‘Not at all, not at all,’ said the other. ‘I have a vivid picture of him in my mind. He’s just as you described. Give me more time to think. Meanwhile, leave me details of where I can reach you and, the moment my brain functions properly, I’ll get in touch.’ He beamed, hopefully. ‘Will this content you?’

‘Not really,’ said Ruddock, suspiciously.

‘I give you my word.’

‘You’d better keep it.’

‘I won’t let you down,’ said Howlett, hand on heart.

‘No, you wouldn’t dare!’

Peter Skillen was thrilled to be back in London again, but he had nagging memories of his time in Nottingham. He felt that he’d somehow let Seth Hooper and his friends down and resolved to make amends. Only the arrest and conviction of Sir Roger Mellanby’s killer would vindicate him and he was determined to search for the man with renewed energy. He was alone with Charlotte in the storeroom at the shooting gallery when he had a second visit from the Runners. Strutting into the room, Yeomans and Hale were both smirking.

‘You look as if you’ve just had good news,’ said Peter.

‘We have,’ confirmed Yeomans.

‘Does that mean you’ve finally made an arrest?’

‘No, it means that we’re just about to make one.’

‘What are you talking about?’ asked Charlotte.

‘We’ve come to apprehend your husband, Mrs Skillen,’ said Hale.

‘You can’t do that.’

‘Oh, yes we can.’

‘What possible charge can you bring against him?’

‘It’s one of assault,’ said Yeomans. ‘The incident took place recently outside the House of Commons.’

‘I’ve been nowhere near there,’ insisted Peter.

‘It’s true,’ said Charlotte. ‘He’s been here for the last hour or more.’

‘We have it on good authority that he assaulted two gentlemen,’ said Yeomans, ‘and their evidence is clear. Sir Roger Mellanby’s son and his lawyer have each given us a statement of what happened.’ He nodded to Hale who stepped in to take Peter’s arm. ‘You’ve gone too far this time.’

‘This is ridiculous,’ protested Peter. ‘I did meet the two gentlemen you mention when I was in Nottingham, but I haven’t set eyes on them since my return to London. Frankly, if I did so, I’d make every effort to avoid them.’

‘Ah,’ said Yeomans, eyes aglow. ‘So there’s bad blood between you and them, is there? That might explain why you attacked them.’

‘I didn’t attack anybody.’

‘Then why did Mr Oxley swear that you did? He’s a lawyer. He’d only make such a claim if it had legal force. Lawyers are known for their honesty.’

‘This one isn’t,’ said Peter. ‘He’s shifty and treacherous.’

‘Mind your language,’ warned Hale, ‘or you could be adding slander to the charge against you.’

‘There is no charge. I simply wasn’t there.’