“From the mission’s perspective, she was in no position to look after him properly, and the kid would have better prospects with a new family, without the stain of being born on the wrong side of the blanket, as they say in polite circles. So they had him adopted.”

“No! Regardless of the fact that it wasn’t the mother’s fault and she was doing her level best by the child!” Margaret exclaimed, horrified. “That is so wrong.”

“It’s not so straightforward. Really, no one is to blame other than that cur of a bigamist,” Randolph said. “Everyone else is doing their best in difficult circumstances. Jane is hoping that her mother—the child’s grandmother—will take them both in. Apparently she would happily do so, but she’s having a problem persuading her husband—the child’s grandfather—to be reconciled with his daughter.”

Margaret refrained from commenting, but she couldn’t help thinking of her own situation. “If she does move back with her parents, will she get her baby back?”

“I’ll certainly have a much better chance of persuading the mission to reverse their decision. The adoption isn’t finalised yet.” Randolph checked his watch and groaned. “I had no idea it was so late. I’m afraid I need to go. I’ve a meeting uptown. A client that pays,” he added with a wry smile, signalling for the check.

“Do you do a lot of work downtown, for free?”

“As much as I can. I want to give something back, you know? I was one of the lucky ones—I’ve made something of myself, but I’m no blind crusader, Margaret. I’ve only got so much to give, so I put my weight behind those cases I can win.” Randolph paid the check and stood up. “Are you headed back home? I need to catch a cab, but I can drop you off.”

“Thank you.” Looking around her with some surprise Margaret saw that they were the only people left in the room. “And for lunch, too, I really enjoyed it.”

“They are good people—at the mission, I mean. It was clear from my meeting this morning: they truly do believe that they were acting for the best. The work they do—that you help with—it’s vital.”

“Yes, I know.”

But bidding the waiter goodbye, following Randolph back out onto Bowery, Margaret was unsettled and pensive as they made their way uptown. “I think I need to broaden my horizons,” she said, when the hansom cab drew up at Washington Square. “I don’t mean give up my work in the mission, but I’d like to see what it is we are saving people from. The other side of the story,” she added, with a sad smile.

“You’re welcome to come with me to see Emily—that’s Jane’s real name,” Randolph said.