‘Somebody cutting up rough,’ said Harper.

A falsetto voice screamed out an oath. A table was overturned and there followed a great clatter of boots. Harper ran downstairs and Alleyn followed. Inside the private bar they found Legge, mouthing and gibbering, between Oates and a second uniformed constable.

‘What’s all this?’ asked Harper.

‘Misdemeanour, sir,’ said Oates whose nose was bleeding freely. ‘Assault and battery.’

‘I don’t care what it is,’ screamed Legge. ‘I can’t stand any more of this—’

‘Shut up, you silly chap,’ admonished Oates. ‘He tried to make a breakaway, sir. Sitting there as quiet as you please, and all of a sudden makes a blind rush for the door and when we intercepts him he wades in and assaults and batters the pair of us. Won’t give over, sir. You’re under arrest, Robert Legge, and it is my duty to warn you that you needn’t say anything, but what you do say may be used in evidence. Stop that.’

‘Persecuted,’ whispered Legge. ‘Persecuted, spied upon, driven and badgered and maddened. I know what it means. Let me go. Damn you, let me go!’

He kicked Oates on the shin. Oates swore and twisted Legge’s arm behind his back. Legge screamed and went limp.

‘You’ll have to be locked up,’ said Harper sadly. ‘Now, are you going to behave or have we got to put the bracelets on you? Be a sensible chap.’

‘I’ll resist,’ said Legge, ‘till you kill me.’

‘Oh, take him away,’ said Harper. ‘Put him in a room, upstairs, both of you.’

Legge, struggling and gasping horridly, was taken out.

‘Ah, it’s at his wits’ end he is, poor wretch,’ said Miss Darragh.

Cubitt said, ‘Look here, this is ghastly. If he’s not guilty why the hell—?’

Parish said, ‘Not guilty! I must say that for an innocent man his behaviour is pretty fantastic’

Will Pomeroy crossed the room and confronted Alleyn and Harper.

‘Why’s he arrested?’ demanded Will.

‘Assaulting a constable and interfering with the police in the execution of their duty,’ said Harper.

‘My God, he was drove to it! If this is justice the sooner there’s a revolution in the country the better. It’s enough to send the man mad, the way you’ve been pestering him. Haven’t you the sense to see the state he’s got into? Damme if I’m not nigh-ready to take on the lot of you myself. Let that man go.’

‘That’ll do, Will,’ said Harper.

‘“That’ll do!” The official answer for every blasted blunder in the force. Bob Legge’s my comrade—’

‘In which case,’ said Alleyn, ‘you’ll do well to think a little before you speak. You can hardly expect Mr Harper to set up constables in rows for your comrade Legge to bloody their noses. While his mood lasts he’s better in custody. You pipe down like a sensible fellow.’ He turned to Harper. ‘Stay down here a moment, will you? I’ll take a look at Fox and rejoin you.’

He ran upstairs and met Oates in the landing.