Chapter 26 #3
“That is a very accurate summary, milady, as I just learned this morning from a friend of mine who is an expert on printing techniques,” said Manchester.
“More importantly, he also told me that he’s recently received correspondences from his American friends in the printing business which confirm Jacob Perkins has discovered exactly how to do it. ”
For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, and then continued.
“Apparently the key lies in the metallurgy techniques needed for the innovative new process. My understanding is that he has found a way to combine a number of small guilloche intaglio designs by clamping them together on the bed of a printing press, just as one does with handset lead type in the manner of traditional printing, and then continuing with the steps you just outlined.”
Pursing her lips, Charlotte took her time in considering what she had just heard.
“You seem to know Stoneham through your longtime friendship with Ainsley—his wife mentioned to me that her husband and you have been friends since your university days. Are you of the opinion that he has the scientific capability to make the same metallurgy breakthrough as Perkins?”
He hesitated. “I would think that your husband would be a better judge of that than me.”
A tactful answer. But what Manchester left unsaid reinforced Wrexford’s assertion that Stoneham was a good but not great innovator in his field of metallurgy.
“It likely has no bearing on your question, but …” Manchester shifted in his chair—his air of breezy self-confidence suddenly looking a little shaky to her eye.
“But I do know that Stoneham was involved some time ago in metallurgy research concerning copper engraving plates,” he offered.
“And I seem to recall that he did make some useful improvements to the standard formula, creating a better balance of durability with optimal softness for delicate detail.”
“Hmmph.” Charlotte found the news puzzling. “I don’t believe he mentioned that to Wrexford, which strikes me as odd. Such an achievement would only be a mark in his favor.”
Manchester looked away, deliberately avoiding her gaze. “I—I think it may be because the circumstances were fraught with … complications.”
Charlotte waited, and when he didn’t elaborate, she let out an impatient huff.
“Your discretion does you credit, Mr. Manchester. But Wrexford and you—and indeed, all of the official and unofficial members of the Royal Society’s Inimitable Banknote Committee—have a duty to put the good of the country above personal friendships.
My husband is trying to get an overview of our country’s capabilities in terms of metallurgy and machinery. ”
She drummed her fingertips on the burled walnut desktop. “Prevarications are not helpful.”
“It seems that I owe you yet another apology, Lady Wrexford,” he mumbled. “I was only trying … but never mind that. I see you are right to ask for complete candor, especially as Stoneham did nothing wrong.”
Manchester ran a well-manicured hand through his hair. “His name was for a time entangled in a great scandal that took place a decade ago—the Lisbon Conspiracy.”
Charlotte managed to assume a blank look.
“Ah, I see you are too young to remember it, but it nearly brought down the government,” he said after chuffing a bleak laugh. “The authorities quickly determined that Stoneham was not guilty of any criminal activity but was merely an innocent party working on an entirely legitimate project.”
“How could that be—” began Charlotte.
“You see, he did make copper plates for Archibald Campbell, the ringleader of the Lisbon Conspiracy, which was a diabolically clever counterfeiting scheme that bamboozled the Bank of England out of a great deal of money. Campbell had some sort of genius engraver who was able to duplicate a special and supposedly secret high-denomination banknote—though how Campbell got his hands on it is still not known. And then …”
He gave a helpless little wave. “And then the counterfeit banknotes were substituted for the real banknotes while they were locked up waiting for shipment to Lisbon.”
“Where they would be turned into gold to pay the British troops stationed in Portugal,” finished Charlotte before he could go on. “I now remember hearing talk about it at the time. But how could Stoneham have been innocent if he was working with Archibald Campbell?”
“Because,” responded Manchester, “Campbell actually had a legitimate engraving business that specialized in book illustration, which he used to cover his counterfeiting activities.”
She sat back, trying to move all the new facts she had discovered into some coherent order. And yet, the only one that seemed plausible made her blood run cold.
But the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like the only logical answer.
“Thank you so much for your time and willingness to share your expertise, Mr. Manchester.” Hiding her rising excitement beneath a nonchalant smile, Charlotte rose. “I shall pass all this on to Wrexford.”
And hope he will agree that we have finally found our villain.