‘You will,’ said Drinkwater. ‘We all have faith in you.’
Amos looked daunted but determined.
Drinkwater put on a rather shabby old greatcoat and the three men went out and walked to Hornbeam’s place.
Waiting in the hall, looking at the portrait of Hornbeam, Amossaid: ‘Last time I was here I got the worst shock of my life.’
Spade said: ‘Now it’s Hornbeam’s turn to be shocked.’
A footman showed them into the study. Hornbeam was startled to see them. ‘What’s this?’ he said, annoyed. ‘I was expecting young Barrowfield, not a delegation.’
Spade said: ‘It’s about young Barrowfield’s loan.’
‘If you’ve come to beg for mercy, you’re wasting your time.’
‘Oh, no,’ said Spade. ‘We don’t expect you to show mercy.’
Hornbeam’s arrogant attitude was disturbed by a worm of doubt. ‘Well, don’t waste my time, what do you want?’
‘Nothing,’ said Spade. ‘But Barrowfield has something for you.’
Amos handed over the bank note.
Drinkwater spoke. ‘Hornbeam, before you present that note at the bank you’ll need to hand over all the documents you have relating to the debts owed you by the late Obadiah Barrowfield. I imagine that’s the bundle on the desk, but if you’re not able to put your hand on them immediately you must give the note back to young Barrowfield.’
Hornbeam’s fleshy face turned pale, then pink, and finally red with rage. He ignored Drinkwater and looked at Amos. ‘Where did you get the money?’ he shouted.
Amos looked intimidated but he did not quail. ‘I don’t think you need to know that, Alderman.’
Well done, Amos, thought Spade.
‘You stole it!’ Hornbeam yelled.
Drinkwater intervened. ‘I can assure you, Hornbeam, the money was come by honestly.’
Hornbeam rounded on Drinkwater. ‘What business do you have interfering here? This is nothing to do with you!’
Drinkwater said mildly: ‘I’m here as a justice of the peace to witness a legal transaction, the repayment of a debt. For the avoidance of doubt, perhaps you would write a simple note sayingthat Barrowfield has cleared his debt to you in full. I will witness it and Barrowfield can keep it.’
Hornbeam said: ‘There has been some underhand business here!’
‘Calm down, before you say something you may come to regret,’ Drinkwater said. ‘You and I are both justices, and it’s unseemly for us to yell at one another like costermongers.’
Hornbeam seemed on the point of shouting a rejoinder, then he controlled himself. Without speaking, he snatched up a sheet of paper, wrote on it quickly, and handed it to Drinkwater.
Drinkwater studied it. ‘Hmm,’ he said. ‘It’s just about legible.’ He took a quill and signed, then handed the document to Amos.
Hornbeam spoke with a clenched jaw. ‘If that concludes our business I’ll bid you all good evening.’
The three stood up and left the room with muttered goodbyes.
When they were out on the street, Spade permitted himself to laugh. ‘What a scene,’ he said. ‘The man was apoplectic!’
Amos said to Drinkwater: ‘I’m sorry he was so rude to you, Alderman.’
Drinkwater nodded. ‘I’ve made an enemy of him tonight.’
Spade thought about that. ‘I suspect all three of us have made an enemy of Hornbeam.’
