‘It’s what you’ll be tempted to do,’ said Yeomans, walking up to him. ‘And by the way, I didn’t need that fancy hat of his to identify the murder victim. A friend of his came to report him missing and gave us his name.’

‘Who is he?’

‘Sir Roger Mellanby.’

‘That name rings a bell.’

‘He was a politician.’

‘And who was this friend of his?’

‘He’s strange company for a man of quality. Mellanby was a firebrand with wild ideas about reform unusual in someone with his education. In the House of Commons, I’m told, he’s known as the Radical Dandy. The so-called friend is one Seth Hooper, a brush-maker from Nottingham, a sweaty fellow who has difficulty stringing words together.’

‘That’s the effect you have on some people, Micah.’

‘Don’t mock me,’ warned the other.

‘What did you tell Hooper?’

‘I told him that we’d taken charge of the case and sent him on his way.’

‘Didn’t you mention that I was a witness to the murder?’

‘There was no need. Since I was there as well, I was able to tell him a little of what happened. Too much detail would have clouded his brain. He had the nerve to say that he wanted to be involved in the hunt for the assassin. I’d never allow any interference from him – or from you, for that matter. In fact,’ said Yeomans, ‘that’s why I’m here. Keep well clear of this investigation.’

‘But I have a personal stake in it.’

‘Mellanby was clearly a rich man. A large reward will be offered for the capture of his killer. I don’t want you and that confounded brother of yours getting in our way, as you usually contrive to do. That’s not just a warning from me. It’s a command from His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent. Since I was protecting him last night, he wants me to be the person who brings this villain to justice.’

‘Then he’ll wait until Doomsday.’

‘Our record of success speaks for itself.’

‘It’s far outweighed by your repeated failures.’

‘Don’t meddle in this case, Skillen.’

‘I’ve no choice. When a man is shot dead only feet away from me, I feel that it’s my duty to hunt down his killer.’

‘Would you defy a royal decision?’

‘In the name of justice,’ said Paul, ‘I’ll do whatever is necessary. First of all, however, I need to make a confession. I was wrong to imagine that the Prince Regent was the designated target.’

‘I told you that,’ said Yeomans.

‘The assassin was definitely hired to kill Sir Roger Mellanby.’

‘At least we agree on something.’

‘Because the man was proficient in his trade, one shot was all it took and he made sure that nobody saw him fire it.’

‘What made you realise that your first guess was wrong?’