telling me that the head of the Metropolitan Police Force was at fault?'
Tallis's face twitched. 'What I'm telling you is that this charade has got to stop,' he snapped. 'Mulryne must be arrested immediately with his accomplices.'
'But we don't know who they are, sir.'
'They'll be getting drunk with him right now.'
'In your position,' advised Brassey, 'I'd think again. Only a bold man would try to apprehend an Irish navvy when he's celebrating with his friends. I agree that he should be punished, Superintendent, but you have to choose the right moment.'
'Arresting him would be madness,' argued Colbeck. 'Besides, you have no jurisdiction in this country. When we catch the villains, we'll have to hand them over to the French police.'
'Mulryne will be one of them.'
'But he's our only hope of salvation.'
'That unholy barbarian?'
'I'm bound to share the superintendent's unease,' said Brassey.
'It's not unease,' declared Tallis. 'It's sheer horror.'
'All that he needs is a little time,' said Colbeck. 'What harm is there in giving him that? I'd stake every penny I have that Brendan Mulryne will do what's he paid to do – and by the way, sir,' he added, looking at Tallis, 'all his expenses have come out of my own pocket. That should show you how much faith I have in the man.'
'I admire your loyalty but deplore your judgement.'
Brassey shook his head. 'I have an open mind on all this.'
'Do you want this railway to be built?' Colbeck asked him.
'Of course.'
'Then trust a man who's risking his life to make sure that it is not crushed out of existence. Victor Leeming was out of his depth here and he got a beating for his pains. They couldn't punish Mulryne in the same way,' Colbeck told them. 'He's too big and strong. If they knew that he was about to betray them, they'd kill him outright.'
Brendan Mulryne was in his element. Having arrived late, he made up for lost time by ordering two drinks at a time. He was soon involved in the vigorous banter. Alive to any opportunities to make money, he performed a few feats of strength to win bets from some of the others then bought them a brandy apiece by way of consolation. The rowdy atmosphere was like a second home to him but he was not only there to revel with his friends. Every so often, he darted a glance at one of the barmaids, a buxom young woman with dark hair and a dimple in each cheek. Whenever she caught his eye, she smiled at him.
Towards the end of the evening, Liam Kilfoyle came over to him.
'Stay behind for a while, Brendan,' he said.
Mulryne chuckled. 'Oh, I intend to, Liam, I promise you.'
'Pierce would like a word.'
'As long as it's a short one.'
'He was pleased with the way you tipped over those wagons.'
'Ah, I could have done that on my own without you two pulling on that rope as if you were in a tug-o'-war contest. I like a challenge.'
'You've got one of those coming up, Brendan.'
'When?'
'Pierce will tell you – but not in here.'
Shannon was talking to some friends in a corner, but he had kept an eye on Mulryne throughout the evening as if weighing him in the balance. He wished that he had known the newcomer much longer so that he could be absolutely certain about him but there was no time to spare. The surprise visit of his paymaster had acted as a stimulus. The final attack was at hand. He had other men to help him but none with Mulryne's extraordinary strength. Shannon knew a way to put that strength to good use.
When the bar started to clear, the giant Irishman made sure that he had a brief exchange with the barmaid. He spoke no French and she knew very little English but they understood each other well. Mulryne gave her a wink to seal their bargain. Her dimples were deeper and more expressive than ever. He was by no means the only man to take an interest in her but none of the others could compete. She had made her choice. At length, only the stragglers remained and the landlord began to close up the bar. Mulryne was among the last to leave and he walked away very slowly.
When Shannon and Kilfoyle fell in beside him, he put a friendly arm around each of them and gave a playful squeeze.
'Steady on, Brendan,' said Kilfoyle. 'You'll break my shoulder.'
'I was as gentle as a lamb,' claimed Mulryne.
'You don't know how to be gentle.'
'Oh, yes, I do.'
'Keep yourself more sober tomorrow,' ordered Shannon.
'I am sober.'
'I saw how much you drank tonight, Brendan.'
'Then you should have noticed something else,' said Mulryne. 'The more I had, the less drunk I became. It's weak men who fall into a stupor. I've learned to hold my drink.'
'You'll need a clear head.'
'My head is clear, Pierce.'
'I'm giving you an order,' said the other. 'If you don't want to obey it, we'll find someone else.'
'No, no,' said Mulryne, quickly. 'I'm your man. If there's money to be made – real money this time – I won't touch more than a drop tomorrow. I swear it. Is that when it's going to be?'
'Yes.'
'At what time?'
'As soon as it gets dark,' said Shannon.
'I'll be ready.'
'So will I,' said Kilfoyle. 'I've been waiting to escape from this shit hole for weeks. Now, I'll finally get my chance.'
'We all will, Liam,' said Shannon.
'This time tomorrow, I'll be rich.'
'Only if you do as you're told.'
'Thank the Lord that it is tomorrow,' said Mulryne, coming to a sharp halt. The others stopped beside. 'Had it been tonight, I'm afraid, I'd not have been able to oblige you.'
'Why not?' asked Shannon.
'You're with us now,' added Kilfoyle.
'Not tonight.'
'Why have we stopped?'
'Because I have other plans. I thought I might take a stroll in the moonlight. It looks like a perfect night for it.' He beamed at them. 'Good night, lads.'
Brendan Mulryne turned around and began to walk back towards the inn. As he did so, the barmaid came out of the front door and ran on the tip of her toes until his huge arms enveloped her. After a first kiss, the two of them then faded quietly into the shadows. Mulryne was determined to make the most of his visit to France.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Robert Colbeck never enjoyed having to spend a night under the same roof as Edward Tallis; he did not find it an uplifting experience. He slept fitfully, tormented by the thought that the whole investigation could be endangered by the precipitate action of his superior. The arrival of the superintendent could not have come at a
