They sat in the saloon bar of the George across the square and Craig ordered brandy all round and offered Miller a cigarette while they waited. Behind them, the bar was lined with solicitors and their clerks and counsels in wig and gown, most of them snatching a beer and a sandwhich between cases and talking shop.

Harriet leaned across and covered one of Miller’s hands with her own. ‘I’m sorry I sounded off back there in court. I wasn’t getting at you. You believe that, don’t you?’

‘That’s all right.’

‘You know Vernon’s a very clever man,’ Craig said. ‘He handled himself superbly. Made an excellent impression on the jury.’

‘And the girl helped, don’t forget that,’ Miller said.

‘Yes, she lied, didn’t she?’

‘Too true she did, probably under extreme coercion.’ Miller hesitated and then went on. ‘It wasn’t her fault, you know. She’s just as much a victim of circumstances as Joanna was. Actually, she’s quite a nice girl.’

Craig swirled the brandy around in his glass and drank some. ‘You know I’ve been finding out a few things about our Mr Vernon. He’s quite a character.’

‘Is that so?’ Miller said carefully.

‘Come off it, Sergeant, you know what I mean.’ Craig swallowed the rest of his brandy and waved to the waiter for another. ‘You’ve heard of Pedlar Palmer, I suppose?’

‘Detective Superintendent Palmer of the Special Branch at Scotland Yard?’

‘That’s right. We did some soldiering together in the Middle East back in ’43. I gave him a ring yesterday, just to ask him what he could tell me about Vernon. He owes me a favour or two. That’s in confidence, mind you.’

‘Naturally.’

‘Quite a boy, Max Vernon. Do you think he’s getting up to the same sort of capers in these parts as he did in London?’

‘Leopards don’t change their spots.’

‘That’s what I thought.’ Craig nodded, a slight, abstracted smile on his face. ‘What is it they say about justice, Sergeant? It must not only be done, it must be seen to be done? But what happens when society falls down on the job? What happens when the law isn’t adequate? Wouldn’t you say the individual was entitled to take matters into his own hands?’

‘I know one thing,’ Miller said. ‘It wouldn’t be the law he was taking.’

‘You’ve got a good point there.’ Craig glanced at his watch. ‘Good heavens, is that the time? I must go. Can you get a taxi, Harriet?’

Miller cut in quickly before she could reply. ‘I’ll see she gets home all right. I have my own car.’

‘Thanks a lot. I’ll see you later then, my dear.’ He squeezed Harriet’s shoulder briefly and was gone.

‘Another drink, Miss Craig?’