Page 134 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

“Twenty-five hundred?”

“Correct. Just over a pound, by weight. Quite easy to transport, you know.”

“But the cost to the Crown…”

“Indeed. Lord Rowe was able to negotiate excellent prices due to the imminent threat of invasion, purchasing well below market value. A one-carat diamond should have cost about fifteen pounds, and a two-carat stone could go for fifty pounds or more. He paid only thirty-five thousand pounds for the lot.”

“A wise investment, indeed.”

“Yes, but here is where my information gets interesting, Darcy. The Exchequer has no record of this, but I spoke to several other people yesterday and this morning…All this talking is a bit much. I am parched.”

“Forgive me.” Darcy poured them both glasses of brandy, and they sat. Richard took a long drink, and Darcy refilled his glass and resumed his seat before his cousin continued.

“Mr. Roberts took possession of more than diamonds from Lord Rowe.”

“Oh?”

“He was working for Mr. Etches, Darcy.” Richard bounced in his chair.

“Mr. Etches. Should I know who that is?”

“I suppose not. He is a legend among spies. Mr. Etches has done a great deal for the war effort. He retired a few years ago, but he lives just outside of London, and I visited him this morning. I would have brought you along, but he would not have spoken to you.”

“I understand. What did he say?” Darcy had not seen his cousin so excited in years.

“First, in the name of the Red Silk Reticule, I will tell you all, but you can reveal nothing going forward. I know you will wish to tell Miss Elizabeth and her uncle about the diamonds, and I give you leave, so long as they are discrete. But you are not at liberty to share what I will tell you now.”

“Very well.” Darcy would attempt to sway his cousin later if he felt the need to tell Elizabeth.

“Lord Rowe was working not only with Mr. Roberts but directly with Mr. Etches. He was a spy, too, Darcy! His wife had joined him on several missions in the years before Antwerp, and she was with him for his final assignment. Lord Rowe kept detailed records, later delivered to Mr. Etches, showing his progress.”

The colonel removed a folded page from his haversack and flattened it on his leg.

“Etches has several pages of notes at his home written by Lord Rowe and Mr. Roberts. His files are meticulous, and he trusts few in the government. He keeps his unsolved cases in his safe. I copied as many of the relevant points as I could, exactly as they were in the originals.”

Darcy got up and moved a small table close to their chairs, and the two men sat huddled over the page.

Jan. 19, 1793. Arrived Dover, am. Obtained passage on ship. – OR

Jan. 21, 1793. Arrived Ostend, dawn. – OR

Jan. 23, 1793. Arrived Antwerp, evening. Opera tonight. – OR

Jan. 24, 1793. Opera success. Persing tr. Auction at 10 am. – OR

Jan. 24, 1793. Auction success. 3 paintings. – OR

Jan. 24, 1793. 2500c for £35,000; Girl success. – OR

Jan. 25, 1793. 2500c, 3 paintings, girl to SR at 8 am. Travel Ostend. Meet 31st. – OR

“What is this OR?” Darcy pointed to the end of the first line.

“Lord Rowe used no code name. It is for Oliver Rowe.”

“Opera, Persing, auction, paintings, 2500c. That must be the diamonds. And a girl. What does it all mean?”

“First of all, it means Lord Rowe and his wife died heroes. They completed not one but three aims. Etches thinks they were killed not long after their success or sometime on the two-day journey to Ostend. It is unlikely they ever reached Ostend, as he was to have posted a final letter to Etches reporting on his movements. It would have arrived after its sender, but instead it did not arrive at all.”