“Where did the notary seal come from?” Mr. Haggerston asked.
“Mr. Cole provided it, along with my instruction.”
“I see.” Haggerston scribbled notes. “Proceed.”
“Over the next two weeks, I played my part first with Mr. Darcy and then with the new owner of Darcy House, Mr. Wickham. Our business transactions always took place in the building’s study. Mr. Cole, myself, and our target were always present. Each of the four times we met, Cole gave me a purse containing the promised coins.
“How did Mr. Cole contact you?” Mr. Haggerston asked.
“He sent a note to the theater telling me when and where to meet him.”
“How did he find out about you in the first place?”
Rumple’s eyes shifted to where the weapons rested. “He…ah, well…he…”
“The truth, Mr. Rumple,” Haggerston said.
“He met me outside the stage door one night after a performance. He revealed things about me I was not proud of and said that if I did not do as he asked, he would publish my activities in the papers. My aged mother would not survive such a stain on her name, so I did what he asked.”
“So he investigated you.” Haggerston continued writing. Finally, he put the pen down. “Mr. Rumple, none care in the least what you did or do outside of Mr. Darcy’s study. Our sole purpose is to discover how and by whom the crime was committed. I have prepared a statement that you will sign as soon as my notary arrives.”
As Mr. Haggerston quickly made a copy of the document, he said, “This states that Mr. Bartholomew ‘Burt’ Rumple did knowingly and willingly engage in an act of theatrics when he pretended to be Mr. Marcus Junius Cinna to perpetrate the crime of abetting Mr. Simon Cole’s efforts to steal the possessions of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy immediately to benefit Mr. George Wickham. Following was a series of transactions, also witnessed by Mr. Rumple, acting as Mr. Cinna, to transfer those same properties and accounts to Mr. Cole upon the death of Mr. Wickham. These processes were for the personal enrichment of Mr. Simon Cole, who misused the trust gained by his position with the Darcy family to rob themblind. Mr. Rumple also benefited financially, receiving no less than two hundred quid.”
The attorney stood, pointed his finger at Rumple, and said, “The theft of Mr. Darcy’s possessions would send Mr. Cole to Marshalsea or the penal colonies for life. If proven, arranging Mr. Wickham’s death will earn him the death penalty. If you, in any way, shared in Mr. Wickham’s eventuality, state it now.” He paused. When Rumple failed to respond, he said, “I expect my clerk will arrive soon. Until then, I suggest you think of anything else you might know that could help us locate and prosecute Cole.”
“Yes, sir.” Rumple dropped his head into his hands. “My mother always told me that crime didn’t pay. What I saw every day on Drury Lane was that the criminals were the ones who prosper.”
“Only until they are caught,” Darcy said, feeling satisfied with the proceedings so far. “Which makes me wonder. Rumple, apparently, theft is not something that bothers your conscience. What of murder?”
Every ounce of color leached from his face. His hands quivered. “I draw the line, sir. Money may be a precious commodity that can smooth a man’s way. I’ve always suspected that God would understand a man’s needs for a coin here or there. But life itself? I would not want to stand before the Almighty, having taken that gift away from anyone. Murder is a one-way ticket to hell itself.”
Darcy hoped his sincerity was authentic.
Before dawn ascended, a verifiable notary witnessed and notarized the statement. Rumple was retained in a locked storage shed behind Cornerstone’s house, and Darcy finally could sleep.
36
Darcy woke early the next morning with Bingley’s words running through his head. He needed to strike Cole on the heels, crippling him from doing any more business with Darcy’s assets. Although Mr. Haggerston and Richard recommended Darcy wait to find Cole to act, he finally had clarity.
He knew Cole’s weakness. The man was arrogant, believing he was smarter than Darcy. Well, Darcy had every intention of proving him wrong.
Calling for Parker to get him ready for the day, Darcy gathered the fraudulent deeds and contracts, along with the statement from Rumple, and set out for the Bank of England. Once his business was complete, he contacted the agent in charge of selling Darcy House. By the time Richard came down for coffee, Darcy had frozen Cole’s accounts at the bank, discovered how much Georgiana had left of her dowry, and stopped the sale of Darcy House until the courts could decide ownership.
“You, the man who chews on something for weeks before you act, did what?” Richard gaped.
“I am not done. For the next part, I need you with me.”
His cousin gulped the rest of his coffee and stood at the ready.
Calling for their horses, they were shortly on their way to the London Dock Company.
The search took all day. It was not until they were at the farthest berth that they found Anders.
“Better get yer business done quickly, for we sail with the tide, and it be ebbin’ shortly.” The mate was barking orders at the deliverymen racing up and down the gangway, barely glancing their way.
Moving quickly to the bow, Darcy addressed Anders.
“Who released you from jail and purchased your passage?”
