‘Perhaps. Like me, you were brought up on lies and I think you see that. Read the New Testament, read Revelation. These are the last days before Christ’s return. It is foreordained.’

‘The Book of Revelation, is it? You and your people have found the key to that text?’ Anger spilled out of me. ‘You should know, Leeman, I once uncovered a killer who slaughtered several innocent people, who believed himself inspired by Revelation! I wish you could see the trail of blood and torture he left.’

Leeman did not answer. After a moment he asked, ‘Will you tell the Queen’s officials about Bertano?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then at least they will be warned.’

I looked at him. ‘They will undoubtedly want to question you further.’

He swallowed. ‘They will torture me, then kill me. I suppose I must prepare myself.’

‘You broke an oath to the Queen. Nonetheless, I shall plead with her for your sorry life. I am not even sure why.’

‘We’ll keep you with Nick to guard you for now, matey,’ Barak added in a matter-of-fact way. ‘I’m going to bind your hands together, so stretch them out. No trouble, or we’ll do it by force.’

Leeman put out his arms. Barak bound them tight with strips torn from Leeman’s own shirt. ‘Have to gag you as well, matey, though I know you love to gabble on. Nicholas’s fellow lodgers may be back sometime.’

‘Can I go to the jakes first?’ Leeman’s face reddened with embarrassment. ‘My guts trouble me.’

Barak looked at me. ‘Might as well,’ I said. Barak raised his eyebrows. I snapped impatiently, ‘We don’t want a mess in here. Where’s your jakes, Nicholas?’

‘Out the back, in the yard. But watch it’s not a trick. No noise, or I’ll knock you out again.’

‘We’ll all go, bring him back, then Jack will go home, while you and I – ’ I took a deep breath as I looked at Nicholas – ‘will wait with him for Lord Parr’s people.’

WE WENT BACK DOWNSTAIRS, Barak and Nicholas holding Leeman between them. He was almost as tall as Nicholas and broader, the build of a royal guard. But he gave no trouble. As we descended, a church clock somewhere struck one. ‘No sign of your friends,’ I said to Nicholas, relieved.

‘They probably won’t be back at all now; they’ll have fallen drunk in a corner.’

‘I remember those student birthday celebrations. A bit rowdy for me.’

‘There’s a surprise,’ Barak said warmly.

We opened a creaking door to the little backyard, where a ramshackle wooden shed stood in a corner of an untended garden, against a stone wall separating the students’ garden from the one next door. By the smell, the cesspit beneath badly needed emptying. Nicholas opened the wooden door, and we all stepped back at the stink from within. Barak said to Leeman, ‘Get in, then.’