‘It is difficult to follow the correct path when it is befogged by the stirring up of enmity between men.’

Webster nodded slowly. ‘You are correct. I admit I may have been less than impartial at the inquest and spoke more strongly than certain people might have liked.’

Gunson couldn’t hide his exasperation this time. ‘You went too far. The courtroom is not the place for the realm of imagination.’

Webster spread his hands and chuckled. ‘John, John. I am agreeing with you. I can see that work must resume as soon as possible on this reservoir and on a replacement for Dale Dyke. But your company has such stringent power over the inhabitants of this town. Legal warfare is sometimes the only recourse. But I would not wish to hinder the supply of water in anyway, and can lend my voice in support of that. I will promise to keep an open mind when the resolution to purchase is put to the vote in council.’ Webster found a patch of scrub and shuffled his feet through the green stems. ‘My goodness, mud sticks, doesn’t it?’

He waited for Gunson to follow.

‘Do you know,’ he said, ‘Her Royal Highness sent a personal cheque for two hundred pounds to help those destituted by the flood?’

‘She can afford it,’ said Gunson, gruffly.

‘Ah, but what about the working man who needs every penny he earns? All of Sheffield’s workers gave a day’s wage.’

‘That is commendable.’

‘They did their bit. Perhaps you can do yours, John.’ He inspected the soles of his shoes. ‘That’s better. Still need a good polish though. I have a small favour to ask of you.’

‘What is it?’ Gunson regarded the man beside him warily.

‘Oh, nothing onerous, John. An impetuous youth, in need of employment and some help in being steered back onto a righteous path. I wonder will you take him on, guide him? It would save him from jail, or worse.’

‘My goodness, what has he done?’

‘He entered the home of a gentleman and attacked him, allegedly. The man sustained grievous injuries and might have died.’

‘You think this boy is innocent, though.’

‘Yes, I do. A most persuasive case was made by a young lady of the town whom the lad is most fortunate to count as a friend. Take him on as your protégé and show me that your company has a heart.’

‘I believe you are enlisting me in one of your causes.’

‘Yes,’ Webster chuckled. ‘I believe I am.’

Chapter 35

Silas heard the bolt drawn in the cellar door above him and scrambled up, stiff and clumsy. He’d spent the night on a wooden pallet with a horse blanket for a cover, finally making a nest of the scratchy material and huddling in a sitting position against the damp wall.

But his lack of sleep had just as much to do with his companion as the cold. A filthy creature had been curled up in the corner of the cellar, stinking of alcohol and piss and snoring heartily. At one point during the long night, this cellmate had got up from the floor and climbed on the pallet. Silas felt hot breath in his ear and slim fingers ferreting under the blanket, searching for his crotch. He’d cried out and felt the terror of knowing that nobody would come. His wrist had been seized and his hand placed on a heavy, bare breast before he could snatch it away. Silas gave the woman a hard shove and she retreated to her corner, muttering under her breath.