‘We will not meet again, Crimble, nor will Lord Leyburn meet with you or yours. Thank you for your “assistance” today.’

Crimble looked at the hand, and then, to everyone’s surprise, laughed, and gripped it.

‘Done over I’ve been, good an’ proper. As long as you keeps away from me, I’ll be ’appy, guv’nor.’ With which, he turned back into his own world.

Lord Henfield looked at the priest, and then at the large basket. He was already wondering how to get four persons into the post-chaise.

‘Mr Preston, this basket, which contains nutritional items and some bed linen, is our donation to the poor of your parish, with Miss Yate’s thanks.’ He nodded at Matty, who in turn looked at her mistress. Miss Yate smiled and nodded.

‘Thank you, my lord. You were not really going to use that pistol, were you?’ The gentle clergyman sighed with relief.

‘I did not want to do so, but if our lives had been threatened, I would have had no compunction, I am afraid.’

‘Then Providence has looked upon us all, including Crimble.’

‘It has.’ Lord Henfield held out his hand, with genuine thanks, and shook Mr Preston’s. He then offered his arm to Miss Yate, smiled encouragingly at her, since she looked rather overwhelmed by events, and set off back to The Angel, where he bespoke a parlour, ordered tea for the ladies, and took Leyburn to one side. Lord Leyburn did not look as grateful as he ought, in the circumstances.

‘And just what am I to tell my mama when I stand before her? She will flay me,’ he complained.

‘Be a man, Leyburn, not a snivelling schoolboy. Tell her the truth, tell her you have behaved like an idiot, and that it has taught you a lesson, because, by God, if it has not you are heading for a short and unpleasant life and will be the ruination of your family.’

‘Have you met my mother?’

‘Of course I have. She is, to put no fine a point on it, a bully. Well, playing games like this, kicking over the traces, just makes her feel the stronger, proves she is right in treating you as if in short coats. You have stepped upon the Road to Ruin, seen, if you had the courage to keep your eyes open, where it leads, and yet have come back. Use the lesson, as Crimble has learned his lesson.’

‘Look, Henfield, if you think all this is going to make me stand up for you with Mama …’

‘Stand up for me? Oh, you still think that, do you? Well, I tell you yet again, you are wrong. Not every man does things only when he sees they play to his advantage.’

‘But you came all this way? Why?’