by Kanakaberaka » May 24th, 2010, 3:13 pm
Lewis has deliberately chosen incompetant villains for his farce. Otherwise Fairy Hardcastle would not have allowed her own pleasure to interfere with her work. Still, I wonder what might have happened if the Fairy had used some finesse when Jane Studdock fell into her hands. Suppose that instead of arresting Jane and using "enhanced" interrogation on her, Hardcastle had comforted her with a hot cup of tea and promised to reunite her with her husband Mark at Belbury. She could have told Jane that Mark was worried sick about her, and wanted her safe by her side, away from the riot in Edgestow. By feigning the role of a saviour, Hardcastle might have been able to fool Jane just long enough to get her over to Belbury. Mark could even be an unwitting accomplice by simply sharing his room with her at Belbury. It's possible that after falling in love with Mark again, Jane could be convinced that "the gang" at St. Anne's are a bunch of fanatics, at least long enough to give away Mr. Fisher-King's location. The Director insisted that Jane should obey her husband. Suppose Mark demanded she join him in his cause with the N.I.C.E. ? It could have turned the Director's wishes against himself.
Or maybe not. Jane has certainly been "taken in" by the company at St. Anne's. So I doubt that she would be fooled by empty promises given by Fairy Hardcastle. Still, it would have been more realistic for someone in Hardcastle's position to attempt deception rather than intimidation against Jane.
so it goes...