Painting The Darkness by Robert Goddard

said the same. You were mistaken, Doctor. You were all mistaken.’
    Again, a hush fell. Then Trenchard spoke at last. ‘One moment. Am I to take it that you are willing to admit in court that you believed you were suffering from syphilis?’
    Norton’s gaze was unflinching. ‘If necessary, yes.’
    ‘Then, you would also admit that, whether the diagnosis was correct or not, you had good reason at the time to believe that it might be correct.’
    Norton’s only reply was a smile.
    Sir Hugo turned on Trenchard. ‘What the devil are you doing, man? You’re playing his game, assuming this isn’t all a pack of lies.’
    ‘Trenchard is looking to his own,’ said Norton. ‘He cannot be blamed for that. A man does not believe he has syphilis unless he knows he has been exposed to infection. Trenchard’s point is that I must have been unfaithful to Constance during our engagement if that is the case.’
    ‘What’s that to me?’ snapped Sir Hugo.
    ‘Nothing, dear brother. It is nothing to you, but everything to Trenchard. Alas for him, it is also based upon a misconception. I had good cause to fear I had been infected with syphilis, but it involved no infidelity to Constance.’
    ‘Then, how do you account for it?’ said Trenchard.
    ‘Dr Fiveash satisfied me on the point eleven years ago, and I will leave him to satisfy you in the same way now.’
    ‘Good God,’ said Fiveash slowly.
    ‘Yes, Doctor?’
    ‘It is not possible. Say what you like, practise what tricks you may, you cannot know what passed between us unless you are James Davenall. And I will never believe – never admit – that you are.’
    ‘Because it would compromise your professional reputation?’
    ‘Damnation, no. I will not admit it because it is not true.’
    ‘You do not want to admit it because you do not want it to be true.’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Will you tell them what you told me then – or must I?’
    ‘I will say nothing.’
    Another pause, another wordless gulf. Then, suddenly and noiselessly, Norton rose from the table: ‘Then I will say nothing, either.’
    A desperate whoop from Sir Hugo. ‘Because you don’t know! Fiveash has called your bluff.’
    If the man Norton looked down at was his brother, it was clear from his expression that there was precious little fraternal pity to lessen his contempt. ‘No, Hugo, I refrain for the moment, but that is all. I will speak if I must, but, if I do, you will regret it. That is all I will say for the present.’ A courteous bow to the gathering. ‘Mr Warburton will explain my position. I hope to hear from you soon – for all our sakes. Now I will bid you good morning.’ He walked slowly past them to the door and went out quietly. There was dignity and reserve in his retreat, just enough said and enough withheld to suggest the decency of one who would insist on his rights but never grasp at another’s. The door clicked shut behind him and, as it did so, the Staple Inn clock began to strike. It was noon, only an hour since they had first assembled, yet far longer to judge by the lines that hour had scratched in their lives. Warburton looked from one to the other of them and waited for the clock to finish striking.
    ‘Gentlemen,’ he said at last, ‘I trust the strength of our case is now clear to you. My client has instructed me to give you one further opportunity to consider your position. If we have not heard from you by this time two days hence – noon on Friday the thirteenth – we shall seek a hearing in Chancery at the earliest possible date of our application for the removal of the impediments being placed before Sir James Davenall in the assumption of his property and title. I doubt there is any more to be said at this stage.’
    ‘There’s everything to be said,’ cried Sir Hugo. ‘I’ve questions he won’t be able to—’
    ‘Hugo!’ Richard Davenall interrupted, more sharply than before. ‘Mr Warburton is right.’ He glanced at the other man. ‘I will see that