Vincent shook his head. ‘He doesn’t know and you can rely on me not to tell him. It’s lucky that before I went to Surrey he knew Zillah and I had parted ways, otherwise he might have suspected me of knowing, but as it is she’s safe for the time being. He is paying some undesirables to track her down, though. I’m sure that comes as no surprise.’

‘How did you manage to find us, then?’

‘Zillah had spoken fondly of you to me.’

I cleared my throat, irritated that they spoke over me as though I wasn’t there.

Vincent looked in my direction. ‘Did you know about Grace?’

‘Is she well?’ I asked warily, remembering her panicked face when I’d demanded to know if there were more guards.

‘She’s gone. No one knows exactly where she went, but she left a note on the same night that you freed the freaks, saying something about going to care for her sick mother.’

I knew Grace had been a foundling. Did that mean she might have got away with Elvira and Ethel? I fervently hoped so. She was a sweet girl and had been as true a friend to me as she could while we all lived under Crillick’s roof.

‘You don’t need to worry about me, Vincent. I’ll be leaving soon enough,’ I said.

‘To go where?’

‘Sierra Leone.’ I felt it was far enough away that it wouldn’t hurt if he knew.

‘When do you leave?’ Vincent said.

‘Tomorrow morning.’

‘Tonight would be better, but that’s close enough.’

‘There’s nothing in particular you’re afraid of?’ Barky said.

‘Nothing specific, but I’ve never seen Crillick so furious,’ Vincent said. ‘All he talks of is how the affair has damaged his standing at Pascoe’s. Alexander cut him there the other night and George Fayers took him to one side and told him he might want to keep away for a few months. None of the members want to associate with him. It’s not just money that he’s lost. As much as that would anger him, I think he’d know he could make it back. But influence can’t be so easily replaced.’

‘At least he’s got you to stick by him,’ I said.

Barky glared at me in warning, but I didn’t care.

‘I understand why you would be angry with me, Zillah, but you must believe that I knew nothing of that business in the cellar, his “Odditorium”. I tried to tell you that, but you ran off.’