Henshaw, the printer?' Lunn looked bewildered. 'What is he? A servant? A friend? Or merely a hired assassin?'
'Will somebody tell me what this is all about? I'm baffled.'
'Let me jog your memory. An unknown person has been sending blackmail demands to a number of people,' he said, glancing at the correspondence on the table. 'My brother Henry was the first to receive one, Sir Marcus Kemp came next and the latest victim, as far as we know, is Mr Peter Wickens. There is a clear pattern. Large amounts of money are demanded. The blackmailer has to come from within my brother's circle or he would not be in possession of the sensitive information that he has acquired. Mr Bale and I have been searching for the man.'
Lunn was incredulous. 'Are you accusing me?'
'We merely wish to ask you some questions.'
'Am I supposed to have written these letters?'
'Let us just say that our enquiries have led us to your door, Mr Lunn.'
'Then they can lead you straight back out again,' snapped Lunn. 'Sir Marcus Kemp, Peter Wickens and your brother are all close friends of mine. Why should I want to blackmail them?'
'You have expensive tastes.'
'I can afford them, sir.'
'Even when you lose heavily at cards?' said Christopher. 'That was why you resented Gabriel Cheever. He took a small fortune from your purse and then he discarded your friendship like an empty bottle.' Lunn shuddered at the reminder. 'I suggest to you that you got your revenge on Gabriel and stole his diary so that you could recoup some of the money that you had lost. Is that what happened?' Lunn's head sank to his chest and he sat down again. 'How many blackmail demands have you sent?'
'None.'
'None at all? Then who has been sending them?'
'You tell me, Mr Redmayne,' said Lunn, looking up at him. 'I want to know.'
'We think that you are involved somehow.'
'Oh, it's true. I am involved.'
'To what extent?' said Jonathan.
'I am the latest victim,' he explained picking up one of the letters from the table. 'If you came in search of proof, here it is. A blackmail demand for five hundred guineas. Even I would not be stupid enough to send a letter to myself.'
Christopher suddenly felt very uneasy. He did not dare to look at Jonathan.
'I think that we owe you an apology, Mr Lunn,' he said at length.
Lunn waved the apology away. 'You were only doing what you felt was right,' he said wearily. 'And it's a relief to know that somebody is trying to catch this devil. When I got his letter this morning, I all but collapsed with the shock.'
'Was anything sent with the letter?'
'Not this time.'
'This time?'
'I figure largely in Gabriel's diary, it seems,' confessed Lunn. 'If I do not pay five hundred guineas, an account of my exploits will be printed and distributed throughout London. It's too hideous to contemplate. No man knew my weaknesses better than Gabriel. He was in a position to crucify me.'
'You must accept some of the blame, sir,' Jonathan pointed out.
'Why?'
'You could not be blackmailed over vices you did not have.'
'Save me from the fellow's morality, Mr Redmayne,' said Lunn angrily.
'I was only offering an opinion, sir.'
'This may not be the most appropriate time, Mr Bale,' said Christopher tactfully. 'Mr Lunn,' he continued 'the other victims were kind enough to let me peruse their letters so that I could compare the handwriting. Would you please extend the same privilege to me?'
'To you, Mr Redmayne,' said Lunn, eyeing Jonathan, 'but not to Mr Bale.'
'Thank you.'
Christopher took the proffered letter and read it quickly. It was couched in the same terse language as the other missives and written by the person who sent the original letter to his brother. He gave it back to Lunn.
'I can see why you did not wish to receive visitors today.'
'While this is hanging over me, I'll not show my face in the streets.'
'Do not be cowed by it.'
'Now I understand why Henry was so loath to venture out with me,' said Lunn, 'and why Sir Marcus refused even to let me in. And Peter Wickens is a victim, too?'
'We called on him last night.'
'Is he going to pay up?'
'I advised strongly against it, Mr Lunn.'
'Why?'
'Sir Marcus handed over a thousand guineas,' said Christopher, 'and thought he was free of danger. But a second demand for that amount has now come.'
'Death and damnation!' cried Lunn. 'The villain has us by the throat.'
'I fancy that we have loosened his grip slightly.'
'Is there any hope of catching him?'
'Every hope,' said Christopher, 'especially if you lend your assistance.'
'What can I do?'
'Tell us more about your friendship with Gabriel Cheever. Why did he turn his back on everybody? Why did he renounce the life that he was living? You must have some idea, Mr Lunn,' he suggested. 'What prompted this repentance of his?'
Arriving back in Knightrider Street, Susan Cheever was surprised to learn that Lucy had been out for a walk. Wherever she had been, it had given her a lift. Lucy's cheeks had some colour back in them and she seemed more at peace with herself. It was the first time her eyes were not red-rimmed from crying. When they sat down to dine together, Susan was able to have a proper conversation with her.
'Where did you go, Lucy?' she asked.
'For a walk.'
'In which direction?'
'Oh, up towards the ruins of St Paul's. I took no notice of where we were going,' said Lucy. 'I simply went where Anna led me and enjoyed it.'
'The fresh air was obviously good for you.'
'I needed to get out of the house.' She chewed some food and swallowed it before speaking again. 'But what about you, Susan?' she said. 'You told me there was nothing wrong with Mr Redmayne but, in that case, why did he send his servant for you like that?'
'Jacob came of his own volition.'
'Why?'
'He felt that Mr Redmayne might want to talk to me.'
Lucy smiled. 'I might have told you that.'
'Jacob was sent to summon Mr Bale and being so close to Knightrider Street, came on here to ask for me.'
'Was Mr Redmayne pleased to see you?'
'I think so.'
'And were you glad to see him?'
'Very glad' confessed Susan. 'But I did not come to London to visit anyone else, Lucy. I'm here at your invitation and you must call on me whenever you wish. It was pleasant to go to Fetter Lane again but I am back now and at your command.'
'I have no commands, Susan.'
