By Jove, Captain West, I have indeed heard of "Hammer" Siddons, and I should very much like to meet him over a glass of port. I see that I may have underestimated you, in my natural desire to protect Ms Rutledge.

I dearly hope that the swine Buggeroll is eavesdropping on this thread, as he will be shaking in his boots now, I trust... The man is an arrant coward with far too high an opinion of himself. He always wears a kilt, usually with nothing else under it so I understand, and fancies himself to be the most irresistible sexual athlete in the civilized world. He has given great offence to Penelope in the past, which nearly led to his sudden demise. (It happened that they were alone in the library at the Vicar's Inn, you see, and there are a couple of old sabers hanging on the wall there...well, Penelope tends toward quick reactions when they are absolutely required. I'll say no more about it.)

I also had the pleasure of thumping his fat face...once only, sad to say, but he wouldn't get back up and face the music.

Things are looking reasonably "copacetic" here at this point. Penelope was very upset, but she is regaining her composure now. Not a peep has been heard from the Sherbrookes. I think they may let it pass, rather than opening "Pandora's box" by taking legal action. Legal action between the rich in Twillingsgate can take years to reach any resolution and impoverish a generation in the process.

And it seems that the police here would just as soon let it pass as well. I had a drink or two last night with the chief constable, Wentworth, who is a reasonable man, and I have the impression they will not press charges.

So far so good.

WW-J