Raven knew there were very few people in prison who would claim other than that they were wrongly accused, but he had heard enough tales in the Old Town to make him extremely wary of McLevy’s methods and the power he wielded. And whether the property he did recover ever ended up back in the possession of those from whom it had been stolen was a matter of further conjecture.

The detective was standing in the reception hall, wrapped in his familiar black frock-coat and top hat, flanked by one of his men and speaking with Dr Simpson. Raven caught a whiff of alcohol coming from both the policemen before he had reached the foot of the stairs. The staleness of it suggested they had only stopped drinking a few hours ago, most likely having been in a tavern after concluding a late night’s work.

‘Ah, here he comes now, though not looking his most sprightly,’ Simpson said. ‘You remember Will, don’t you?’ he asked McLevy.

Raven was rather hoping McLevy didn’t.

‘Indeed. I recall you took a keen interest in that unfortunate business down in Leith. I am hoping you might be able to assist me.’

This came as something of a relief, as a less rational impulse had Raven fearing the man might be here on behalf of his counterparts in Berlin.

‘I have been telling Mr McLevy about your position at the Maternity Hospital,’ Simpson said. ‘He has a question for you.’

Raven observed that the professor was full of outward bonhomie, but he had been around the man long enough to know when it was merely a show. Simpson had always been friendly and cooperative with McLevy, advising Raven that it was useful to have such a man owing one favours. Raven saw the wisdom of it, but that was easier for someone like Simpson to say, as he could expect the ledger to be accurately kept, and a debt of favours honoured.

‘I gather you were working there yesterday,’ McLevy said. ‘Did you have to deal with any unusual patients?’

‘Well, there was one woman with obstructed labour, which gave me no end of difficulties, but I can’t see how that might be a matter for the police.’

‘I was thinking more unusual in terms of being the wrong sex. We are enquiring at all hospitals and among doctors in the city as to whether they were asked to treat a patient yesterday who was shot.’

Raven hoped his involuntary look of discomfort was interpreted as mere shock at hearing about such an incident.

‘Shot? That certainly would have been unusual. To my knowledge no one has ever presented at the Maternity Hospital with a gunshot wound. What happened?’