"You don't suppose," suggested Parker tentatively, "that this Mr. Freeborn referred in his letter to any old—er—entanglement which your brother wouldn't wish the Duchess to know about?"
Lord Peter paused, while absently examining a row of boots.
"That's an idea," he said. "There were occasions—mild ones, but Helen would make the most of them." He whistled thoughtfully. "Still, when it comes to the gallows—"
"Do you suppose, Wimsey, that your brother really contemplates the gallows?" asked Parker.
"I think Murbles put it to him pretty straight," said Lord Peter.
"Quite so. But does he actually realize—imaginatively—that it is possible to hang an English peer for murder on circumstantial evidence?"
Lord Peter considered this.
"Imagination isn't Gerald's strong point," he admitted. "I suppose they do hang peers? They can't be beheaded on Tower Hill or anything?"
"I'll look it up," said Parker; "but they certainly hanged Earl Ferrers in 1760."
"Did they, though?" said Lord Peter. "Ah, well, as the old pagan said of the Gospels, after all, it was a long time ago, and we'll hope it wasn't true."