The Parliament House

    'We have enough to make an arrest now,' said Bale.

    'No, Jonathan.'

    'But we have written proof that Mr Howlett instructed Dan Crothers to book a room at the tavern that day. And we also know that he's the cousin of the Earl of Stoneleigh. What more do we need?'

    'Evidence that the earl wrote this other letter,' said Christopher, taking it up from the desk. 'The one that warned Crothers that Sir Julius was leaving for Cambridge. It will be much more difficult to do that. I don't think that the earl will oblige you so readily with some advice on how to make beer.'

    'Then how do we get an example of his handwriting?'

    Christopher thought about his brother. 'I may have the answer to that, Jonathan. Give me some time.'

    'Yes, Mr Redmayne.'

    The constable was so happy with what he had discovered at the brewery that Christopher did not want to deprive him of his pleasure. But it was inevitable. Bale simply had to be told about the duel and its unforeseen consequences. Knowing that his tale would be frowned upon, Christopher kept it as short as he could. Bale was astounded. He could understand why Sir Julius had reacted so violently but not why Christopher had agreed to act as a second at the duel. And he was taken aback when he heard that Sir Julius was now in the Tower.

    'Had you told me,' he said, 'I could have broken up the duel.'

    'That would not have prevented Sir Julius's arrest. It had already been set in train by the earl. That's why we must expose him as the villain he is, Jonathan. Only then can we apprehend Erasmus Howlett.'

    'You're forgetting someone else, sir.'

    'Am I?'

    'The man who was hired to cut Dan Crothers's throat. In fact, you must take especial care when you go abroad in future.'

    'Why?'

    'Mr Howlett showed too great an interest in you,' said Bale. 'He wanted to know where you lived and why you had involved yourself in the investigation. We may both be in danger now. Since we managed to find Crothers, Mr Howlett will fear that we may one day catch up with him - as, indeed, we have done. Not that I gave him any hint of that.'

    'Thank you for the warning. I take is as a good sign.'

    Bale scowled. 'I'd not describe being threatened by a proven killer as a good sign.'

    'It means that we have frightened Mr Howlett. And frightened men often act too precipitately. They make mistakes.' He pointed to the list of ingredients. 'There's an example.'

    'We both need to take greater care, sir.'

    'I certainly will,' said Christopher. 'No more duels for me.'

    He laughed light-heartedly but Bale's face was impassive. When he heard the doorbell ring, the constable got to his feet immediately.

    'If you have a visitor, I'll be off.'

    'Stay and talk. You're the only visitor I want to see at the moment.' He heard the front door opening and the sound of voices. Christopher leapt up from his seat. 'With one exception - my brother, Henry. I'm surprised that he has the audacity to show his face.'

    Moments later, Jacob appeared to say that he had shown Henry into the parlour. Taking the constable with him, Christopher charged off to challenge him. When his brother saw that Bale was there, he took a step backwards.

    'Heavens!' he exclaimed. 'Is he going to arrest me?'

    'If deceit and disloyalty were against the law,' said Christopher, bitterly, 'that's exactly what I would ask Jonathan to do.'

    'Do not judge me too hastily.'

    'You acted as a second to the Earl of Stoneleigh.'

    'He asked me to, Christopher.'

    'Did you not see that as an act of gross betrayal?'

    'Betrayal of whom?'

    'Of Sir Julius Cheever and me.'

    'You urged me to get close to Cuthbert,' Henry said. 'You told me that I had to find out certain things about him. I could hardly do that if I stayed out of his way.'

    'You did not have to support him at a duel.'

    'A duel that should never have taken place,' said Bale, darkly.

    'There's such a thing as honour, Mr Bale,' said Henry.

    'I see no honour in killing a man with a sword. Duelling is a devilish practice and it was rightly abolished. Too many good men died for no reason.'

    'That's not the point at issue here,' said Christopher, annoyed that his brother could stand so calmly before him. 'The duel was merely a way of drawing Sir Julius into the open. Once there, he could be trussed hand and foot with this ancient statute.'

    'Yes,' said Henry, 'that rather took me by surprise.'

    'Are you sure?'

    'I'd swear to it, Christopher. What do I know of legal matters? When I was asked by Cuthbert to act as his second, I thought that he meant to proceed with the duel.'

    'And kill Sir Julius.'

    'He's never killed an opponent before and I've been at his side on three occasions. Cuthbert - the Earl of Stoneleigh to you - has a softer side. He prefers to humiliate an opponent, draw blood then show magnanimity by withdrawing.'

    'He showed no magnanimity to Sir Julius.'

    'I taxed him about that.'

    'And what did he say?'

    'That if a man is stupid enough to put his head in a noose, he must not be surprised if someone pulls it tight.'

    'I wonder that you can be so blithe about it, sir,' said Bale.

    'So blithe and uncaring,' said Christopher. 'Sir Julius is incarcerated in the Tower. Think what that means to a man of his dignity. And spare a thought for his family. I had to tell them what had happened. They were distraught.'

    Henry was concerned. 'Was Brilliana upset?'

    'She was in floods of tears.'

    'I'd not have hurt her for the world. If I'd known what Cuthbert had in mind, I'd never have agreed to act as his second. But you insisted that I court him,' he told Christopher, 'and that's exactly what I did.'

    'Even though it meant enraging your brother?'

    'I hoped that you'd not recognise me.'

    'I'd recognise you anywhere, Henry. I was simply grateful that Sir Julius did not realise you were there. He'd have run you through.'

    'Then he'd not have heard what I discovered.'

    'What do you mean?'

    'The duel need never have taken place, Christopher.'

    'It should not have taken place,' said Bale, officiously. 'If it were left to me-'

    'One moment, Jonathan,' said Christopher. 'I fancy that Henry has something important to tell us. Am I right, Henry?'

    'You are,' replied his brother, 'and it will demonstrate which side I am really on. Be prepared for a revelation.'

    'Go on.'

    'The duel was arranged on false grounds.'

    'Sir Julius was goaded into it.'

    'That was deliberate, Christopher - but not strictly fair.'