“No, it most certainly is not, major, but why did you need to use a broker in Hong Kong to carry out these transactions, a Mr. Benny Driscoll?”

“Benny is an old friend who used to work in the city, and I am loyal to my friends, Mr. Trelford.”

“I’m sure you are, major, but were you aware that at the time of your dealings, the Irish Garda had a warrant out for Mr. Driscoll’s arrest for fraud and share manipulation?”

Sir Edward was quickly on his feet.

“Yes, yes, Sir Edward,” said Mrs. Justice Lane. “I do hope, Mr. Trelford, you are not suggesting that Major Fisher was aware of this warrant but was still willing to do business with Mr. Driscoll?”

“That would have been my next question, my lady,” said Trelford, the innocent schoolboy look returning.

“No, I did not know,” protested Fisher, “and had I done so, I certainly wouldn’t have continued to deal with him.”

“That’s reassuring,” said Trelford. He opened a large black file in front of him and took out a single sheet of paper, covered in figures. “When you purchased shares on behalf of Lady Virginia, how were you paid?”

“On commission. One percent of the buying or selling price, which is standard practice.”

“Very right and proper,” said Trelford, making a show of putting the sheet of paper back in his file. He then extracted a second sheet, which he studied with equal interest. “Tell me, major, were you aware that on each occasion after you had asked your loyal friend, Mr. Driscoll, to carry out these transactions for Lady Virginia, he also bought and sold shares in Barrington’s on his own behalf, which he must have known was illegal.”

“I had no idea he was doing that, and I would have reported him to the Stock Exchange had I been aware of it.”

“Would you indeed? So you had no idea that he made several thousand pounds piggybacking your transactions?”

“No, I did not.”

“And that he has recently been suspended by the Hong Kong Exchange for unprofessional conduct?”

“I was not aware of that, but then I haven’t dealt with him for several years.”

“Haven’t you?” said Trelford, returning the second sheet to his file and taking out a third. He adjusted his glasses and studied a row of figures on the page in front of him before saying, “Did you also, on three separate occasions, buy and sell shares for yourself, making a handsome profit each time?”