‘That may be a failure on your part, Mallon,’ Smith Berry replied. ‘Perhaps you have not approached this matter with a sufficiently open mind. The fact is that Major Kelly was violently assaulted by the now deceased Miss Byrne when he went to visit her in pursuit of his intelligence-gathering duties. She was frequently inebriated, as you may know. When Major Kelly arrived at Chapel Court on the evening of her death, she told him that she believed he was a spy, and she made to stab him with a knife that she had concealed in her clothing. He pushed her away, but she rushed at him in a fury. He pushed her away a second time and endeavoured to take the knife from her. When she attempted to stab him again, he grabbed the knife by the blade, sustaining a deep cut. He struck her on the head with his revolver and she fell, striking her skull on the fire grate. Major Kelly attempted to revive her, but she had expired. Concerned that his security could be compromised, he departed rapidly and reported the incident in full at this office.’

Mallon was silent.

‘Mr Smith Berry,’ he said quietly after an interval, ‘I have no doubt that these are the facts as you have been told. But the medical examiner, Dr Lafeyre, has reported that the dead woman had at least eight wounds to her head. She was beaten repeatedly. She did not simply fall against the fire grate as Major Kelly has claimed. The version of events that has evidently been given to you is a one-sided and self-serving account by the chief suspect. And it is utterly contradicted by the medical facts as established by the city medical examiner.’

‘Enough,’ Balfour said sharply. ‘This is not a cross-examination in a criminal court. The issue is not how many times this woman was struck. The reality is that a valued agent of this department, a distinguished officer from one of the finest regiments in the army, found himself in a situation that was not of his choosing while endeavouring to discharge his duties. I will not have him placed in jeopardy as a result of this woman’s death.’

He pointed his finger at Mallon again.

‘I am giving you a direct instruction, chief superintendent. You will arrange the immediate release of Major Kelly from police custody. And you will have all statements, files or any other papers relating to his arrest and detention delivered here to this office forthwith. Are you clear on this?’

‘I understand your instruction, Mr Balfour,’ Mallon said evenly. ‘But it goes against my every instinct as a police officer and as a Christian who believes that man’s justice should seek to emulate that of the creator. A great wrong has been done here.’

Balfour put his hand wearyingly to his forehead.