He winced as Philomena raised his arm, checking the wound. “They say a good workman seldom blames his tools,” she remarked with a smile. “I have never approved of duelling, but for one moment, I believed I should need to intervene and make use of the vase myself.”

Hugh snorted, but his rejoinder turned to a grunt of pain as Philomena grasped his shirt, the front of which was rapidly turning crimson. She ripped away a strip of linen, exposing a gash of three inches or more in Hugh’s chest. Her hand flew to her lips and her face grew pale.

“I believe all will be well,” Hugh said, “If you will find something to stop the bleeding. Perhaps this good lady would be kind enough to help?”

The housekeeper had plucked up enough courage to descend the stairs carrying a bowl of water and a sponge. Together, she and Philomena made rapid work of securing a pad of cotton against the slash on Hugh’s chest and binding the cut on his arm.

Slowly, Hugh raised himself to a sitting position. His opponent lay silent in the hall. Hugh leaned across to feel the man’s pulse.

“Have you killed him?” Philomena asked. “I do hope so.”

Hugh frowned. “I sincerely hope not. We will have difficulty explaining our behaviour if that is the case, thoroughly though the scoundrel deserves it.” His frown disappeared. Muldrow was alive, at least. “He’ll wake up soon, I’m sure, with a headache that will last for some time. We will just secure his arms with these bandages. We need to alert the constable.”

Hugh thought for a moment, his mind clearing. “By the way, I am supposedly in custody with the constable myself. He is having a most unusual day.” He laughed at Philomena’s puzzled stare. Explanations could wait.

At that moment, the constable himself appeared.

“Stephens…” Hugh pulled himself up to his full height, holding firmly to the banister for support. “Your entrance is perfectly timed. I take it you delivered that note to my solicitor, who sent you here? As you see, we have the rogue neatly tied, beginning to stir a little, if I make no mistake.”

Muldrow groaned. “Damn you, Thatcham. I’ll see you in hell.” Seeing the constable, Muldrow squirmed to a sitting position, his arms still secured behind his back. He smirked. “Ah, I see you have come to recapture your prisoner, Constable. How foolish of you to allow him to escape. However, there is little harm done. Please release me from these ridiculous bonds, remove Thatcham at once and leave me with my wife.”