Fido was amused. ‘Not if you want to be a winner,’ he said flatly. ‘All’s fair in love and racing, Inspector. What about your world? Do you regard criminals as no more than friendly rivals?’
‘I take your point, sir.’
‘There’s no virtue in being a gallant loser.’
‘Let me change the subject,’ said Colbeck, glancing around the yard where several people were busy at work. ‘Though you might wish to continue this discussion where we can have a little more privacy.’
‘Why?’
‘I have to touch on a more personal matter.’
‘Touch away,’ said Fido, spreading his arms invitingly. ‘I’ve nothing to hide.’
‘Then perhaps you’d be good enough to confirm that you stayed at the Wyvern Hotel in London recently.’
Fido bristled. ‘What sort of question is that, Inspector?’
‘A pertinent one, sir.’
‘I often stay at hotels in the city.’
‘The one that interests me is the Wyvern – just off the Strand.’
‘I can’t say that I remember staying there,’ said Fido.
‘You’re a very distinctive figure,’ Colbeck pointed out. ‘Had you visited the hotel, the staff would doubtless recognise you again. And, of course,’ he went on, ‘your name would be in the hotel register. In fact, I have it on good authority that that is so.’
‘In that case, I suppose I must have spent a night there.’
‘You and your companion, sir.’
Fido smiled. ‘I’ve always been a sociable fellow.’
‘You were not very sociable on this occasion, it seems. When a hatbox was stolen from your room, you upbraided the hotel staff and demanded restitution.’ The bookmaker’s smile froze. ‘The hatbox later turned up at Crewe with John Feeny’s head in it, so you’ll understand why we have such an interest in your hotel accommodation on that particular night.’
‘What are you after, Inspector?’
‘The name of the lady with whom you were staying, sir.’
‘It has no relevance whatsoever to your investigation.’
‘Let me be the judge of that, Mr Fido.’
‘The lady was the victim of a crime.’
‘Then it should have been reported to the police.’
‘There was no need,’ said Fido. ‘The manager had the sense to accept responsibility and offer compensation. As far as we were concerned, the matter was closed.’
Colbeck was tenacious. ‘It falls to me to reopen it,’ he said. ‘I believe that there may have been a specific reason why that particular hatbox was stolen. It’s therefore important that I know the name of the person who owned it.’
Fido lowered his voice. ‘Are you married, Inspector?’
‘No, sir, I’m a bachelor.’
‘So am I,’ confided the other. ‘We are two of a kind – single gentlemen who take their pleasures where they find them and who protect the identity of any lady involved. Such conduct will inevitably attract condemnation from those of more puritanical disposition but, I’m glad to say, it’s not an offence that’s found its way into the statute book. If it had, some of our most distinguished politicians – the late Duke of Wellington among them – would have been liable to arrest.’
‘I’m not here to discuss the duke’s indiscretions.’
‘Mine are equally outside your purview, Inspector.’
‘I require the name of that young lady.’
‘And I decline to give it to you.’
‘That’s tantamount to obstructing the police,’ warned Colbeck.
‘I prefer to see it as the act of a gentleman.’
‘Your definition of gentlemanly behaviour does not accord with mine, Mr Fido. I thought you were keen for this crime to be solved.’
‘I am,’ asserted the other. ‘I want the killer brought to justice.’
‘Then why refuse to cooperate? John Feeny lost his life in the most grisly way. My job,’ said Colbeck, ‘is to gather every conceivable scrap of evidence. Consequently, I would like to speak to the young lady with whom you stayed at the Wyvern Hotel.’
‘I can relay your questions to her, Inspector.’
‘That will not suffice.’
‘Then you are going to be disappointed.’
‘Are you ashamed of the lady for some reason?’
‘No,’ rejoined Fido, ‘and I resent your insinuation. I do not need to buy a lady’s favours, Inspector Colbeck. Strange as it may seem, I happen to believe in romance. Do you know what that means?’
‘Of course, sir,’ said Colbeck, thinking fondly of Madeleine Andrews. ‘Being a member of the Metropolitan Police Force does not make us oblivious to emotion.’
‘Then see it from my point of view. If a young lady had put the ultimate trust in you, would you break that trust by revealing her identity?’
‘Probably not.’
‘We agree on something at last.’
‘Not exactly, sir,’ said Colbeck, ‘but I spy a way out of this dilemma. Approach the lady yourself and explain the situation in which we find ourselves. Tell her that she can contact me at Scotland Yard and that I will treat everything she says in strict confidence. Who knows?’ he asked meaningfully. ‘It may well be that she is more anxious for this murder to be solved than you seem to be.’
Kitty Lavender was in her bedroom, seated in front of the dressing table and looking in the mirror as she fastened her diamond earrings in place. When she heard a knock on the door, she went through to the drawing room to see who her visitor might be. Opening the door, she was taken aback to see Marcus Johnson standing there with a warm and mischievous smile.
‘I thought we were going to keep out of each other’s way for a while,’ she said. ‘What brought you here?’
‘A hansom cab.’
‘Don’t jest, Marcus.’
‘I came on the off-chance of catching you in,’ he said, doffing his hat. ‘Your landlady recognised me and let me into the house.’
‘In that case, you’d better come in.’
Kitty stood back so that he could go past her then she closed the door behind her. She was not sure if she was pleased to see him. Her half-brother tended to vanish from her life for long periods then surface when he needed money or help or both. Kitty wondered what he was after this time.
The drawing room was large, well proportioned and filled with exquisite Regency furniture. Long, gilt-framed mirrors had been artfully used to make the room seem even bigger than it was. Fresh flowers stood in a vase. Marcus Johnson looked around.
‘I always like coming here,’ he said. ‘I just wish that I could afford a suite of rooms like this.’
‘You’re a nomad. You never stay in one place long enough.’
‘That’s true – though this house would tempt me.’
‘It was recommended to me by a close friend.’
He grinned. ‘I won’t ask his name,’ he said, putting his hat down on a table. ‘Well, I won’t stay long, Kitty. I just wanted the pleasure of seeing the look of amazement on your face.’
‘Why should I be amazed?’
‘Because I’ve not come to borrow money from you.’
‘That’s a relief,’ she said.
‘In fact, I’m here to do the exact opposite.’ Thrusting a hand into his coat pocket, he extracted a pile of banknotes. ‘I’m going to repay in full what I owe you.’
‘Marcus!’ she exclaimed.
‘You see? I knew that you’d gasp with disbelief.’
‘It’s so…unexpected.’
‘Be honest, Kitty,’ he said with a laugh. ‘I’m your half-brother. You’ve no need to mince words with me. It’s not only unexpected, it’s totally uncharacteristic. Marcus Johnson is one of Nature’s borrowers. Until today, that is.’ He waved the banknotes. ‘Go on – take them.’
‘Are you sure?’