The Repentant Rake

    'This is him!' yelled Henshaw.

    'Hold there, sir!' cried Jonathan. 'I want a word with you.'

    'He brought more pages of the diary.'

    The rider kicked his horse forward but Jonathan managed to grab the reins. The animal neighed loudly as it described a rapid circle. Jonathan held on firmly. He looked up at the man and saw the ugly swelling around his nose. Identification was confirmed.

    'You are under arrest, sir,' he declared.

    'Stand off!' warned the man.

    Taking a pistol from his belt, he pointed it at Jonathan, shifting it to cover Warburton as well when the other constable lumbered towards him. Jonathan was uncertain what to do. The man could not shoot both of them. Still holding the reins, he took a step closer, but it brought him within range. The man slipped a foot from his stirrup and kicked out to send Jonathan sprawling. The bridle was now free and escape possible. Pistol in hand, the man urged his horse on with a sharp dig of his heels and it lunged forward. The ride was short-lived. Before it reached the end of the lane, the horse was confronted by a small terrier. Yapping noisily, Sam showed no fear of the flashing hooves. It was the horse that took fright. Sliding to a halt, it reared up so abruptly^ on its hind legs that its rider was thrown from the saddle, knocking his head on the ground with an audible thud. Warburton did his best to control the horse while Jonathan got up to run across to the fallen man. The rider was unconscious, blood trickling from a gash in his skull to disfigure his face even more.

    Having done his work, the dog went off to lift his leg against the wall of a house.

    'There,' said Warburton proudly. 'I thought you might need us, Jonathan.'

    Christopher Redmayne rode down Knightrider Street at a canter until he reached the house. Before he could even dismount, he was given a welcome. Flinging open the front door, Sir Julius came bursting out to him. His daughter was close behind.

    'Where have you been, Mr Redmayne?' said Sir Julius. 'Is there any news?'

    'A great deal,' replied Christopher, 'but I did not think to find you back in London, Sir Julius.'

    'Father arrived this afternoon,' explained Susan, delighted to see Christopher again and annoyed that her father was monopolising him. 'Let Mr Redmayne come in, Father. We can hardly talk out here in the street.'

    'Why not?' said Sir Julius. 'I've waited long enough. I've been watching through that window for you this past hour or so, Mr Redmayne.' He peered up at him. 'Look at those scratches. You have been in the wars, I see. Susan told us how well you fought. You merit our congratulations.'

    'It is Mr Bale who has earned the congratulations.'

    'How?'

    'The news from him is good' said Christopher, dismounting to tether his horse. 'But there is so much of it to tell that it might be better if we were all sitting down.'

    Susan led the way into the house and once she had recovered from the shock of seeing his lacerations, Lucy added her own welcome. Christopher had hoped to speak to Susan alone first in order to savour the joy of her response, but he had to settle for a general announcement. His face lit up with a smile.

    'We have caught him,' he said.

    Sir Julius let out a yell of triumph, Susan felt a surge of relief and Lucy was so overcome that she burst into tears. Christopher waited until she had recovered enough to let him go on. Sir Julius was impatient.

    'Who is the rogue?' he asked.

    'He will not give his name, Sir Julius.'

    'But you have him in custody?'

    'Mr Bale is with him now,' said Christopher, 'though he denies any claim to heroism during the actual arrest. He gives the credit to Sam.'

    'Sam?' repeated Susan.

    'A dog belonging to Mr Warburton, another constable. I suppose it was only fitting that Sam should help to catch the killer,' he decided. 'It was he who found Gabriel's body on Paul's Wharf that night.'

    'Tell us about the arrest,' urged Sir Julius.

    'I can only give you Mr Bale's account. I have just left him.'

    Christopher did not mention that he had first visited his brother, interviewed Henry's former mistress, repaired to Bedford Street again to confirm what Lady Ulvercombe had told him about her chambermaid then called in at his own house. Jacob had passed on the urgent message left there by Jonathan Bale. Christopher had ridden hard to the gaol to see the captive for himself. Without even referring to the diary, he gave his listeners an account of how a trap had been set outside a printer's shop in Fleet Lane. Two constables and a dog had caught the man who murdered Gabriel Cheever. The prisoner was also responsible for the attack on Christopher and was unrepentant about it when his victim confronted him.

    'He admits the attack, then?' said Sir Julius.

    'He almost gloried in it.'

    'Wait until I get my hands on the villain!'

    'Let the law take its course, Sir Julius.'

    'I'll tear him limb from limb.'

    'I think it best if you keep away from him until the trial,' said Christopher. 'Mr Bale is with him now, trying to get more information out of him. But he'll yield up neither his name, his address nor the identities of his accomplices.'

    'How many of them were there?' asked Susan.

    'Two at least.'

    'Oh,' she said with disappointment. 'So it is not all over yet?'

    'Not yet, Miss Cheever, but our main task has been accomplished. The killer is behind bars. He was the most dangerous of them. It is only a matter of time before we track down the others,' he said confidently. 'We are all but there.'

    'You and Mr Bale have done wonders.'

    'Yes,' agreed Sir Julius. 'I'd like to meet this brave constable of yours.'

    'You may already have done so, Sir Julius.'

    'Oh?'

    'Mr Bale would never tell me this himself,' said Christopher, 'but his wife has confided in me that her husband bore arms at the Battle of Worcester.'

    Sir Julius was cautious. 'On which side?'

    'The winning side.'

    'Then I insist on meeting the fellow!'

    'He was very young at the time, Sir Julius, but he's a born fighter. I've learned that on more than one occasion. You might wish to meet Mr Warburton as well. He assisted in the arrest.'

    'I would like to meet the dog,' said Lucy quietly.

    'You will meet them all in time,' said Christopher.

    'What about the accomplices?' asked Lucy. 'Do you have any idea who they are?'

    'I believe that I know the name of one of them.'

    'Tell me who he is,' demanded Sir Julius, 'and I'll help in the arrest myself.'

    'More evidence is needed before we can move to that stage, Sir Julius. As it happens I will need some help in obtaining it.'

    'Count on me, Mr Redmayne.'

    'Actually, I was hoping that your daughter might be able to assist.'

    'Me?' said Susan in astonishment.

    'Yes, Miss Cheever.'

    'What can Susan do?' said Sir Julius with mild scorn. 'Make use of my experience here. I am skilled in the art of interrogation. Tell me who the man is and I promise to get the truth out of him in no time at all.'

    'I still think that your daughter would be more suitable.'