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this bold.’
    ‘It never crossed my own mind until yesterday,’ admitted Jack, although he wasn’t referring to a boy. In reality he only knew two kinds of women: ladies like his mother and cousin and members of their acquaintance, and the kind of female who hung around in gaming dens or Vauxhall Gardens, hoping to charm an unsuspecting young man with money to waste.
    All he knew of labouring people was what he had learnt from his father as they discussed business matters for the estate. Judging by either her speech or her diction the highwaywoman probably came from the latter.
    ‘No, and why should it?’ said the magistrate dryly. ‘Nevertheless we have a very resourceful mischief-maker on our hands leading us a merry dance. If word gets out and we don’t catch him soon, I’ll be a laughing stock. However’—he looked sideways at Jack, and there was a glint in his eyes that Jack recognised from the time Blencowe had caught him and Rupert stealing apples from his orchard—‘I have, as you see, been compiling meticulous information. A pattern has emerged.’
    Jack looked at the dots on the map, and suddenly he noticed it; there was a clear indication of an almost perfect oval shape stretching from Brentford to East Bedfont, concentrating on the Bath Road, where the highwaywoman had intercepted Jack’s carriage last night, and the Staines Road.
    ‘Do you permit, sir?’ He took the pen from Blencowe’s inkstand, dipped it in ink and marked the point where he and Rupert had been held up. The three confirmed identifications formed a triangle, and right in the centre was the forested area just south of Old Heston Mill.
    Returning the pen to the inkstand, he said, ‘Here is where my cousin and I were set upon; so perhaps this triangle is where we should be concentrating our efforts. I’m willing to bet that the highwayman has a hideout somewhere in that forest.’
    ‘By Jove, Halliford, I believe you might be right!’ said Blencowe. ‘Still, it’s a considerably large area and I haven’t got the manpower to cover it. I suppose the most sensible course of action would be for me to call in the thief-takers.’
    Jack raised his eyebrows. ‘Is that really necessary, given their reputation?’ Thief-takers were notoriously corrupt and would often extort protection money from the criminals they were supposed to catch instead of bringing them to justice.
    ‘That is a concern, to be sure, but I’m at my wits’ end.’
    ‘I’m quite certain that between us and your men this fish will land itself in our net soon enough,’ said Jack.
    ‘And what about your losses, my lord?’ The magistrate sounded uncertain. ‘Despite their reputation thief-takers have connections in the underworld, and tongues often wag.’
    ‘Mere trinkets. It’s the nerve of it. I’ll be frank with you: it would give me the greatest pleasure to apprehend this thief myself.’
    And that,
Jack thought ruefully,
was nothing short of the truth
.
    ‘Well, if you’re sure,’ said Blencowe. He carefully rolled up the map and returned it to its place on the shelf; then walked to the sideboard and placed his hand on a decanter. ‘Care for a glass of brandy?’ he said to his guests.
    ‘No, thank you, Blencowe,’ replied the earl. ‘It’s a little early for me.’ Jack declined as well.
    The magistrate scoffed and poured himself a generous measure. ‘I don’t know what you’re up to, Halliford,’ he said and eyed Jack sharply over his glass, ‘and why you wouldn’t want the thief-takers involved, but if you think you can catch this rapscallion yourself, you’re welcome to try. In the meantime I’ll continue with my own enquiries.’
    ‘Of course,’ said Jack. ‘And naturally I’ll share with you anything I manage to dig up.’
    Awareness that he had already omitted to share one vital fact with Blencowe – that they were dealing with a woman – prickled uncomfortably at the back of his mind, and he knew the magistrate would