‘We have an army of informers we can call on. They have ears all over London. Sooner or later, we’ll get the name we want.’

‘A large reward will help to smoke him out,’ said Hale.

‘I’ll be happy to provide the money,’ volunteered Golightly.

‘Surely that should be left to Sir Roger’s family?’

‘Speed is of the essence here, man. I’ll brook no delay.’

‘I agree,’ said Yeomans. ‘Waiting for the family to respond might take two or three days. Prompt action is needed.’

‘I want reward notices printed immediately and put up today. As for the amount on offer, I want you to give me a figure you think fit – then double it. In the hunt for this monster,’ declared Golightly, ‘no expense must be spared.’

Paul Skillen was also acutely aware of the importance of acting quickly. With the help of his sister-in-law, he’d extracted the relevant information needed. As Seth Hooper answered all the questions fired at him, Charlotte had written down the answers until a small biography of Sir Roger Mellanby emerged. Inevitably, there were gaps. While he was able to describe his hero’s political achievements in detail, the brush-maker was less forthcoming about his family life. Though he was proud to be called a friend of the murder victim, he had never once been invited into the man’s home. When she and Peter were left alone, it was something on which Charlotte commented.

‘Mr Hooper never even got as far as the servants’ entrance.’

‘Mellanby obviously kept his private and public life rigidly apart,’ said Paul. ‘I’m certain that his wife knew nothing about his predilection for the theatre. By the same token, his London acquaintances were probably kept ignorant of the respectable existence he led in Nottingham when Parliament was in recess.’

‘Why did a man like that join the fight for electoral reform?’

‘He sincerely believed in it, Charlotte. There’s no other explanation. It won him a lot of friends, but it also earned him many enemies. Most of them, I daresay, were satisfied with simply pouring scorn on his views. Others may have felt that he was becoming too dangerous and had to be silenced.’

‘Where do we look for suspects – amongst politicians?’

‘Oh, no,’ said Paul. ‘We must cast our net far wider than Westminster.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘His murder may have nothing to do with his role as a Member of Parliament. The person who ordered his death might be a jealous husband, perhaps a thwarted businessman, an unpaid creditor, a discarded friend or someone who has nursed a grudge against him that festered until it demanded expression.’

‘Where will you begin your search for him?’

Paul smiled. ‘Why do you think it has to be a man?’

‘It was a natural assumption.’

‘Well, it’s not one that I’m making. As far as I’m concerned,’ he said, ‘it could equally well be a woman.’