‘I can’t wait to see the act they put on for Sir Archibald at the Old Bailey. He’ll see through them. And there’s one thing you got right, isn’t there?’
‘Oh, yes?’
‘Your Morrigan. At least Cassandra has red hair.’
‘Indeed she has.’ He fell silent, waiting for her next inevitable challenge.
‘Who are you going to detail to arrest them?’ she asked carefully. ‘Not an enviable duty. Have you decided what you’re going to do?’
‘It’s been decided for me. And it’s absolutely nothing, Wentworth. Abso-’
‘Absolutely bugger all, sir?’
He smiled and glanced again at the telephone. ‘I had a conversation with the Commissioner. I told you I’d had a rough morning. I apprised him of my suspicions; I told him where the investigation was leading. Ten minutes later I find I have the Home Secretary himself on the telephone. I’ve — we’ve — been well and truly gagged, Wentworth. As you remind me, no one wanted to stomach a political assassination, but since the two miscreants had been arrested and a confession extracted before their guns were cold, it was thought that at least this redounded to the credit of the forces of law and order. It was neat, Wentworth. The papers went to town in a froth of support for two English heroes — an admiral fighting, sword against bullet, on his doorstep, a brave London cabby fighting for his life in hospital — they liked it. It rallied the troops. They were pleased to hear a much-needed patriotic hurrah from the nation’s throat.’
‘And with an election imminent,’ Lily said grumpily, ‘and the men of the country rushing to the polling booth to support a strong party …’
‘And the certainty of swift retribution. A good hanging is always appreciated by the British rabble, let’s not forget that.’