Agnes smiled sadly. ‘John can charm the birds out of the trees when he wants.’ Then her face fell. ‘But the price of land continued to fall, they sued for debt and for the last year he has sat in Leicester gaol, where he will remain until the debt is paid. Martin and I send him money – if you cannot provide food and clothing for yourself, you are left to starve in that dreadful place. And he tries to pay off his debts, little by little. But it is twenty pounds. Now John has written saying what we send does not cover the interest, and his creditors say the balance is larger than ever.’ She shook her head. ‘I fear he will die in the prison now. Last winter he had a congestion in his lungs, and another winter in there . . .’ Her voice tailed off for a moment. ‘Please do not tell Martin I have spoken with you, sir. It is shameful, and he is so proud, and does not like others knowing our trouble – ’

I raised a hand. ‘If you wish, Agnes. But perhaps I may be able to do something – ’

‘No, sir, please. We have already consulted a lawyer, he said there was nothing to be done. Do not tell Martin,’ she pleaded urgently. ‘He will be – distressed.’

‘Very well. But consider what I said. I will help if I can.’

‘Thank you, sir.’ But her tone told me she would say nothing to her husband.

I WENT INTO CHAMBERS early next morning, for there was work to catch up on. The weather was hot and sunny again. Martin Brocket attended me as usual on rising, no sign on his face of anything unusual, and I guessed Agnes had not told him of our conversation.

As I was leaving, Josephine asked to speak to me. I took her into the parlour. ‘Agnes Brocket asked me to thank you for your kindness yesterday. She asked me to speak for her as she is – well, ashamed.’

‘It is not her shame.’

‘She thinks it is. And Martin would be angry if anyone else knew. It would hurt his pride,’ she added, a note of contempt in her voice.

‘I have been thinking how seldom the Brockets go out, except for walks.’

‘And Agnes never buys clothes.’

‘All their money must be going to their son. And, Josephine, that makes me think again about the time you found Martin going through the drawers of my desk. I wonder whether, in a moment of desperation, he considered turning to theft.’

‘I wondered the same thing yesterday, sir.’

‘It would be an explanation. But I have found nothing missing, and you do not think he has done such a thing again.’

‘No, sir, I don’t. And I have been watching him.’ She gave a slight smile. ‘I think he knows that. I think that is why he dislikes me.’