‘I would never breach a confidence under normal circumstances,’ says Sarah. ‘But he destroyed her painting, ripped it up and burnt it in the yard. I saw it beforehand and beautiful, it was. I think it broke her heart he could do such a thing.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ says Mary. ‘What was the painting of?’

‘It was of him, her husband, but as an angel.’ Mary’s heart skips as Sarah continues. ‘Last thing I’d have thought you could paint a man such as that as, but there we are.’

Mary thanks Sarah one final time before dashing across the road to where Richard waits.

‘Jos is finding Charlie and will meet us here in an hour,’ he says, eyes alight with excitement. ‘And that is not all. Happenstance would have me bump into a colleague from the Express as I came here. Meake is to announce his “findings” at Exeter Hall on the Strand on Tuesday evening.’

‘But that is the day after tomorrow!’ Mary says, and Richard nods.

‘And the Sunday Examiner reports today that he plans to show a live specimen of “a rare and miraculous creature”.’

‘Richard! That must surely mean Miss Lockhart is still alive!’

He smiles, scratches his chin. ‘We still don’t quite know if any of this is true.’

‘But the jigsaw puzzle is slotting into place, is it not? And whatever plans Mr Meake has to present his “findings”, we must make sure they are thwarted.’

‘How did you get on?’ he says, looking back at the house. ‘Did Mrs Meake refuse to see you?’

‘No,’ says Mary thoughtfully. ‘She has left him! Come, I will tell you all on the way for I have found out where she is staying and we must make haste.’

Edward is in his dissecting room, ordering his notes and sketches. He is preparing for publication after his forth-coming lecture and is in a frenzied mood, collating, noting and stacking information and evidence.

He works at a speed that is both furious and intense and it takes almost all of his concentration to do so. He remains angry with Annie but he is disappointed too, his trust in her damaged. He still wishes for her to return, though, still wants his wife by his side throughout, but no matter, she will return, he thinks. And she will do so with her tail between her legs as soon as his lecture is done, as soon as his success and reputation is secured for all eternity.

He has already sent a note to one of the finer restaurants in the City, arranging for dinner to be delivered and served on the Tuesday, regardless of his wife’s presence. It will be a tight fit with all thirteen of the Society around the dining table, he thinks to himself, so perhaps it is best she is not there to take up a space.