that many villains by
yourself, Mr. Dobbs?"
"If it be necessary," Dobbs said. "However, I expect to have some assistance. His lordship here and I
have agreed upon a signal. When I spot the villains on the beach, I will use a lamp to flash a message
from the top of he cliffs."
"My butler and I will take shifts watching for the signal every night when the tide is out until the thieves
are apprehended," Gideon explained. "When we see Mr. Dobbs's light flashing, we will come down to
the beach and make certain all goes according to plan."
Harriet nodded approvingly. "It seems like an excellent arrangement. Every bit as clever as the one I,
myself, was constructing."
"Thank you," Gideon said dryly.
"However," Harriet continued, "I do have one small suggestion to make, if I may."
"No," said Gideon, "I do not think that will be necessary, thank you." He looked at Dobbs. "Did you find
the chamber where the goods are being cached?"
"That I did, sir. Followed your little sketch right to the proper cavern. A very impressive collection of
loot, it is." Dobbs's eyes gleamed. "I recognize a good bit of it. Several of those items were reported
missing and we've been keeping an eye out for 'em. No wonder we never turned 'em up in Town. They
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
was bein' kept outa sight until everyone forgot about 'em. Very clever. Very clever, indeed. "
"As Mr. Dobbs will get rewards when he returns the stolen goods to their rightful owners," Gideon
murmured to Harriet, "you may rest assured his enthusiasm for keeping a close watch on the caves is
high."
"Yes, of course." Harriet smiled at Dobbs. "Do you know, I have never actually met a Bow Street
Runner before. I have a great many questions I would like to ask you about your work, Mr. Dobbs."
Dobbs beamed with modest importance. "Certainly, ma'am. Ask away."
Gideon raised a gloved hand. "Not now. Dobbs, I am certain you will want to remove yourself from the
vicinity as quickly as possible now that you have your bearings. No point taking any chances. We would
not want anyone to see you hanging about."
"Right you are, sir. Well, then, I'll be off. Good day to you, ma'am." Dobbs gave Harriet another bow
and ambled out of the cave.
Harriet watched him go. "Well, that is certainly a relief. I must say I am very pleased to see that things
are going ahead at a rapid pace. Excellent job, my lord. But I do wish you had consulted me."
"I rarely consult anyone, Miss Pomeroy. I prefer to operate on my own."
"I see." Harriet frowned, but there did not seem to be much point in arguing about his autocratic
methods. The plans were set and they seemed suitable. She would have to be content. "I suppose I had
best be off, myself, before I am missed at the house."
Gideon loomed menacingly over her, blocking the entrance of the cavern. "One moment, Miss Pomeroy.
I intend to get something quite clear between us before I allow you to return to your home."
"Yes, my lord?"
"You are to stay out of these caves until this business is finished." Gideon spaced the words evenly
between set teeth. "I will not tell you again. Do you understand?"
Harriet blinked. "Yes, of course I understand. However, my lord, I am not a child. I am quite capable of
exercising caution when necessary."
"Caution? You call it cautious to come down onto the beach this morning to pursue a strange man into
this cavern? That was not an act of caution, it was the action of a brainless little twit."
"I am not a twit," Harriet flared, furious now. "I assumed Mr. Dobbs was another fossil collector and he
was heading straight for my caves."
"Well, you were wrong, weren't you? He was not another fossil collector at all. It was fortunate he
happened to be a Runner. He could have just as easily been one of the thieves sent here to check on the
loot."
"I have told you, the thieves never come here during the day. And I would appreciate it if you
yourself, Mr. Dobbs?"
"If it be necessary," Dobbs said. "However, I expect to have some assistance. His lordship here and I
have agreed upon a signal. When I spot the villains on the beach, I will use a lamp to flash a message
from the top of he cliffs."
"My butler and I will take shifts watching for the signal every night when the tide is out until the thieves
are apprehended," Gideon explained. "When we see Mr. Dobbs's light flashing, we will come down to
the beach and make certain all goes according to plan."
Harriet nodded approvingly. "It seems like an excellent arrangement. Every bit as clever as the one I,
myself, was constructing."
"Thank you," Gideon said dryly.
"However," Harriet continued, "I do have one small suggestion to make, if I may."
"No," said Gideon, "I do not think that will be necessary, thank you." He looked at Dobbs. "Did you find
the chamber where the goods are being cached?"
"That I did, sir. Followed your little sketch right to the proper cavern. A very impressive collection of
loot, it is." Dobbs's eyes gleamed. "I recognize a good bit of it. Several of those items were reported
missing and we've been keeping an eye out for 'em. No wonder we never turned 'em up in Town. They
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
was bein' kept outa sight until everyone forgot about 'em. Very clever. Very clever, indeed. "
"As Mr. Dobbs will get rewards when he returns the stolen goods to their rightful owners," Gideon
murmured to Harriet, "you may rest assured his enthusiasm for keeping a close watch on the caves is
high."
"Yes, of course." Harriet smiled at Dobbs. "Do you know, I have never actually met a Bow Street
Runner before. I have a great many questions I would like to ask you about your work, Mr. Dobbs."
Dobbs beamed with modest importance. "Certainly, ma'am. Ask away."
Gideon raised a gloved hand. "Not now. Dobbs, I am certain you will want to remove yourself from the
vicinity as quickly as possible now that you have your bearings. No point taking any chances. We would
not want anyone to see you hanging about."
"Right you are, sir. Well, then, I'll be off. Good day to you, ma'am." Dobbs gave Harriet another bow
and ambled out of the cave.
Harriet watched him go. "Well, that is certainly a relief. I must say I am very pleased to see that things
are going ahead at a rapid pace. Excellent job, my lord. But I do wish you had consulted me."
"I rarely consult anyone, Miss Pomeroy. I prefer to operate on my own."
"I see." Harriet frowned, but there did not seem to be much point in arguing about his autocratic
methods. The plans were set and they seemed suitable. She would have to be content. "I suppose I had
best be off, myself, before I am missed at the house."
Gideon loomed menacingly over her, blocking the entrance of the cavern. "One moment, Miss Pomeroy.
I intend to get something quite clear between us before I allow you to return to your home."
"Yes, my lord?"
"You are to stay out of these caves until this business is finished." Gideon spaced the words evenly
between set teeth. "I will not tell you again. Do you understand?"
Harriet blinked. "Yes, of course I understand. However, my lord, I am not a child. I am quite capable of
exercising caution when necessary."
"Caution? You call it cautious to come down onto the beach this morning to pursue a strange man into
this cavern? That was not an act of caution, it was the action of a brainless little twit."
"I am not a twit," Harriet flared, furious now. "I assumed Mr. Dobbs was another fossil collector and he
was heading straight for my caves."
"Well, you were wrong, weren't you? He was not another fossil collector at all. It was fortunate he
happened to be a Runner. He could have just as easily been one of the thieves sent here to check on the
loot."
"I have told you, the thieves never come here during the day. And I would appreciate it if you
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