'What is your opinion? Are you allowed one?'

It didn't even make him cross. 'Yes, I think I can have an opinion on that,' he replied. 'I believe that whatever it is, it was to be found in his desk. And that someone removed it shortly after his surprising and unforeseen death. But I will make no further comment.'

He didn't need to, of course.

'The other legacies? What about them?'

'I know nothing of either of them, although naturally I have corresponded with the executor, a Michael Cardano, since the death.'

'Who's he?'

'He used to work for Rothschild's, I believe. More than that I do not know.'

'And he is capable of running a company?'

'I do not know. But he doesn't have to; the duties of an executor are very different. He is the son of an old associate of Lord Ravenscliff's. The father was ruined in 1894 and died in gaol.'

'I see. Tell me about this Italian woman.'

'We have sent Mrs Vincotti a telegram. She is due to arrive in London on Wednesday. At least, I hope she is.'

'Why? Does it matter?'

'Oh, good heavens yes. Especially with such sums as are involved in this case. Naturally we have to make sure that this is the woman that Lord Ravenscliff intended. Otherwise we would not be able to make the settlement; that would introduce another complication and we would have to look for two people, rather than only one.'

'How so?'

'His affairs cannot be settled until all the beneficiaries are contacted, so we can ensure that it contains enough for each to receive their proper due. For example, suppose someone dies and leaves £100 to one person, and the same to another, but there is only £120 pounds in the estate. What do we do? Obviously, if one of those people is dead, there is enough for the other person to receive the full amount. If both are alive, then there is not. That is when matters become complicated.'

'So this child . . .'

'Must be found, if the estate is to be wound up swiftly. Lord Ravenscliff left his wife a fixed amount, and a life interest in the residue, which devolves on various others on her death. Whether the legacy to the child is paid out is consequently a matter which affects all the other bequests.'

'So what is Lady Ravenscliff's financial position at the moment?'

'She is dependent on the goodwill of the executor and his willingness to make her an allowance out of the estate, which he in effect controls.'

'Did Lord Ravenscliff realise this?'

'I'm afraid I don't understand.'

'What I mean is, why would Ravenscliff have made his will in such a way that there was a possibility his wife would be left in such a situation? Did you tell him that there was such a possibility?'

'I advised him of all the consequences, yes.'

'And he went ahead. What conclusions do you draw from that?'

'That he considered it the best way of organising his affairs.'

'No. I mean, why did he consider . . .'

'I know what you mean. But while Lord Ravenscliff communicated his wishes, he did not tell me the reasoning that lay behind them.'

'And did you ever try to guess?'

'The obvious conclusion is that he thought that there would be no loose ends.'

'And do you think this Mrs Vincotti might be the child's mother?'

'That I could not say.'

'Did Lord Ravenscliff make any regular payments to people when he was alive? Not employees, or anyone like that, of course. To individuals with no known connection to his business?'

Henderson considered. 'Not using my services. He may have made separate arrangements, of course.'

'I see. Now, the Rialto Investment Trust. What is the state of that at the moment? And of his companies.'

'As you may know, Ravenscliff controlled a large number of companies through Rialto. And his holding in Rialto has passed for the time being into the hands of the executor.'

'Michael Cardano.'

'Precisely.'

'So what happens there? I mean, if the estate is not wound up?'

'In the day-to-day, the companies are run by expert management, and need no external guidance. But I imagine that the other shareholders will get together to protect their interests. Specifically, they may decide to reassure themselves that it is healthy. Naturally, the circumstances of His Lordship's death . . .'

'Produces questions. Quite. Is there any suggestion of that?'

'I am a family solicitor, Mr Braddock. You would have to ask others. However, from my limited experience of such matters, I would find it remarkable if there was not a move on the part of shareholders to do precisely that.'

'I see. But they would find nothing untoward, would they? I mean, there is no suggestion . . .'

' "Seek and ye shall find," ' he said with the faintest glimmer of a smile. 'No indvidual I have ever dealt with has been devoid of secrets. I doubt there is any company unencumbered by them either. But I know of nothing specific, if that is your meaning.'

'One more question. All of Ravenscliff's businesses are in a sort of limbo, is that right?'

'Yes.'

'Including the Chronicle?'

'Of course. The executor will decide whether it goes to Lady Ravenscliff, or whether it needs to be sold to raise the cash necessary for the bequests. Naturally, that will not be clear until we know how many bequests are to be made.'

McEwen would not be happy to hear that, I thought.

'So, let me get this clear. Lord Ravenscliff made his will about eighteen months ago, and there was no mention of a child. That bit was added six months later. Yes?'

Henderson nodded.

'Why? He must have known this child existed. Why not put it in when he made his will originally?'

'I do not know.'

And that was that with Mr Henderson. I took the the paltry gleanings he had given me and went for lunch. I needed a beer and a steak pie before visiting Lady Ravenscliff once more.

I was apprehensive as I was conducted into a little sitting room in St James's Square. A different room, more cosy and intimate than the grand salon where we had met last time. A fire burned in the grate, making it pleasantly warm and suffused with a smell of apple wood. On the mantelpiece there were trinkets of all sorts – mirrors, pieces of framed needlework, little statues in bronze. A handsome blue porcelain bowl. The walls were lined with books. Evidently Ravenscliff was a great reader. And an accomplished one. These were not there for decorative purposes, as you see sometimes in great houses. These books were to be read. Had been read, in fact. Novels in French and English and German and Italian. Works of history and philosophy; medical journals, books of travel. The classics – in translation and the original languages. Dictionaries and reference books. I knew many of the English titles, and had heard of some of the others. Zola, Tolstoy, Darwin, Mill. Marx, I noted with curiosity. Know thine enemy. Books on sociology and psychology. Even a few on criminology. It was an impressive range. Lucky the man with the leisure and energy to read them all. Ravenscliff, of course, was not a man of leisure. Curious. It made me feel a little self-conscious about how much time I spent in pubs.

And on the far wall two paintings, the larger a portrait of Lady Ravenscliff, painted some twenty years ago, I guessed. I could see the appeal. She was one of those people painters must love; her left shoulder was facing the viewer and her head was turned so it faced out of the canvas. She wore a golden red dress, which showed off her long, elegant neck. There was no jewellery of any sort; she did not need any; her face and hair were quite enough. She had been, and still was, a lovely woman.

'Henner,' came a soft voice behind me.

I turned. Lady Ravenscliff was standing at the door with a faint smile on her face.