‘I went back to Covent Garden,’ said Paul. ‘I walked down that alleyway where Orsino Price was stabbed to death. After that, I went around to the stage door where Sir Roger met his death. It was rather eerie being back there. In less than a minute, a man was shot dead, the Prince Regent was rushed to safety inside the theatre and everyone else ran for their life. After that experience, escorting Hannah out of the stage door will feel rather dull.’

‘What was eerie about going back there?’ said Peter.

‘I saw two men there, shuffling about for some reason. One was giving the other one some orders. They stopped when they saw me and rushed away. The weird thing was that I knew one of them but couldn’t remember who he was. It was maddening. I’ve been trying to place him ever since.’

‘Do you think he recognised you, Paul?’

‘Oh, I’m certain of it.’

‘Then it might have been someone you arrested.’

‘I have a good memory for faces, Peter, but I failed this time.’

‘The theatre is dark at the moment,’ observed Charlotte, ‘so what were they doing there? Hannah wasn’t going to come out of the stage door and neither was anybody else.’

‘You should have challenged them, Paul,’ said his brother.

‘I didn’t get the chance. The moment he saw me, the man who’d been giving the orders dragged his friend away. I was left wondering,’ said Paul, brow corrugated, ‘who the devil was he?’

The distance between Brighton and London was less than fifty miles, as the crow flies, but the messenger dispatched by the Prince Regent was riding a horse that didn’t have the benefit of wings. Nevertheless, he pressed on hard and, by changing his mount at intervals, he made good time. He reached his destination and tethered his horse at the gate. He then took out his letter and walked up to the front door. Hearing the doorbell, a maidservant opened the door to see the man standing there.

‘I have a message for Miss Granville,’ he said.

‘I’ll be happy to give it to her,’ she said, extending her hand.

‘My orders are to deliver it in person. I’ve travelled here from Brighton.’

‘Oh, I see,’ she said, flustered. ‘In that case, I’ll fetch her.’ She hurried off to the drawing room and knocked before entering. Hannah looked up from the book she was reading.

‘Yes?’

‘There’s someone here with an important message for you.’

‘How do you know it’s important?’

‘He’s ridden all the way from Brighton.’

Hannah was shaken but recovered her composure very quickly and went to the front door to find the man standing there. He handed her the letter.

‘This is from His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent.’

‘Thank you very much,’ she said. ‘I’ll read it in due course.’