The authors present another theory of the cause of Deane 's death, stating that prehaps his friend Bancroft had poisened him. He had a clear motive being that Bancroft had grown relient of his pension from his years as a spy, as well as the hope of him recived a monopoly for creating color dyes, and with his old friend, Silas Deane, going back to America to clear up his past, one that Bancroft was a large part of, he was at the very least uncomfortable with the situation. Bancroft was not sure of how Deane was going to clear his reputation, but he could not risk his secrets being revealed, as they included the sneaky business that they both participated in in France, Bancroft being a double agent and Bancroft 's role in the affair of John