‘Silas Hinchcliffe!’ She laughed. ‘I bet she kissed you back an’ all.’

‘Who could resist, eh?’ Then Silas swallowed, serious again. ‘Her uncle, he’s her guardian, he saw us. He had some sort o’ coughin’ fit…’

‘A coughing fit?’

‘Yep. He’s poorly, Harriet says from the flood water. So he falls into the fireplace and knocks himself out.’ Elsie’s eyes widened. ‘An’ she asks me to fetch the doctor, who’s a neighbour of theirs. He comes straight out. There’s another man there – I’ve met him before, Boothby he’s called – an’ he won’t let me back in! Says Walter’s woke up an’ he’s sittin’ in a chair and he’s talkin’. The fella sends me packin’.’

‘I’d say that’s probably for the best. Let them sleep on it.’

‘I don’t know who this fella thinks he is…’

A furious hammering on the door startled them both. Was this Syd back again? He’d been known to circle round on himself and would then have to be set back on the path home. But that little old man couldn’t put this much force into it. Another volley of thumps echoed round the room.

‘Keep your hair on,’ muttered Elsie, bustling over to draw back the bolt.

‘Wait,’ said Silas. ‘Let me…’ He was suddenly afraid for his landlady, but she was already opening the door. She cried out in protest when two burly figures in black capes and tall hats pushed past her. Police constables.

‘Oy!’ shouted Silas. ‘There’s no need for that. What’s goin’ on?’

Elsie clutched the back of a chair. Then she pulled herself up to her full height and anger flashed in her eyes. ‘What can I do for you gentlemen at this hour? You can see we’re closed.’

One of the men stepped into the middle of the room, towards Silas, while the other remained by the door.

‘We’re looking for Silas Hinchcliffe,’ said the constable closest to him.

‘What for?’ said Elsie, at the same time as Silas said, ‘Tha’s found him then.’

The constable closest to him took Silas’s arm roughly. ‘You’re under arrest. Come with us.’

Now the second man came forward and seized his other arm, digging his fingers painfully into Silas’s bicep. He decided it would be foolish to struggle and allowed them to march him towards the door.

‘What ’ave I done?’ He spoke quietly, not really wanting an answer. He knew why they were there. He could see in Elsie Broomhead’s eyes that she knew, too.

‘What’s the lad done?’

‘Mrs Broomhead, he’s not the innocent boy he looks.’ The constable pointed to Silas’s swollen lip and the blood on his sleeve. ‘Look at the state of him. You can see he’s been up to no good.’

‘What is he charged with?’

‘Come on.’ The constable was breathing heavily in Silas’s ear. He stank of onions. ‘No messin’ now.’ Silas’s hands were cuffed behind his back and he was shoved onto the pavement. The nearby houses were silent and dark. He looked back at his landlady who stood on the doorstep, light spilling out from behind her.