Part 39 (2/2)

'I'm not even prepared to confirm that it took place,' said the goldsmith.

'Pietro Maldini has already done that for us and he has no reason to lie. Perhaps I should tell you that he is at present under lock and key at Newgate. After failing to kill me, he tricked his way into Henry's cell and attempted to strangle him.'

'Heavens!' exclaimed the other. 'Did Henry survive?'

”Thanks to the intervention of my friend, Jonathan Bale, he did. I did tell you that he was a remarkable man,' Christopher reminded him. 'Even Henry accepts that now.'

'So he should. Tell me more. How and when did this all happen?'

Christopher gave him a concise account of the events at the prison. The goldsmith was astonished that the attack had been allowed to take place and rea.s.sured to hear that Henry had come through it. He was impressed by what he heard of Jonathan.

'You were right,' he conceded. 'I did not appreciate the constable's true worth. He not only tore the mask away from Captain Harvest, he's saved a man's life. Who would have thought Pietro Maldini desperate enough to act like that? We knew that our fencing master had a brother but none of us ever saw him.'

”The captain did,' said Christopher. 'But let's return to this piece of jewellery.'

'I told you, Mr Redmayne. All my transactions are strictly private.'

'They must also be lucrative, Mr Crenlowe. Nothing in your shop would come cheaply. If Jeronimo Maldini commissioned something from you, it must have been expensive. Was he able to pay for it?' The goldsmith remained silent. 'Very well,' resumed Christopher, 'if you'll not tell me, I'll have to ask someone else.'

'Who?'

'Your client's brother - Pietro Maldini.'

Mrs Cardinal was still annoyed that she had been rebuffed by Lady Holcroft and deprived of a companion for her visit to the shops. In the event, she remained at the house in the Strand and sulked. It took Susan Cheever a long time to mollify her, showering her with apologies and promising to go out with her that same afternoon. By the time that her son returned, Mrs Cardinal had recovered some of her good humour. Jack Cardinal joined the two of them in the parlour and sat opposite Susan.

'Did you enjoy your ride with Lady Holcroft?' he asked.

'Yes,' replied Susan. 'I enjoyed it very much.'

'I've just been hearing about it,' said Mrs Cardinal, 'and it sounds rather dreary. Who could wish to be driven along crowded streets when she could have been helping me to choose some new additions to my wardrobe? But let's put that behind us, shall we?' she went on. 'Miss Cheever was hardly in a position to refuse the invitation. Now, then, Jack. What sort of a morning have you had?'

'A rather dull one, Mother,' he said. 'Lawyers are such cautious creatures.'

'Your father always called them a necessary evil.'

'I seemed to be there for hours.'

'What did you do after you left?'

'I went to the coffee house nearby,' he told her. 'I knew that I'd meet some friends there and I was in need of more lively company. It was very pleasant.'

'Whom did you meet?'

'All sorts of people, including one whom I could cheerfully have avoided.'

'Oh?' said his mother. 'Who was that!'

'Egerton Whitcombe.'

'Such an obnoxious young man!'

'His manners have not improved since I last saw him,' said Cardinal. 'He's just returned from France and is staying here for a week or so. Lady Whitcombe and her daughter have come to London to welcome him back. According to Egerton, they've done nothing but argue since they met.'

'That's unusual. Lady Whitcombe usually indulges his every whim. When Egerton is around, that poor daughter of hers is all but ignored.' She turned to Susan. 'Let.i.tia is appallingly plain and totally lacking in any feminine virtues. She'll be around her mother's neck for ever.'

'Not necessarily,' said her son.

'What do you mean, Jack?'

'The argument with Egerton concerned the new house that his mother is having built in London. The designated architect is none other than Christopher Redmayne.'

Mrs Cardinal was contemptuous. 'He should be dismissed immediately.'

'Why?' asked Susan, stung by the sharpness of her remark.

'You know why, Miss Cheever. The man's name is impossibly tainted.'

'Not if his brother is proved to be innocent.'

”That's highly unlikely,' said Cardinal. 'The talk at the coffee house was that Henry Redmayne would be convicted of murder. It's what Egerton believes as well. That's why he demanded that Lady Whitcombe engages a different architect.'

'She intends to keep Mr Redmayne?' asked his mother in amazement.

'So it seems. Egerton vows that it will never happen. Unfortunately for him, Lady Whitcombe holds the purse strings. I fancy that she'll call the tune.'

'But it's madness. Lady Whitcombe will be employing the brother of a convicted murderer. How can she possibly even consider someone with the name of Redmayne?'

'Egerton thinks he has the answer to that.'

'What is it?

'His sister seems to be inordinately fond of this fellow.'

'Does she?'

'And he was very attentive to her.'

'Was he?' asked Susan, feeling uneasy.

'He thinks that Christopher Redmayne has gone out of his way to court Let.i.tia so that he can secure this contract. That's what really provoked his ire,' said Cardinal. 'Lady Whitcombe even hinted that this architect could soon be linked to the family by the bonds of holy matrimony.'

Mrs Cardinal was astounded. Susan felt as if her cheeks were on fire.

The landlord was a short, bustling man with a bald pate. Having no objection to a second search of the room once occupied by Jeronimo Maldini, he led the constable upstairs.

'It's exactly as you found it last time, Mr Bale,' he explained. 'All the furniture belongs to me except the desk. That came from Italy with Signor Maldini. His brother is going to arrange to have it moved.'

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