Malachi scoffed. Do not make me your enemy, a mocking voice in his head repeated.

"Then do not make me yours, sir," he spoke over the rest of the constable's speech, not bothering to listen to the words. It was not his opinion Malachi was concerned about, when he mentioned the word of a barman against that of a priest. Obviously if this officer cared for Catholics he'd have been more pleasant from the start.

Fortunately, the boy at his side interrupted before anything else could be said.

"Go, then," said Malachi, and then looked back to the constable. "Oh, is that allowed, sir?"