Whatever it was, it must be important for old Walmsley, the rector, to send a messenger here.

`This lad found a corpse, zur. Down on the foreshore. Bin in the water for some while, 'e reckons.' He looked up, his eyes bleak. `It were Tom Morgan, zur.'

Bolitho bit his lip. `The revenue officer?'

`Aye. 'E'd bin done in afore 'e went into the water, so the lad says.'

There were sounds on the stairway, and then Bolitho's mother, wrapped in a green velvet cloak, hurried down towards them, her eyes questioning.

Bolitho said, `I can deal with it, Mother. They've found Tom Morgan on the foreshore.'

`Dead?'

Pendrith said bluntly, `Murdered, ma'am.' To Bolitho he explained, 'Y'see, zur, with the soldiers away, an' the squire in Bath, the old Reverend turned to you like.' He grimaced. `You bein' a King's officer, so to speak.'

Dancer exclaimed, `Surely there's somebody else?'

Bolitho's mother was already pulling at the bellrope, her face pale but determined.

`No. They always come to the house. I'll tell Corker to saddle two horses. You go with them, John.'

Bolitho said quietly, `I'd rather he was here, with you.' He -squeezed her arm. `It's all right. Really. I'm not the boy who went off to sea with an apple in his pocket. Not any more.'

It was strange how easily it came to him. One minute he had been ready for bed. Now he was alert, every nerve keen to sudden danger. From the look on Dancer's face, he knew he was equally affected.

Pendrith said, `I sent the lad back to watch over the body. You'll remember the place, zur. The cove where you an' your brother overturned that dory an' took a good beatin' for it!' He gave a slow grin.

One of the maids appeared, and listened to her instructions before hurrying away to tell Corker, the coachman, what to do.