James did not yet get the point. ‘We have to do something.’
‘Indeed. In order to catch all the plotters and seize the maximum amount of incriminating evidence, we need to pounce at the last minute. That will protect your majesty both immediately and, importantly, in the future as well.’ Ned held his breath: this was the crucial point.
James looked at Cecil. ‘I think he may be right.’
‘It’s for your majesty to judge.’
The king turned back to Ned. ‘Very well. Act on the fourth of November.’
‘Thank you, your majesty,’ Ned said with relief.
Ned and Cecil back away, bowing, then the king was struck by an afterthought and said: ‘Do we have any idea who is behind this wickedness?’
All Ned’s frenzy at Margery came back to him in a tidal wave, and he struggled to suppress the shaking of his body. ‘Yes, your majesty,’ he said in a voice that was barely controlled. ‘It’s a man called Rollo Fitzgerald from Shiring. I’m ashamed to tell you that he’s my brother-in-law.’
‘In that case,’ said James with more than a hint of menace, ‘by God’s blood, you’d better catch the swine.’
30
When the plotters heard about the Monteagle letter, on Sunday, 3 November, they started to accuse one another of treachery. The atmosphere became poisonous in the Wardrobe Keeper’s apartment. ‘One of us did this!’ Guy Fawkes said belligerently.
Rollo feared that these aggressive young men would start fighting. ‘Never mind who did it,’ he said hastily. ‘The man was certainly a fool rather than a traitor.’
‘How can you be sure?’
‘Because a traitor would have named us all. This idiot just wanted to warn Monteagle off.’
Fawkes calmed down. ‘I suppose that makes sense.’
‘The important question is how much damage has been done.’
‘Exactly,’ said Thomas Percy. ‘Can we now go on with this plan, or should we abandon it?’
‘After all we’ve done? No.’
‘But if Cecil and Willard know . . .’
‘I hear the letter was vague as to details, and Cecil isn’t sure what to do about it,’ Rollo said. ‘There’s still a strong chance for us. We can’t give up so easily – success is within our grasp!’
‘How can we check?’
‘Youcould check,’ Rollo said to Percy. ‘Tomorrow morning, I want you to go on a scouting expedition. Visit your relative the earl of Northumberland. Think of some pretext – ask him for a loan, perhaps.’
‘What’s the point?’
‘It’s just a cover story, so that he won’t guess that you’re really trying to find out how much the Privy Council knows.’
‘And how will I learn that?’
‘By his attitude to you. If you’re suspected of treachery, the earl will almost certainly have heard a rumour by now. He’ll be nervous in your presence and eager to get you out of the house as fast as possible. He might even give you the loan just to be rid of you.’
Percy shrugged. ‘All right.’
The group split up, leaving Fawkes in charge of the apartment. Next morning Percy went off to see Northumberland. On his return Rollo met him in a tavern near Bishop’s Gate. Percy looked cheerful. ‘I found him at Syon Place,’ he said. Rollo knew that was the earl’s country house not far west of London. ‘He refused point-blank to give me a loan, told me I was a scapegrace, and invited me to dinner.’
‘He has no suspicion, then.’
‘Either that or he’s a better actor than Richard Burbage.’
