Part 14 (1/2)

'There may come a time when the truth can no longer be suppressed.'

'In other words, you believe in his brother's guilt.'

'I've yet to be persuaded of his innocence, Jacob. What about you?'

'I've no opinion to offer, Mr Bale.'

'But you must incline one way or the other.'

Jacob was discreet. 'I'm just grateful that I serve one brother and not the other.'

'They are hardly like two peas in a pod,' said Jonathan. 'I've never known two brothers have so little in common. My sons look, talk and think alike. It's only natural that they should do so. But your master is so different from Henry Redmayne that the two of them might be complete strangers.'

'Adversity brings out family feeling.'

'True. And I admire Mr Redmayne for standing by his brother.'

'Even though you believe that he is wasting his time?'

'I can only follow my instinct, Jacob.'

'Then I'll do the same,' said the old man, moving to the front door as he heard the sound of hoof beats in the street. 'Unless I'm very much mistaken, Mr Redmayne has come home at last.'

Jacob opened the door in time to see his master dismounting from his horse. Hearing that he had a visitor, 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 G.o.dden. 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 G.o.dden 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 G.o.dden 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 a.s.sures 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 s.h.i.+ft 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.'