She bridled. ‘Sir, you are my lawyer. You should be advising me on how I can win, surely, not encouraging me to end the matter without a clear victory.’ Her voice had risen again; I kept mine deliberately low.

‘Many people settle when the outcome is uncertain and costly. As it is here. I have been thinking. Have you ever considered buying Edward’s half-share of the house from him and selling your own residence? Then you could live in your mother’s house and leave the wall painting intact, where it is.’

She gave a braying little laugh. ‘Mother’s house is far too big for me. I am a childless widow. I know she lived there alone but for her servants, but she was foolish; it is far too large for a woman by herself. Those great big rooms. No, I will have the painting down and in my hands. Removed by the best craftsmen in London. Whatever it costs. I shall make Edward pay in the end.’

I looked at her. I had had difficult, unreasonable clients in my time but Isabel Slanning’s obstinacy and loathing of her brother were extraordinary. Yet she was an intelligent woman, no fool except to herself.

I had done my best. ‘Very well,’ I said. ‘I think the next thing is to go over your most recent deposition. There are some things you say which I think would be better amended. We must show ourselves reasonable to the court. Calling your brother a pestilent knave will not help.’

‘The court should know what he is like.’

‘It will not help you.’

She shrugged, then nodded, adjusting her hood on her grey head. As I took out the deposition, Nicholas leaned forward and said, ‘With your leave, sir, may I ask the good lady a question?’

I hesitated, but it was my duty to train him up. ‘If you wish.’

He looked at Isabel. ‘You said, madam, that your house is much smaller than your mother’s.’

She nodded. ‘It is. But it suffices for my needs.’

‘With smaller rooms?’

‘Yes, young man,’ she answered tetchily. ‘Smaller houses have smaller rooms. That is generally known.’

‘But I understand the wall painting is in the largest room of your mother’s house. So if you were able to remove the painting, where would you put it?’

Isabel’s face reddened and she bridled. ‘That is my business, boy,’ she snapped. ‘Yours is to take notes for your master.’

Nicholas blushed in turn and bent his head to his papers. But it had been a very good question.