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definitely said she was female. How else would I have known?’
    â€˜How indeed?’ repeated John Fielding reflectively. The black bandage turned in John’s direction. ‘I feel we must let the matter rest there, at least for the time being.’
    And the Apothecary knew that he had been given an instruction not to argue until there had been a chance for further discussion. However, he could not resist shooting a quizzical glance in Toby’s direction and slowly raising a dark svelte brow, just to show the waiter that he had not been deceived by the downright lie than had just been told about his own recollection of events.

Chapter Six
    It had been a morning crammed with events and information and nobody felt more relieved than John when Mr Fielding finally announced his intention of returning to Bow Street, believing that, for the moment, all had been achieved that could be at the Peerless Pool. For so far several interesting facts had emerged. Not only had Toby told a barefaced lie when questioned, but also a track had been discovered by the gate behind Mr Kemp’s manor house. The indentation formed by a single wheel made it appear that a wheelbarrow had come along the path from the fields and gone through the gate and into the grounds. There, unfortunately, the marks vanished into the shrubbery, though no abandoned wheelbarrow had been found.
    The Blind Beak, listening to the report of his Runners, had ordered that all the barrows used in maintaining the Peerless Pool gardens be searched and, sure enough, one of them, when the grass it contained had been tipped out, bore indications of dark brown stains. John had examined them, his quizzing glass to his eye.
    â€˜Blood, I’m sure of it.’
    â€˜So it would appear that this is the way Hannah was brought in.’
    Joe Jago had spoken. ‘It seems more and more likely that someone working within these grounds assisted the killer.’
    The Magistrate had stroked his chin. ‘Or was the killer.’
    â€˜Things are looking black for Toby.’
    â€˜Black – but not black enough. However, I shall have him brought to Bow Street for further examination. He might not be quite so confident away from his own territory.’
    Samuel had asked a question. ‘As there seem to be no relatives or friends, what are you going to do about identifying the body, Sir?’
    â€˜I shall call upon Forbes the warder, as Mr Rawlings suggested.’
    â€˜I don’t think he’s going to be very happy about that.’
    â€˜It is not a happy task,’ the Beak had replied without cynicism.
    The final undertaking before the four men went to Mr Fielding’s carriage was to ascertain which of Mr Kemp’s servants was responsible for locking the back gate at night. This proved to be a gardener called William, who swore that he had locked up on the night of the crime.
    â€˜At what time would that have been?’ Joe Jago had asked, Mr Fielding sitting quietly in his usual solemn pose.
    William had rubbed his hands on his breeches. ‘At sundown, Sir. I tends to lock up when the other gates are done.’
    â€˜But what happens if Mr Kemp or any member of his family, or any of the servants come to that, want to go out that way?’
    â€˜The family all have keys, Sir. And the servants shares one. It hangs with the household keys in the kitchen.’
    â€˜It couldn’t have been easier,’ Joe had commented as the door closed behind the man. ‘The way I see it, the murderer either let himself in, or was assisted by his accomplice. All they had to do was take the key off the hook.’
    â€˜The field narrows and widens,’ was the Magistrate’s only comment as they walked through the grounds to the Old Street entrance, where his coach awaited them.
    Taking leave of Mr Fielding, John and Samuel had gone their separate ways; the Goldsmith to his shop, the Apothecary to his home in Nassau Street,