‘Who’s there?’

‘Is that you, Sarah? It’s me, Ben Godfrey.’

The door opened wide and a tall, well-built woman flung her arms around Ben. She gave him a hug that almost swept him off his feet.

‘Where have you been all these months, you devil?’ Sarah’s voice was deep and gravelly, but her smile was genuine. She released Ben to give Judy a curious glance. ‘Who have you brought to see us in Juniper Row?’

‘This is Judy Begg, a good friend of mine. May we come in, Sarah? It’s a bit chilly out here.’

Sarah backed into the gloomy interior. ‘Of course. Where are my manners? But we seldom get visitors, other than those who are desperate for help. Come in, please.’

The inside of the old warehouse was only slightly less welcoming than the exterior. Judy found herself in a small, dark lobby, which led into a narrow corridor that ended in a barn-like room filled with a collection of beds and straw-filled palliasses laid end to end on the brick floor. She recognised the smell of carbolic, mingling with the odour of sickness and chamber pots filled to overflowing. A young boy was seemingly delegated to emptying these, but he moved so slowly, taking one at a time to a communal privy somewhere outside. Judy could see that it was a losing battle, and she tried not to wrinkle her nose at the stench.

It was cold and the wind whistled through gaps in the brickwork above their heads. Shapeless mounds lying on the beds huddled beneath coarse woollen blankets. The only sign that these shapes were human was the occasional grunt, snort or moan.

‘You get used to it,’ Sarah said as if she could read Judy’s thoughts. ‘These people can’t afford to pay a doctor, and it’s doubtful whether the charity hospitals would take most of them in. This is the best they can expect.’

‘You’re doing a splendid job,’ Ben said earnestly.

‘I wish I could help more people.’ Sarah’s grey eyes darkened and her generous lips pulled down at the corners. ‘There is so much suffering out there. I can only help a few.’

‘Would you like me to look at any of your patients?’ Ben asked tentatively. ‘Free of charge, of course.’

‘You know the answer to that.’ A chuckle escaped Sarah’s lips and she slapped Ben on the back. ‘Thank you, Doctor. But first, tell me what prompted this visit? You haven’t come to this part of Limehouse for the good of your health.’

‘Ah, there you have me. I’ve made a mess of things, Sarah. I thought I was cleverer than I am, and I’ve landed myself in financial difficulties. I gave up my position at the London so that I could organise the building of a new hospital on the Essex coast, but I was outbid for the land, and now I can’t repay the investors the full amount. I need somewhere cheap to live while I try to sort myself out.’