Kinnaird gave the answer he’d rehearsed many times. There were no mistakes. He was clear, well spoken and convincing. Scattergood gave him a slap on the back.

‘Well done, Charles Mifflin. You’d fool anybody.’

‘There’s only one thing that worries me, Harry.’

‘What is it?’

‘The reward is for the arrest and conviction of the killer. We don’t get a sniff of it until I’ve been tried and found guilty.’

‘I’ve told you before. Once I have the money, I can use some of it to buy you out of Newgate. I know exactly who to bribe.’ Scattergood laughed. ‘Clever, isn’t it? Having escaped from Newgate more than once, I’ll be breaking into the place to help you get out.’

‘When?’

‘When the time is ripe, of course.’

‘And when is that, Harry? I don’t want to be stuck in there for weeks on end. You know the black-hearted villains who’ll be locked up in there. One of them might try to do the hangman’s job for me.’

‘The way it works is this,’ said Scattergood, speaking slowly. ‘Sir Roger was a well-known figure. They’ll want his killer punished as soon as possible. That means a speedy trial during which I’ll give evidence against you. Then you’ll be dragged from the court and taken out past a mob howling for your blood.’

‘That’s the bit I’m not happy about.’

‘Before you know it, you’ll be inside the safety of Newgate.’

‘And what will you be doing?’

‘I’ll be counting the reward money,’ said Scattergood. ‘As soon as I’ve done that, I’ll get into the prison to rescue you. I’ll have to wait for the right moment, of course. That goes without saying.’ Kinnaird’s face fell. ‘Trust me, old friend. Nothing can possibly go wrong.’

‘It had better not.’

‘Giles Clearwater will come to your rescue.’

The previous day, they’d found a means of escape into one of Shakespeare’s plays. That morning it was music that offered them a source of relief. With Hannah seated at the piano and Dorothea standing beside her, they sang a series of duets. Each one was carefully discussed afterwards. The second time they sang it, Dorothea put the advice that Hannah had given her into practice. Before the first hour was over, there was a marked improvement in the younger woman’s voice. Hannah was discovering a talent for teaching that took her by surprise.

‘How are you feeling now, Dorothea?’ she asked, breaking off.

‘I feel exhilarated.’

‘That’s as it should be. Music uplifts the soul.’

‘It didn’t work completely, though,’ confessed Dorothea. ‘When we read from Measure for Measure, I was in a different world where nothing else mattered. This time it was different. An image of Orsino kept floating past my eyes.’

‘Was it a pleasing image?’