“I do not ask you to tell us how he obtained any injuries he may have received, Miss Herries,” he helped her. “If you do not know, simply say whether he was injured in any way, or not. You are surely in a circumstance to know. He was your lover.”

“'E were 'urt, yeah,” she conceded. “But 'e didn't say 'ow, an I don't ask.

There's lot's o' fights in Lime'ouse an' Blackwall. Fights any night, an' most days. Caleb often got 'urt, but 'e never killed no one, far as I know.” Her chin came up a fraction. “Not that anyone got the best of 'im neither.”

“I can well believe it, ma'am. I have heard suggestions he is a very powerful man with an excellent skill in defending himself, and considerable physical courage.”

She stood a little straighter, her head high.

“That's right. No one beats Caleb Stone.”

Her pride caught him with a knife stab of pity, and he knew, almost without letting his eyes stray to the jury, that it was also the last fragment needed to tip the thin balance of belief towards conviction.

“Thank you, Miss Herries.” He turned to Goode. “Your witness, sir.” Goode rose slowly, as if he were tired, uncurling his long legs. He ambled across the open space of the floor and stopped before the witness stand, looking up at her.

“Ali, Miss Herries. Allow me to ask you a few questions. They will not take long.” He smiled at her dazzlingly. From the look in her face she may well have found that more unnerving than Rathbone's elegance. “Nor prove painful,” he added.

“Yeah.”

“Excellent. I'm most obliged.” He tucked his thumbs under the armholes of his waistcoat beneath his gown. “Did Caleb tell you why he was prepared to ask his brother for money, considering the feeling between them? Or indeed, why his brother was willing to give it?”

“No, 'e don't tell me things like that. I'nt my bus'ness. Angus always gave 'im money, if 'e wanted it. Guilt, I reckon.”

“Guilt for what, Miss Herries? Was Angus responsible for Caleb's misfortune?”

“I dunno,” she said sharply. “Mebbe 'e was! Mebbe 'e poisoned the old man's mind agin' Caleb. 'E were all goody-goody. Butter wouldn't melt in 'is mouf. 'Ow do I know what 'e felt? I jus' know 'e came any time Caleb sent for 'im.”

“I see. And was Angus at all apprehensive when you gave him Caleb's message?”

“Wot?”

“I apologize. Did he seem to you to be worried or fearful? Was he reluctant to go?”

“No. Well . . . I s'pose 'e didn't want ter leave his bus'ness. But he never did. That ain't 'ard t'understand'oo'd waana leave a nice warm office uptarn ter go ter some public 'ouse on the Isle of Dogs?”

“No one, indeed,” Goode agreed. “But beyond that natural reluctance, he was as usual?”

“Yeah.”

“And he had often met with Caleb before?”

“Yeah.”