 They believe him to have acted under direct orders of the British Government, which – while pretending neutrality – is in fact determined to prevent Russia from gaining a decisive victory over the Turks.Fandorin is dispatched to London to track down McLaughlin and either kidnap him, bribe him to change sides by the promise of a Russian estate, or at least denounce and discredit him in British public opinion.As later seen, Fandorin takes up the mission while having doubts – which he does not voice – as to McLaughlin's guilt.