The charges of arson had not yet been finally disposed of, but Joseph’s ordination as a Methodist minister seems to have pacified him.

At present arson is defined as wilfully setting fire to specific types of property.

It is as though in the middle of a chess tournament one competitor should suddenly begin screaming that the other is guilty of arson or bigamy.

That said, offences causing death other than homicide were up, as were extortion, identity fraud, terrorism-related offences and arson.

In the aftermath of the destruction of the parliament buildings, Ferres, a victim of his overheated syntax, was among the small group arrested for arson.