The Frost Fair

Christopher handed the reins to his servant and went straight into the house. After an exchange of greetings, he sat opposite Jonathan.

    'I'm sorry to keep you waiting,' he said with a gesture of apology, 'but it's been a busy day. As soon as I got back from Richmond, I had to call on Martin Crenlowe and, after that, I spent an hour or so with the lawyer I've engaged to represent my brother.'

    'Did you learn anything of value from Mr Crenlowe?'

    'A great deal, Jonathan. He was much more helpful than Sir Humphrey Godden. It was good to meet someone who's wholeheartedly on my brother's side.' He saw his friend wince slightly. 'Crenlowe even took the trouble to visit Henry in Newgate. I'll go there myself this afternoon.' Christopher leaned forward. 'But what of you?' 'I've not been idle, Mr Redmayne.'

    'You wouldn't know how to be. Did you speak to Captain Harvest?'

    'Yes,' said Jonathan, 'and I also tracked down the watchman who helped your brother to his feet that night. I was glad that I did so. Many new facts came to light.'

    Christopher was hopeful. 'Did they help to change your mind?'

    'I fear not.'

    'Then they confirmed your opinion that Henry is guilty?'

    'In some ways.'

    'Oh. I see.' He was crestfallen. 'Well,' he said, rallying quickly, 'perhaps the evidence that I gathered will persuade you.'

    'I long to hear it, Mr Redmayne.'

    Christopher sat back in his chair and gave him a succinct account of his respective visits to Sir Humphrey Godden and Martin Crenlowe. He did not pretend to like either man though he had found the latter far more pleasant. Jonathan listened intently and waited until his friend had finished before he offered any comment.

    'Sir Humphrey Godden was adamant that your brother is innocent?'

    'Yes, Jonathan.'

    'It did not appear so from your description of what was said.'

    'He was in something of a hurry when I questioned him.'

    'That should not prevent him from coming to the defence of a friend.'

    'Martin Crenlowe assures me that he and Sir Humphrey are of the same mind.'

    'But that's not quite the same thing as hearing it from the man himself,' said Jonathan. 'According to you, Sir Humphrey accepts that your brother had reason enough to kill Signor Maldini and even thinks him capable of murder. It's only the nature of the fatal wound that makes him believe the crime was the work of someone else.'

    'Sir Humphrey was with Henry that night. He knew my brother's frame of mind.'

    'Drink can have strange effects on a man.'

    'It left my brother tottering down the street.'

    'That's not the picture that I was given, Mr Redmayne.'

    'Oh?' 'When the watchmen found him on the ground, your brother was nowhere near the place that he claimed to be. He was able to walk better than you imagine.'

    'Are you certain?'

    'I can only tell you what Balthazar Pegge told me.'

    It was Jonathan's turn to present his findings. He talked about his conversation with Captain Harvest, the subsequent disappearance of the soldier from his lodging and the time spent in the company of the two old watchmen. His recital was more laboured and methodical than Christopher's but the salient facts were all there. They caused a shift of perspective in his friend's thinking.

    'Henry lied to me,' he complained. 'He swore that he was set upon by Signor Maldini, somewhere in Fenchurch Street. How did he get so close to the river?'

    'How did he lose his dagger?'

    'What do you mean?'

    'Could it be that he lied to you about that as well?'

    'No,' said Christopher, groping for an explanation. 'He was probably too drunk to remember the details with any clarity. The main part of his story is true. Let's give him credit for that. Henry was found by a watchman and sent home in a carriage. His servants confirm it.'

    'It's what happened earlier that matters, Mr Redmayne.'

    'I agree.'

    'Did you brother mention that he mistook the watchman for Jeronimo Maldini?'

    'No,' admitted Christopher.

    'Or that he wrestled with Mr Pegge and threatened to kill him? That, too, seems to have slipped his mind. Unless, as you say, drink blinded him so completely that he did not know what he was doing. It clearly left him with enough strength to attack an old man, I know that. If he can brawl with one person and forget all about it, could he not have done the same with Signor Maldini himself?'

    'I suppose so.'

    'Mr Pegge told me that your brother had obviously been in a fight of some sort. His hat was off, his wig askew, his clothes dishevelled. He seemed tired rather than dazed. As soon as he was lifted to his feet, he became violent.'

    'That does not sound like Henry.' 'How well do you know your brother?'

    'Not as well as I thought, it seems,' conceded Christopher. 'But it's this Captain Harvest who interests me. Did he flee from his lodging in order to avoid paying his rent or has he quit the city before the trial is held?'

    'Why should he vanish from London?'

    'Because he's afraid to be cross-examined in court by a barrister.'

    'He's already given sworn evidence that he heard your brother threaten the life of Signor Maldini. He was not too frightened to do that. I've met Captain Harvest. He's the sort of man who's not afraid of anything.'

    'Except paying his landlord.'

    Jonathan smiled. 'I fancy that he makes a habit of changing his lodgings.'

    Christopher was lost in thought for a moment. 'I still feel that he's more involved in this whole business than we realize,' he said at length. 'Everything you've told me agrees with Mr Crenlowe's view of the man and he knew him better than any of us. Could it really be the case that Captain Harvest arranged the encounter between Henry and the fencing master?'

    'To what end?'

    'Provoking them into a duel.'

    'But your brother would stand no chance against Signor Maldini.'

    'Unless the Italian were also drunk or disabled in some other way. Or perhaps,' Christopher went on, offering another possibility, 'this mischievous soldier brought the two enemies to the verge of a duel then took a hand in the proceedings himself.'

    Jonathan was startled. 'Captain Harvest may have been the killer?'

    'It would not be the first time he had blood on his hands.'

    'But he stood to lose most from Signor Maldini's death,' argued Jonathan. 'The two men were friends. Captain Harvest worked at the fencing school. He earned his keep there. Why murder a man who employed him and who often loaned him money?'

    'There has to be a reason, Jonathan.'

    'I fail to see it.'

    'Perhaps he wanted to take over the fencing school himself. Perhaps he had a disagreement with Signor Maldini. Perhaps he owed the man far more than he could ever repay. All kinds of motives may have impelled him,' said Christopher. 'What we do know is that he has no affection for my brother.'

    'He spoke very slightingly of him, Mr Redmayne.'

    'And is now openly proclaiming Henry's guilt. What better way to throw suspicion off himself than by accusing another man? That must be the answer.'

    'I have my doubts.'

    'Don't you see?' asked Christopher, excited by the idea. 'He instigated a duel between Signor Maldini and