Peter told him about his visit to the Home Office and how, much to his disappointment, he came away feeling that Sidmouth was getting reports of dissident activity sent directly to him so that any signs of rebellion could be choked off before they’d even begun.

‘What else are you going to do while you’re here?’ he asked.

‘In spite of the state he’ll be in after a post-mortem, I’d like to see my father and attend the inquest. Before that, a talk with your brother, Paul, is essential. Until I know everything that happened that night, I won’t fully understand how he lost his life.’

‘I have vivid memories of the occasion,’ said Paul, ‘and I might be able to help you in another way.’

‘I don’t follow.’

‘If you have a petition to present, how do you plan to get access to the Prince Regent? Those around him still believe that he was the real target for the assassin. As a result, they’ll have tightened the protective cordon around him. At present, he’s being kept safe in Brighton Pavilion.’

‘I’d assumed that he’d be in London.’

‘I’m afraid not.’

‘As for actually meeting His Royal Highness, I’m not quite sure how to go about it. I thought of seeking help from the Archbishop of Canterbury. I know that he resides at Lambeth Palace.’

Both Paul and Peter were struck by his innocence with regard to the political and ecclesiastical structures of the capital. An obscure clergyman from Nottingham stood no chance of getting close to the archbishop, still less of having an audience with the Prince Regent. The fact that he’d be delivering a document setting out demands for radical reform made it even less likely that he’d get sympathy from either source.

‘There is a more unorthodox way of going about it,’ suggested Peter as an idea began to form. ‘By chance, Paul may be going to Brighton Pavilion very soon in order to escort Miss Hannah Granville, a famous actress, whom the Prince Regent has taken an interest in ever since he saw her onstage as Lady Macbeth. I don’t think that he could smuggle you into the royal presence, but he might at least be able to pass on your petition.’

‘Would you consider doing so, Paul?’

‘It’s worth a try,’ replied the other.

‘Really,’ said David, ‘you and your brother lead extraordinary lives. Peter is able to walk whenever he wishes into the Home Office and Paul, I now discover, may actually get to meet the Prince Regent.’

‘It’s a happy coincidence, that’s all,’ said Peter.