They went through the ground floor without finding anything. The place was furnished comfortably if cheaply. Hiscock and his wife watched the search attentively. Upstairs were three bedrooms, plus an attic room that was probably for the maid. They went first to what was plainly the marital bedroom, where a large double bed was still unmade, strewn with colourful blankets and rumpled pillows. As Doye searched Mrs Hiscock’s chest of drawers she said sarcastically: ‘Anything of interest to you among my under-clothes, sheriff?’
Hiscock said: ‘Don’t bother, dear. They’ve been sent on a wild goose chase.’ But there was a tremor of fear in his voice, and Hornbeam thought the searchers might be getting close to a discovery.
They found nothing in the wardrobe or blanket press. There was a large Bible beside the bed, bound in brown leather, not old but much thumbed. Hornbeam picked it up and opened it. It was the standard King James translation. He riffled the pages and something fell out. He bent to the floor and picked it up.
It was a sixteen-page pamphlet, and the title on the cover wasA Reply to Archdeacon Paley.
‘Well, well,’ said Hornbeam with a satisfied sigh.
‘There’s nothing subversive in that,’ said Hiscock, but he had gone pale. Sounding desperate, he added: ‘It’s an aid to Bible study.’
Hornbeam opened the pamphlet at random. ‘Page three,’ he said. ‘Benefits of the French revolution.’ He looked up, his lips twitching in a sneer. ‘Tell me, pray, where in the Bible do we find mention of the French revolution?’
‘The Book of Proverbs, chapter twenty-eight,’ said Hiscock without hesitation, and he quoted: ‘As a roaring lion and a raging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.’
Hornbeam took no notice, but continued to examine the pamphlet. ‘Page five,’ he said. ‘Some advantages of the republican form of government.’
‘The author is entitled to his opinion,’ Hiscock said. ‘I don’t necessarily agree with everything he says.’
‘Last page: France is not our enemy.’ Hornbeam looked up. ‘If that’s not undermining our military forces, I don’t know what is.’ He turned to Riddick. ‘I think he’s been found in possession of seditious and treasonable material. What do you think?’
‘I agree.’
Hornbeam turned back to Hiscock. ‘Two justices have found you guilty. Treason is a hanging offence.’
Hiscock began to tremble.
‘We will go outside to consider the punishment.’ Hornbeam opened the door and held it for Riddick. They stepped onto the landing and Hornbeam closed the door, leaving the sheriff and the constable with the Hiscocks.
Riddick said: ‘We can’t hang him ourselves, and I don’t trust the assize court to find him guilty.’
‘I agree,’ said Hornbeam. ‘Unfortunately, there is no evidence that he printed or otherwise disseminated this poison. It’s possible that the pamphlets have already been run off and stashed somewhere secret, but that’s no more than a guess.’
‘So, a flogging?’
‘It’s the best we can do.’
‘A dozen lashes, perhaps.’
‘More,’ said Hornbeam, remembering how disdainfully Hiscock had saidAs any fool knows.
‘Whatever you like.’
They went back inside. ‘Your punishment will be light, considering your offence,’ he said to Hiscock. ‘You will be flogged in the town square.’
Mrs Hiscock screamed: ‘No!’
With satisfaction Hornbeam said: ‘You will receive fifty lashes.’
Hiscock staggered and almost fell.
Mrs Hiscock began to cry hysterically.
Hornbeam said: ‘Sheriff, take him to Kingsbridge Jail.’
*
Spade was at his loom when Susan Hiscock burst into his workshop, hatless, her dark hair soaked with rain, her large eyes red with weeping. ‘They’ve taken him away!’ she said.
