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issued for his arrest. That's proof positive to me.'
        Susan bit back a reply. In his present mood, Sir Julius would not even listen to her properly. His mind was already made up while her own was still very confused. The tidings about Henry Redmayne had alarmed her. In her heart, she could not accept that any member of the Redmayne family could be capable of murder. Vain and feckless, he might be, but Henry was not, in her opinion, a potential killer. Yet he had been indicted and such a step would not be taken lightly. Her real concern was for Christopher. Though he was the younger brother, he always seemed older and more responsible than Henry. The latter's peccadilloes were an unceasing source of discomfort to him and he had rescued his brother from countless embarrassments. This time, Susan feared, even Christopher would be uncertain what to do. She felt an urge to go to him.
        Sir Julius Cheever seemed to read his daughter's mind.
        'Stay away from him, Susan,' he warned.
        'Who?'
        'Mr Redmayne.'
        'But he must be in great distress.'
        'That's a problem he must cope with alone. It does not affect us.'
        'It does. At a time like this, he wants friends around him.'
        'Well, he'll not number us among them.'
        'He will and he ought to,' she said hotly. 'Do you condemn one brother for the alleged sin of another? What a miserable species of friendship that is! It's callous to desert Mr Redmayne when he needs us most.'
        'We do it for our own protection.'
        'From what?'
        'The taint of evil.'
        'That's a monstrous suggestion!'
        'I'll not have you associating with any member of that family.'
        Susan was defiant. 'Would you forbid me?'
        'No,' he said, taking a deep breath to calm himself. 'I'd not go that far. I'd simply appeal to your love and loyalty. For my sake, keep away from Mr Redmayne. I know that you are fond of him, Susan, and I know that he has many virtues. Why,' he went on, looking around the room, 'he designed this very house in which we stand and I'm very grateful to him for that.'
        'He did much more than that to earn our gratitude, Father.'
        'Do not harp on about Gabriel.'
        'He was my brother,' she said with tears in her eyes. 'You shut him out of your life in the same way that you now want to exclude Mr Redmayne and his brother. Did you never stop to think that, if Gabriel had been kept within our family, he would not have met such an untimely end?'
        'No!' yelled Sir Julius, rounding on her. 'That's not true!'
        'Be honest with yourself, Father.' 'Silence!'
        He was so furious that he did not trust himself to say anything else until he had regained his composure. Crossing to a large oaken court cupboard, he opened the door to take out a bottle of brandy and a glass. He poured himself a measure and drank it down in one gulp, waiting until it had coursed through him. When he turned back to his daughter, there was sadness as well as anger in his voice.
        'Never dare to say that to me again,' he cautioned.
        'I did not mean to hurt you so.'
        'Gabriel's death lies heavy enough on my heart, as it is. I need no additional burden of anguish. Let him rest in peace, Susan. Please do not tax me on his account.'
        'No, Father.'
        He opened his arms to give her a hug of reconciliation and she kissed him on his cheek. Since he was due to leave London the following day, Susan did not want any disagreement between them. It might be months before they were reunited. On a subject as important as her friendship with Christopher Redmayne, however, she could not stay silent. Sir Julius held her by the shoulders to look at her.
        'It's so ironic,' he reflected.
        'What is?'
        'Here am I, telling you to spurn Mr Redmayne when, only a few days ago, I called at his house for the express purpose of asking him to keep