Lavinia frowned. “Maggie said that Pelling went mad for a while the night he came to her room after the murder. If he is not entirely sane, he may want the bracelet for reasons that no one can comprehend.”

“Unfortunately, we have no evidence,” Tobias said. “I doubt that there is much we can do about Hudson at this juncture, but Pelling is a killer and must be stopped. If you’re willing to help, Vale, it may be possible to lure him into a trap. Perhaps he can be persuaded to incriminate himself in front of two men whose oath would be unquestioned.”

“I assume I am to be one of the witnesses,” Vale said. “Who is the other?”

“Crackenburne.”

Vale looked thoughtful. “It might work. How do you intend to set your stage?”

Tobias smiled slowly. “With the assistance of Mr. Nightingale.”

Vale and Tobias exchanged glances.

“With luck we have time to bait and set the trap tonight,” Tobias said.

Even in the shadows there on the terrace, Lavinia could make out the cold pleasure of the hunt in the eyes of both men.

But Tobias’s predatory anticipation Dissolved a short time later when he sent a carefully crafted message regarding a very private auction to the inn where Pelling was staying.

The response came back immediately. Oscar Pelling had packed his bags and departed sometime after midnight. No one knew where he had gone.

“One of the more annoying aspects of this matter,” Lavinia observed over a glass of sherry just before dawn, “is that Mr. Nightingale demands to be paid for his time, in spite of the fact that the scheme was unsuccessful. And we seem to be running short of clients to cover our expenses.”

Tobias arrived for a late breakfast the following morning in a mood that boded ill for everyone around him.

Anthony, looking no happier, followed him into the breakfast room.

Emeline’s initial start of pleasure at seeing him faded to a look of deep concern. “Oh, dear, something else has gone wrong.”

Lavinia lowered her cup back down onto the saucer.

“What happened?” she asked.

Tobias took his customary chair and reached for the coffeepot. “They have both vanished.”

“Both?” Lavinia searched his face and then glanced at Anthony for assistance.

“It is not just Pelling who has disappeared. We called at Dr. Hudson’s rooms a short while ago. He is gone also.” Anthony hesitated politely, one hand on the back of a chair. “May I sit down?”

“Yes, of course,” Emeline said quickly.

Lavinia raised her brows. “Forgive us for our little lapse in manners, Anthony. It is just that we have grown so accustomed to Tobias’s charming way of making himself at home. He no longer waits upon an invitation, as you can see.”

Tobias ignored the pointed remark. He poured coffee for himself and handed the pot to Anthony. “I have concluded that those two footpads we encountered last night must have reported their failure to Pelling. He no doubt realized that if we knew enough to interview Maggie, we were getting too close. He may have passed the warning along to Hudson. Or perhaps the damned mesmerist came to the conclusion on his own that it was time to leave.”

Emeline looked at him. “Where do you think they went?”

“No way to know yet.” Tobias surveyed the dishes on the table, an irritable Minotaur eyeing sacrificial offerings. He settled upon the tray of eggs. “I doubt if either of them would dare return to their former residences. Wouldn’t be surprised to learn that they are on their way to the Continent. Perhaps Hudson will elect to return to America.”

“They certainly will not be showing their faces in London in the near future,” Anthony said with some satisfaction.

“The fact that both men decamped together proves once and for all that they were, indeed, associates in this affair,” Tobias said.

“Not necessarily.” Lavinia took a bite of egg and gave him a quelling look. “Howard may well have left Town because he was intimidated by your attitude when you called upon him the other day. After all, you more or less threatened him, did you not?”

Tobias shrugged. “More, not less.”

Anthony glanced at him. “You did not mention that you had talked to Hudson. What did you say to him?”

“It was a private matter.” Tobias caught Lavinia’s eye while he piled eggs on his plate. “Nothing that need concern us this morning.”

Mrs. Chilton bustled in with a fresh plate of eggs. “Getting to be quite a crowd out here in the mornings. We’ll have to see about increasing our order with the dairymaid.”

Lavinia cleared her throat. “Large quantities of eggs and milk are costly.”

“I’m sure we can afford a few extra eggs,” Emeline said quickly.

“Whitby mentioned this morning that he is not using the usual number of eggs lately,” Tobias put in helpfully. “I’ll instruct him to send some to you, Mrs. Chilton.”

“Very well, sir.” Mrs. Chilton started back through the door. “I’ll go and fetch some more toast.”

“And jam,” Tobias added. “We’ve run out again.”

“Aye, sir. More jam.”

“Speaking of your excellent jam,” Tobias said, “how is your supply of currants?”

It was really too much, Lavinia thought. Now he was presuming to take charge of her kitchen. The next thing she knew, he would be inspecting the linens and dictating the choice of herbs to be planted in the garden.

“There is no need to concern yourself with our supply of currants, sir,” she said forcefully. “I’m quite sure we have a sufficient quantity on hand.”

“But we wouldn’t want to take the chance of running out altogether.” Tobias smiled at Mrs. Chilton. “You’re certain you don’t need to shop for some this afternoon, Mrs. Chilton? It promises to be a fine day.”

Mrs. Chilton heaved a sigh. “I expect it wouldn’t hurt to purchase a few more.” She went through the door.

Emeline and Anthony exchanged looks. Lavinia could have sworn they were both struggling to conceal smiles.

Tobias drank some coffee and looked a good deal more pleased than he had when he had walked into the breakfast room a few minutes ago.

Lavinia wondered if the subject of currants always had such an uplifting effect on his spirits. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to keep an ample quantity on hand.

Shortly after two o’clock, Emeline looked around the door of the study, her bonnet dangling from her fingers. “Priscilla has just arrived in her mama’s carriage. We are off to meet up with Anthony and one of his friends to view the new exhibition of paintings at that little gallery in Bond Street.”

“Very well.” Lavinia did not look up from her notes on the Medusa bracelet affair. “Enjoy yourself.”

“We probably will not return much before six. Priscilla wants to shop for a new fan, and then Anthony and his friend are going to take us driving in the park in Lady Wortham’s carriage.”

“Mmm.”

“Mrs. Chilton just left to shop for currants.”

“Yes, I know.” Lavinia dipped her quill in the ink and started a new sentence.

“I can see you are deep into your journal. I will bid you farewell.”

“Good-bye.”

The front door closed behind Emeline a moment later. A curious silence descended on the house.

Lavinia completed another sentence and paused to read what she had written.

… a most unsatisfactory conclusion to the affair. It is evident that Oscar Pelling murdered Celeste Hudson, but it is clear that he will never pay for his crime. The Blue Medusa has disappeared and with it any hope of collecting a fee for our services from anyone involved in this matter.

Several questions remain unanswered. I cannot bring myself to believe that my good friend Dr. Hudson is a thief, but Mr. March strongly disagrees with that conclusion.