He held out his hand. ‘I’ll have my wages first, if you please.’

‘Oh no! Report first, money after, that’s the arrangement.’

He tightened his lips. ‘Murder. That’s what they say she’s done.’

‘Murder?’ She had to sit down. ‘I’d never have thought her capable of murder. Who was it she murdered then?’

‘Happen you heard about the woman who was killed on that farm the other side of Lancaster.’

She shook her head. ‘Can’t say as I have.’

‘Aye, well, give it time. News like that has a way of travelling through the alehouses and on to the streets, even to our corner of the world. I followed the two of them to this farm. She got out of the wagon and took off towards the barn with her basket, no doubt looking to fill it with eggs, or chickens, or whatever else she could get her hands on.’ He took a breath before continuing, ‘There was a frightful row going on in the barn, some woman calling out for help. I managed to get close enough to see what was happening and I witnessed the farmer’s woman being murdered there and then.’

‘Good Lord above!’ She stared at him through marbled eyes. ‘You mean to say you actually saw Fanny Higgins murder this woman? And you did nothing to help the poor soul?’

‘Ah well, it weren’t as simple as that, being as how it weren’t Fanny Higgins as did the murder. It were a feller who was trying to have his way with the farmer’s wife. Only Fanny Higgins saw it all, and instead of minding her own business like any sensible body might, she went at him like a mad thing.’

‘Mad, yes, that’s her all right.’

‘The upshot of it all was that he caught hold of her and when the alarm was raised, he said as how Fanny Higgins were stealing eggs when the farmer’s wife interrupted her, and the two of them got fighting. Fanny Higgins were the one who murdered that poor woman, that’s what he claimed.’

‘What? And they believed him?’

He nodded. ‘And since then I’ve heard that both Fanny Higgins and the boy have been thrown in jail, waiting to be sentenced. There’s no doubt on it, missus, she’ll be hanged right enough, and nobody to plead her case for her.’

By now, she was on her feet and looking triumphant. ‘Aye, and it’s just as well. I’ll be rid of her once and for all.’

‘And is it worth an extra shilling, would you say?’

She went to the dresser and took out a box. Out of the box she drew a bag and out of the bag she tipped a cascade of coins. She counted out his wages, and an extra shilling into the bargain. ‘If I can rely on you not to open your mouth to anybody about what you saw, I might think a favour like that could be worth a few more shillings. What do you say?’