Lawrence would marry them immediately. It had to be done swiftly, he agreed, in order to preserve both Maria’s good name and Swallow’s too.

‘There’s a few fellows in the Castle who’d no doubt use the situation to blacken your name,’ Lawrence said. ‘Bringing the force into discredit or something such.’

It would be manna from heaven for Kelly and his masters in the Upper Yard, Swallow reflected silently. Even John Mallon’s influence would not outweigh the disciplinary charges they could lay against him: lodging on licenced premises, involvement in the business of a public house, cohabiting with a woman other than his wife, bringing the force into disrepute. . . .

They fixed on the following Saturday for the ceremony.

‘I won’t deny I’m nervous,’ Swallow said. ‘It’s all been a bit sudden.’

‘But sure, Joe, the whole world can see that you’re cut out for each other,’ Lawrence laughed. ‘You should have made a decent woman of her long before now. You’re doing the right thing, and if both of you make a good confession before the marriage you’ll have God’s blessing. You just get your two witnesses for the ceremony. Who have you in mind for that?’

‘I’ll ask Harry Lafeyre to be my best man,’ Swallow said. ‘Maria will want her sister, Lily, I assume, as her bridesmaid. Is that the correct term?’

Lawrence knew both Lafeyre and Lily Grant from many social visits to Thomas Street. He chuckled.

‘A strange pass, isn’t it? Harry and Lily are due to be married when? Sometime in the spring? And here you are with Maria, sprinting up the aisle ahead of them. Well, even if the notice is short we’ll do this the right way too. Full nuptial Mass, and then solemnisation of the marriage vows.’

He downed the last of his Tullamore.

‘I suppose there’ll be a bit of a celebration—a hooley—after the event?’

Swallow grinned. Lawrence liked nothing better than good company over a meal, or a few drinks, or both.

‘That’s Maria’s department. But she’s at work on it already. You can be sure that end of things will be taken care of.’

Lawrence clapped his hands.

‘Ah, sure it’ll be a great day. A great day.’

The friar’s brow suddenly furrowed.

‘Will you be all right to get the time off? You’ve got that murder out in Rathmines to deal with, haven’t you?’

Swallow nodded.

‘I have. And the truth is that it’s not looking very promising in terms of any early arrest.’

‘A terrible, terrible business. It’ll be a fearful winter for many a young woman who has to go about the streets if you don’t get to the bottom of it.’