Leman was waiting there, a little the worse for drink, I saw, and we walked him up to Lincoln’s Inn. Once through the gates he looked round nervously at the imposing buildings and the black-robed barristers walking by, but perhaps the thought of the money to come gave the red-faced stallholder a measure of courage, for he allowed us to lead him to Bealknap’s chambers.
We climbed the narrow steps to Bealknap’s door only to find it closed, a heavy padlock through the handle. Enquiry of the barrister who occupied the chambers below brought the curt response that Brother Bealknap had gone out early that morning and that he preferred not to enquire after his doings.
Frustrated, we went across to my own chambers. Godfrey was in the outer office, going over some papers with Skelly. He looked up in surprise as I came in with Barak and Leman in tow. I left them in the office and went with Godfrey to his room.
‘No problems with your work,’ he told me, ‘but I’m afraid you’ve another case gone. The house conveyance down by Coldharbour.’
‘God’s death, as if I haven’t enough to worry about.’ I ran my hands through my hair. ‘These are all new matters that are going too, new clients.’
Godfrey looked at me seriously. ‘You ought to look into this, Matthew. It seems that someone is putting out bad words about you.’
‘You’re right, but I haven’t time now. I won’t have before next Thursday.’
‘You’ll be free then?’
I smiled wryly. ‘Oh, yes. One way or another.’ I noticed that Godfrey looked tired and felt a twinge of conscience. ‘Are my matters taking up much time?’
‘No, but I had some news this morning. I’m to be fined ten pounds for my insolence to the duke.’
‘That is a heavy load. I’m sorry, Godfrey.’
He looked at me seriously. ‘I may have to take up your offer to loan me money. Though it will do you no good if it gets out you are supporting me.’
I raised a hand. ‘That is the least of my worries at the moment. You shall have it.’
He leaned forward and grasped my hand. ‘Thank you.’
‘Let me know what you need.’
He looked relieved. ‘I must work out how much I can raise myself. So far as I am concerned it is all money spent on God’s work,’ he added piously.
‘Yes.’
‘How goes it with the Wentworth case?’
‘Slowly. Everything goes slowly. Listen, Godfrey, I need to speak to Bealknap, but he’s out. Can you watch for him, tell him I wish to speak to him urgently? Tell him it is the business we discussed before and I want him to contact me at once.’
‘Ay, all right.’ He looked at me curiously. ‘Is this the other matter you are working on?’
‘It is.’
He nodded at the door. ‘You have acquired some odd work fellows.’
‘Yes, I’d better get back to them. Pox on Bealknap, he’s probably drumming up shady business in the City. That bottled spider has such a reputation his neighbour downstairs won’t even take messages for him.’
‘He is a worshipper of money, a slave to Mammon.’
‘Him and half of London.’
I went back to the outer office. Leman sat at the window, looking idly at the lawyers’ comings and goings. Barak was standing at Skelly’s desk, listening with interest as the clerk explained how copying was done.
‘Come, gentlemen,’ I said, ‘Godfrey will let us know when Bealknap arrives.’
‘I should be at my stall,’ Leman said. I agreed to let him go, for I could hardly keep him all day and the Cheapside stalls were near enough to send Simon to fetch him. Barak and I walked back to my house.
‘You work poor Skelly hard,’ Barak said. ‘He told me he’s been there copying since seven.’
‘It takes him two hours to do what most scribes could do in one,’ I snapped. ‘You don’t know what it’s like employing people. It’s not easy.’
‘No easy life for Skelly, either.’
I did not reply.
‘There’s something I’ve been thinking about,’ he said. ‘If a man steals a sack of apples, and they’re worth more than a shilling, he’s hanged at Tyburn.’
‘That is the law.’
‘Yet often enough people don’t pay their debts, do they? That arsehole Bealknap for one from what you say. Your fellow Skelly was copying out a writ for debt, which said the debtor was “scheming fraudulently and craftily to defraud him”.’
‘Those are the standard words on the writ.’
‘Yet even if the debtor is found guilty, shown to be a liar who has taken a man’s money, he will have to pay the money back, but nothing else will happen to him, will it?’
I laughed. ‘God’s death, Barak, is that all you have to worry about?’
‘Turning things over keeps my mind from my worries.’
‘The difference is that in a matter of debt the parties are arguing over a contract, whereas a thief simply takes what is not his. And in a civil court you don’t require the strong evidence you need to hang a criminal.’
Barak shook his head cynically. ‘We saw what criminal trials are like that day at Newgate. I think the point is more that thieves are poor men while those who make contracts are rich.’
‘A poor man may make a contract and be cheated as much as a rich one.’