The Parliament House

their will. If you resent what you have to do, how can you do it properly?'

    'There are not many parish constables like you,' she said with an admiring smile. 'You love the work and do it well. And you're fit enough for the post. Constables in some parishes are almost decrepit.'

    'I know at least three who are disabled, Sarah, yet they're kept hard at it because nobody else will come forward to take their place.' Clicking his tongue, he repeated a familiar complaint. 'No wonder there's so much crime in London when there are so few able-bodied men employed to prevent it. What's the point of laws if we lack the means to enforce them? We need more constables on the streets.'

    'Could that lad possibly be one of them?'

    'It's unlikely, I agree.'

    'He's not clever enough.'

    'Tom Warburton is hardly known for his brains.'

    'Maybe not but Tom has other qualities.'

    'So does Patrick - he's strong, honest and God-fearing.'

    Sarah looked him in the eye. 'Would you like to work with him?'

    'If it was a case of talking to people, or looking for clues, or reading documents of some sort, then the lad would be hopelessly out of his depth. But if I had to patrol the riverbank on a dark night,' said Bale, meeting her gaze, 'then I'd be more than happy to have him walking beside me.'

        They had gone the best part of ten miles before they stopped at a wayside inn. While the horses were rested and watered, the travellers went inside for refreshment. Hester Polegate and her sons were too locked in their private anguish to be capable of any conversation so they dined alone in a corner. Christopher Redmayne shared a table with Sir Julius Cheever. It gave him an opportunity for time alone with the other man. Mindful of their last encounter, he kept off the subject that had so enraged his companion earlier.

    'Having your daughter arrive from Richmond must have been a very pleasant surprise for you,' he began.

    'I do not like surprises.'

    'But this one must have gladdened your heart, Sir Julius.'

    'Must it?'

    'Mrs Serle is a member of your family.'

    'Yes,' agreed Sir Julius, 'Brilliana does indeed have that claim on my affections. The trouble is that, where Mrs Serle goes, Mr Serle is always compelled to follow.'

    'Do you not enjoy your son-in-law's company?'

    'What is there to enjoy? Lancelot has neither wit nor affability.'

    'I've always found him extremely affable.'

    'That's because you've never had to endure his presence for any length of time. There's hardly any subject that I dare raise with him. If we discuss the way he manages his estates, I end up quarreling with him about his farming methods. And if he unloads his political opinions on me, I want to strangle the fellow with my bare hands.' He gave a mime by way of illustration. 'Last time I visited Richmond, he had the gall to tell me that the King was a credit to the Stuart dynasty.'

    'I admire his bravery in doing so, Sir Julius.'

    The old man glared at him. 'You share his sentiments?'

    'Not entirely,' said Christopher. 'But if I did, I'd not have the courage to voice them so boldly in front of you. That must surely make you respect your son-in-law.'

    'I'd respect him far more if he kept Brilliana from snapping at my heels whenever we meet. Children,' he continued. 'That's what she needs more than anything else - children. And where are they? There's no sign of them. After years of marriage, I've still not been presented with my first grandchild. It's unnatural, Christopher.'

    'Perhaps your daughter does not wish for a family.' 'It's every woman's wish,' asserted Sir Julius, flatly. 'The fault lies not with Brilliana but with that milksop of a husband. He's clearly unequal to the office of fatherhood.'

    'That's unkind,' said Christopher, defensively. 'Mr Serle does not deserve your scorn. Apart from anything else, he's made himself into a fine swordsman. I've had a few bouts with him and he's improved beyond all recognition.'

    Sir Julius was grudging. 'I suppose that's in his favour.'

    'He has many other good qualities and you must surely be grateful to any man who makes your elder daughter so happy.'

    'Brilliana's happiness depends on having her every whim satisfied. There's no more capricious human being in the whole kingdom. I think that she should be challenged rather than indulged but Lancelot has chosen the easier path through life.'

    'And seems content to do so.'

    'Yes, I'll admit that.'

    Talking about his family had helped to relax Sir Julius. He had not forgotten his recent confrontation with Christopher but he was ready to set it aside. It was as if a truce had been declared between them. As time passed, his manner softened even more and Christopher was tempted to explore the limits of their truce.

    'Parliament sits in a few days, I believe,' he said.

    'Yes,' said Sir Julius, sadly, 'and I'd hoped to introduce Bernard Everett to the chamber. It was not to be, I fear. But I'm sure that he'll forgive me if I rush back to London as soon as the funeral is over.'

    'Mr Everett may have gone but you have other loyal friends there.'

    'I thank the Lord for it.'

    'One of them, I gather, is Lewis Bircroft.'

    'Bircroft?' The old man's eye kindled. 'What do you know of him?'

    'Only that he was a staunch supporter of you, Sir Julius.'

    'You've been listening to that lunatic brother of yours again.'

    'Henry is no lunatic.'

    'He's a blabbering gossip.'

    'He did tell me about the accident that befell Mr Bircroft,' admitted Christopher, 'that much is true. I wonder that you did not perceive a connection between that and what happened to Mr Everett.'

    'Be warned, young man.'

    'That's the very advice that you should take, Sir Julius.'

    'Silence!'

    'It's not only Mr Bircoft's fate that needs to be remembered. Arthur Manville must also be borne in-'

    'Enough - damn you!' Sir Julius cut him short, growling in an undertone so that he did not disturb the three members of the Polegate family at the other table. 'Are you determined to test my temper?'

    'Not at all, Sir Julius.'

    'Well, you are going the right way about it.'

    'I am bound to be concerned for your safety.'

    'If you bother me again,' said Sir Julius, 'then you'll need to be concerned for your own safety. Keep away from me. I thought you were coming with us to pay to your respects to Bernard Everett but I see now that it was just a ruse to hound me.' He got up and towered over Christopher. 'Stand off, sir. Oblige me by holding your tongue in future. I've nothing more to say to you.'

    The truce was over.

       Patrick McCoy was industrious. The Saracen's Head stayed open for long hours and he worked tirelessly throughout that time, fetching and carrying, sweeping and clearing away, dealing firmly with the occasional obstreperous customer and doing all the other tasks that his mother assigned to him. Cheerful, willing and good- natured, he laboured without the slightest complaint. What he lacked in intelligence, he made up for in sheer application.

    It was during a lull that afternoon that he spoke to his mother.

    'Mr Bale thought I could be a constable one day,' he said.

    'He was only being kind to you, Patrick.'

    'It's no more than I do here, Mother.'