“Hanging judges,” he decided, “with no’ a verra high opinion of human nature. I canna’ see pity nor mercy in their eyes.” When Rutledge looked up to study their faces, he was forced to agree.

Thomas Warren was a fair man with an ugly scar across his face, running from the crown of his head into the collar of his shirt. It had healed, but time had not yet smoothed it into a thin white line. It gave him a sinister appearance.

But he greeted Rutledge with courtesy, listened to what he had to say, and answered, “Yes, I knew Rob. He was a good man. But I’ve never been to Atwood House, I’m afraid. And I didn’t serve in Palestine, I was in France. Where else would the Army put a man with some knowledge of Turkish?”

Rutledge laughed. “It was common practice, I’m afraid.” Taking out his notebook, he read aloud the list of names that the fiscal had given him. Warren steepled his fingers in front of pursed lips, noting each.

When Rutledge had finished, Warren said, “That’s fairly thorough. Offhand I can’t think of anyone to add. The first five you named died in France and to my certain knowledge never set foot in the Near East. That puts them out of the running. Morgan has flame-red hair and wouldn’t know a barrel vault from a Roman arch, much less anything about medieval stabling. He spent most of the war at sea and the only wound he suffered was a fractured thumb.” He shook his head, still finding it hard to believe. “Talbot, Stanton, and Herbert are dark and aren’t likely to be in the running. I didn’t know Edwards well enough to tell you where he served. Baldridge and Fletcher were artillery, as I remember, and MacPhee was in naval intelligence. What’s this about? Why is it so urgent to find these men? I can’t see any of them running afoul of the Yard!”

“They haven’t. But they may have information we need. We’re searching for a woman who is missing and may be dead. Eleanor Gray—”

“Good God!” Warren said, thunderstruck. “I met her once or twice, you know. In London. She and Rob were on their way to some play or other, a benefit for war orphans. She was trying to persuade him to sit down and rest, when I walked up. We had a drink together at intermission. Lovely girl. I remember asking her if she was related to the Grays over by Menton, and she smiled and said she was but indirectly. The next time I saw her, she had lunch with me, and if I’ve ever met a girl in love, it was Eleanor. Rob deserved happiness. I was glad for them. And I’d not like to think anything has happened to her!”