around it and say a crack has been discovered or some such thing.”
Kedrington shook his head. “That would only call more attention to it, and we wish neither the thieves nor the authorities to take a second look. Also, as discreetly as you can, keep an eye on that piece and make note of who looks at it with any special attention.”
“Shall I take any of the other guards into my confidence?”
“Not just yet. I will do the investigation you mentioned earlier, since it would be less noticeable if I did it than you, and I may have other sources of information.”
“I should think that highly likely.”
“Don’t grant me powers I may not have, dear boy. I was only a fair to middling spy.”
“Rubbish. And even if that were true, you have an infinitely wider circle of acquaintance than I and far greater…resources.”
Kedrington knew very well that his friend referred to his fortune, but knew too that Robin did not resent him for it. Men became his friends in large part because differences of wealth and station meant nothing to them in comparison with compatibility of experience and outlook. He also chose his friends on the basis of their honesty, and he had never doubted Robin Campbell’s. If there were any possibility of harm coming to him because of this theft, even if there was never another one, he must do what he could to prevent it.
“I must go now,” he said, rising and setting aside his brandy glass. “Antonia will not demand to know where I have been if I contrive to be on time for dinner—as you well know. Later, after she is asleep, I shall return and keep watch with you for a part of the night at least.”
“Thank you. That is more than I dared ask, Duncan. But you cannot be here every night.”
“I don’t intend to be. Tomorrow should be time enough to put some of Hollister’s men in place—if they are willing. Or we may be able to inform another of the present guards what is afoot. Have you a key?”
“Eh? Oh, yes. Take mine, for I shan’t leave tonight.” He took a key down from a nail in the wall concealed behind the bookshelf and handed it to Kedrington. “I’ll show you the door it fits.”
Kedrington waited only until the doors were closed on the last visitor, at which point, he and Mr. Campbell made his watchman’s rounds together before Robin showed him the rear door to which the key fit, and bade him good night.
“Just a moment,” Kedrington said, closing the door again. He reached into his pocket and extracted the key he had found on the body of the victim of the thugs they had interrupted two nights before. He held it next to Robin’s key, then tried it in the door. It did not fit.
“Where did you get that key?” Robin asked.
Kedrington smiled. “I’m afraid I robbed a dead man.”
“The man we found the other night? Did you find out who he was?”
“Not by name—but that is something else you may ask Hollister. Apparently the man was a former soldier—although not one of those who would have come through Leman Street. Perhaps he can make further inquiries. I’ll write down the name of the man at Bow Street whom I took into my confidence. He can give you the few other details there are.”
“Do you think he has something to do with—all this?”
“Very likely not. It was just a thought.” He smiled wryly. “No, it was just a feeling. You remember that prickling you get on the back of your neck just before a surprise attack?”
“All too well.”
“It was something like that. Besides, I am curious about the ‘lordship’ the other men spoke of. I’m sorry now that we didn’t take the big man to Bow Street ourselves; he might have revealed something.”
“Still, that is a puzzle Hollister will be interested to follow. You know how stubborn he is.”
“As you say, all too well. However, I think I would rather have his muscle on hand here. Ask him to have some other clever fellow run the dead man to earth.”
This agreed to, the two men
Kedrington shook his head. “That would only call more attention to it, and we wish neither the thieves nor the authorities to take a second look. Also, as discreetly as you can, keep an eye on that piece and make note of who looks at it with any special attention.”
“Shall I take any of the other guards into my confidence?”
“Not just yet. I will do the investigation you mentioned earlier, since it would be less noticeable if I did it than you, and I may have other sources of information.”
“I should think that highly likely.”
“Don’t grant me powers I may not have, dear boy. I was only a fair to middling spy.”
“Rubbish. And even if that were true, you have an infinitely wider circle of acquaintance than I and far greater…resources.”
Kedrington knew very well that his friend referred to his fortune, but knew too that Robin did not resent him for it. Men became his friends in large part because differences of wealth and station meant nothing to them in comparison with compatibility of experience and outlook. He also chose his friends on the basis of their honesty, and he had never doubted Robin Campbell’s. If there were any possibility of harm coming to him because of this theft, even if there was never another one, he must do what he could to prevent it.
“I must go now,” he said, rising and setting aside his brandy glass. “Antonia will not demand to know where I have been if I contrive to be on time for dinner—as you well know. Later, after she is asleep, I shall return and keep watch with you for a part of the night at least.”
“Thank you. That is more than I dared ask, Duncan. But you cannot be here every night.”
“I don’t intend to be. Tomorrow should be time enough to put some of Hollister’s men in place—if they are willing. Or we may be able to inform another of the present guards what is afoot. Have you a key?”
“Eh? Oh, yes. Take mine, for I shan’t leave tonight.” He took a key down from a nail in the wall concealed behind the bookshelf and handed it to Kedrington. “I’ll show you the door it fits.”
Kedrington waited only until the doors were closed on the last visitor, at which point, he and Mr. Campbell made his watchman’s rounds together before Robin showed him the rear door to which the key fit, and bade him good night.
“Just a moment,” Kedrington said, closing the door again. He reached into his pocket and extracted the key he had found on the body of the victim of the thugs they had interrupted two nights before. He held it next to Robin’s key, then tried it in the door. It did not fit.
“Where did you get that key?” Robin asked.
Kedrington smiled. “I’m afraid I robbed a dead man.”
“The man we found the other night? Did you find out who he was?”
“Not by name—but that is something else you may ask Hollister. Apparently the man was a former soldier—although not one of those who would have come through Leman Street. Perhaps he can make further inquiries. I’ll write down the name of the man at Bow Street whom I took into my confidence. He can give you the few other details there are.”
“Do you think he has something to do with—all this?”
“Very likely not. It was just a thought.” He smiled wryly. “No, it was just a feeling. You remember that prickling you get on the back of your neck just before a surprise attack?”
“All too well.”
“It was something like that. Besides, I am curious about the ‘lordship’ the other men spoke of. I’m sorry now that we didn’t take the big man to Bow Street ourselves; he might have revealed something.”
“Still, that is a puzzle Hollister will be interested to follow. You know how stubborn he is.”
“As you say, all too well. However, I think I would rather have his muscle on hand here. Ask him to have some other clever fellow run the dead man to earth.”
This agreed to, the two men
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