‘Yes. We ought to find out what really happened, don’t you think? Dr Simpson seems content to write a few letters and hope the whole thing dies down. But I am not prepared to stand by and let his good name be sullied.’

Raven was surprised that Sarah should seek to involve him and was about to ask why her husband couldn’t perform this role when Archie stood and excused himself.

‘I’m afraid I’m going to have to withdraw. Please do accept my apologies but I am suddenly terribly tired.’

He reached out his hand and Raven shook it.

‘I’m really very pleased to have finally met you,’ Archie said. ‘From what I have been told, if anyone could get to the bottom of this queer business, it would be you.’

Sarah also got up from the table and went to the sideboard. She took a glass bottle from it and followed Archie out of the room.

Raven thought this rather strange. He would have taken the opportunity to leave himself, but his curiosity was piqued by Archie’s sudden withdrawal. Despite Archie’s politeness, Raven wondered if he had unwittingly caused offence in some way. He had a tendency to do that, though it usually ended in a threat of violence rather than the injured party taking to his bed.

Sarah returned after a short time and put the bottle back into the cupboard.

‘What is that?’ Raven asked.

‘Chloroform. It helps him sleep.’

Raven’s opinion of this must have shown on his face.

‘Dr Simpson suggested it,’ she said, as though the mention of the great man’s name would dispel all doubt as to the propriety of using an anaesthetic as a cure for insomnia. ‘Mrs Simpson uses it on occasion too,’ she added, sensing further justification was required.

‘The professor seems to prescribe it for everything, showing little concern for the dangers associated with such indiscriminate use.’

‘That is not true.’

‘What about the patients who have died as a result of inhaling it?’

‘Sometimes the chloroform is not pure. It is not always correctly manufactured. And there are frequently errors in how it is administered.’

‘You sound just like him.’

‘If you are referring to Dr Simpson, I have no issue with that.’

Raven sighed. He couldn’t help but think about the incident with the carpet.

‘Don’t you ever fear he can be a little rash? A little impetuous?’ he asked, moderating his tone. He did not want to get into an argument. This was her household, after all.

‘I would say fearless. Robust in his opinions.’

‘I suspect his enthusiasm for chloroform may on occasion cloud his judgment.’

If he hadn’t given offence before, the look on her face left him in no doubt that he had given it now.