Shortly after, there was a knock at the door. I hoped it might be Barak returned, but Skelly came in. ‘Master Dyrick has called to see you, sir, regarding the Slanning case.’

‘Show him in.’ I put down my quill, frowning. He must have come to collect the Slanning papers. They were on the table next to my desk. I would have expected him to send a clerk, though. We had had a passage of arms a year before, and I knew things about Vincent Dyrick that gave him an interest in not pushing me too far. Nonetheless, he was a man who loved a fight. I could imagine Isabel looking for the most aggressive barrister available. Someone who did not mind acting for difficult clients with hopeless cases, so long as they paid well. That fitted Dyrick exactly. I knew from experience that he would be relentless in trying to make something of the case; probably even persuade himself that her cause was just.

Dyrick came in with his confident, athletic step, his green eyes sharp as ever in his thin, handsome face, strands of red hair showing under his coif. He bowed briefly and gave me his sardonic smile.

‘God give you good morning, Brother Shardlake.’

‘And you, Brother Dyrick. Please sit.’

He did so, folding his hands in his lap.

I continued, civil but unsmiling, ‘So, you have taken Mistress Slanning’s case? I have the papers ready.’

‘Good. It is an interesting matter.’

‘Hopeless, I think. But profitable.’

‘Indeed, yes.’ He smiled again. ‘Brother Shardlake, I know that you and I have reason to keep apart, but – well – sometimes by chance we will find ourselves on opposing sides in a case.’

‘My involvement in this one is over. Was it you who prompted her to complain to the Inn authorities?’ I asked abruptly. ‘The complaint is nonsense.’

He met my gaze. ‘Actually, since you ask, no. I told her she should concentrate on the case. But she was insistent.’

‘Mistress Slanning is certainly that.’ I thought, he is telling the truth there. As far as the case was concerned, there was no advantage in making a complaint, and while Dyrick would like to make trouble for me, neither would he push matters too far.

‘She is most displeased with your conduct of matters,’ he said in a tone of mock reproof.

‘I know.’ I pushed the bundle of documents over to him. ‘Here are the papers, and I wish you joy of them.’