It did, however, add one more tally mark on Wildsmith’s side of the ledger, even if having told the truth about his conviction didn’t make his graphological claims any more plausible. Notwithstanding, Aaron made the time to drop round to his cousin’s flat that evening and let him know that any attempt to bring suit for slander was doomed to fail.

“You must be joking, Ronnie,” Paul said. “You can’t be serious. You know this fellow lied about me.”

“He said your letter read like you’d just rolled out of bed with another woman. You admitted to me that you did exactly that.”

“But he didn’t know that!” Paul protested. “You said yourself it wasn’t possible for him to know. So he was making it up, and making things up about people is slander.”

“Not if you hit on the truth, it isn’t. Your complaint is that he accurately described something you did, and I really can’t help you with that.”

“Then what use is it having a policeman in the family?”

“I couldn’t say.”

“Anyway, you’re missing the point,” Paul said. “This Blacksmith fellow—”

“Wildsmith.”

“He owes me damages for my reputation, and for spoiling my marriage. Babs’s people are well oiled, you know, and awfully well connected. It would have been a jolly good thing for me and instead I’ve been made a laughing stock through no fault of my own—”

“Oh, come off it,” Aaron said. “No fault?”

“She wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for that little swine! And he can’t be allowed to go around making wild what-do-you-call-ems.”

“Statements of fact?”

“Accusations. Oh, come on, Ronnie, you’ll stand by me, won’t you?”

“In what way?” Aaron enquired.

“He made this absurd allegation with no way to back it up. If I bring suit and you help me out, we can teach the little devil a lesson about slandering his betters.”

Aaron had been offended when Wildsmith suggested he would lie on oath for his cousin. He wasn’t offended now, since he hadn’t expected or hoped for anything better, but he was annoyed. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. Don’t embarrass either of us by repeating it.”

Paul reddened. “Oh, that’s very fine, when your side’s been nothing but an embarrassment to the family for thirty years. I did think you might be able to look into a clear bit of sharp practice, or simply stand by your own blood when I’m being traduced by some wretched guttersnipe. I suppose breeding will out.”