“That is indeed a difficult ethical decision, Your Grace. Our loyalty to our clients versus withholding information in a criminal case. I should, of course, be obliged to answer any question truthfully, should the police choose to question me. That would include revealing the document. However, as to whether I feel it incumbent upon myself to volunteer information to the police that might incriminate my client—a client who has given me his word that he is innocent—then I think that I feel no such obligation.”

Binky got to his feet and shook the old man’s hand. I could hear the bones creaking.

“I think that went rather well,” Binky exclaimed as we came out. “Care to go for a spot of lunch with me somewhere? Claridge’s, maybe?”

“Claridge’s?” It came out as a squeak. “I’d love to, but unfortunately I’m meeting my grandfather today. Remember he was in the police once. I’m hoping he’ll have some advice for us and maybe still know some men at Scotland Yard.”

“Spiffing. Super idea.”

“And anyway I hear the food’s not up to much at Claridge’s these days,” I added for good measure, just in case he decided he was going to take his luncheon there without me.

“You don’t say? I always thought Claridge’s was the tops,” Binky said. “Oh, well. Might as well eat at the club and save money, then. Where will I find you, Georgie? And how long do you think I’m supposed to hang around down here? It’s costing a fortune to stay at the club, you know. Those whiskey and sodas don’t come cheap.”

“You’ll have to ask the police when it’s all right for you to go home,” I said. “And as to where you can find me, I’m thinking of moving back into the house. I was there this morning and the police have gone. So has the body.”

“That’s dashed brave of you, old bean. I don’t think I could stomach it, somehow. And they do make one so blinking comfortable at the club.”

With that we parted company, he into a taxicab and me down the steps of the underground at Holborn Station. I went one stop, then changed at Tottenham Court Road. I suppose I could have walked to the Strand and Claridge’s, but it had started to rain and I had no wish to appear like a drowned rat.