“Thank you, sir. That’s all taken care of. Mr. Gisbourne is not short of a bob or two, and he’s come up with sufficient funds to bail them both out.”

MacFarlane laughed and shook his head. “A tramp and a business magnate locked together in a three-legged race?”

“Oh, I think they’ve got a good step going, sir.”

“Jenkins! Will you unlock the gentleman’s shackle, please? And Constable, bring me the parcel I left in my locker.”

Redfyre turned to the prisoner. “I’m setting you free, Major, now that I’ve heard your story. According to your once-commanding officer General Whitcliffe and half the population of Cambridge, to say nothing of the endorsement of my own dog, you are an innocent man. No, don’t dispute what I have to say! I know you’re not as straightforward as many think. In fact, I take you for a devious old bastard. And I know you to have form when it comes to the blame-taking business. You personally accepted a charge of looting all those years ago in South Africa and saved your men—none of whom, as far as I can see, had your trust or respect—from a nastier fate than the one doled out to them. And here you are, doing it again for the son of your would-be destroyer.

“What prompts you to do this? Self-sacrifice and martyrdom? Is it some religion you follow that imposes such behaviour?”

“I don’t follow religion,” Dunne said carefully. “Religion follows me. Hound, Harlot or Siren’s voice of heaven—I’ve shaken them all off. But there’s nothing wrong with setting my own human standards. That young Digby—he didn’t commit murder. He reacted in an instinctive human way against evil when it reared its ugly, scaly head and made an attempt on his life. He’s not a warrior, though I believe he has the stuffing for it. I was prepared to rid the world of a man who would have gone on adding infinitely to his shameful list of victims for cash. I had my knuckleduster on. I would cheerfully have rid the world of that preening, overconfident sod. So I’ll take the blame. Yon Gisbourne impressed me. He must take after his mother. There’s a physical family resemblance with his ghastly old pa, but if you can overlook that, you realise he’s smart and has a conscience. Has a life in front of him—possibly an important one. Mine’s worthless. I’m just trudging about, looking for death.”