Mrs. Herrald tells me you know nothing about swords or pistols. Correct?”

”Yes sir. I mean...correct.” Matthew had been about to yawn before he'd seen the weapons, but now he was as fully awake as a healthy jolt of fear could make a person.

”You've never held a sword, then?”