You no doubt wonder why I did not take action against Aspasia Gray three years ago. The sad fact is that I never suspected her of murder. Indeed, I accepted the verdict of suicide in part because I knew that it had satisfied you, Mr. March. I was inclined to trust your judgment in the matter.

But there were two other reasons why I was willing to accept that Zachary had put the pistol to his own head. The first was that I knew him very well, having raised him from the age of eight, and I was aware that he possessed the sort of romantical, melodramatic temperament that is sometimes associated with those who take their own lives.

The second reason I accepted it, and I pray you will forgive me, Mrs. Lake, was that at the time it simply never occurred to me that a lady would take up the profession in which I had trained my apprentices, let alone manage to take one of them by surprise. I knew nothing of Mrs. Gray’s partnership with Zachary, of course.

A year ago another of my apprentices prepared to take up the career for which he had been trained. He had grown to adulthood idolizing his brother, and he wanted nothing more than to prove that he was as bold and daring and professional as Zachary.

Shortly after he arrived in London, he went to Zachary’s old lodgings and found a letter in the hidden wall safe. In the course of their apprenticeship, I impressed upon all of my boys the importance of maintaining two safes. Anyone who conducts a search is likely to be satisfied with the discovery of a single secret hiding place.

“One of my many mistakes three years ago.” Tobias slathered currant jam on a slice of toast. “I found the first safe because Aspasia had made certain that I would do so. But obviously even she did not know about the second safe.”

In his letter to Pierce, Zachary made it clear that he had taken Aspasia Gray not only as his lover but also as his partner. It was evident that he was passionately in love with her, but his training ran deep. As a precaution against her betrayal, he implicated her in the letter. He no doubt intended to send it if he ever had cause to become suspicious of her. But he delayed too long and the letter was never mailed.

When Pierce found the letter in the second safe, he saw only the financial opportunities. When Mrs. Gray returned to London he made plans to blackmail her. He also sent a note to me, informing me of his discovery.

Unfortunately, I was traveling at the time and therefore was not at home when the letter arrived. When I finally received it, I understood the danger and made arrangements to come to London at once. But as you know, I was too late to save Pierce.

I arrived at his lodgings shortly after you and your young friends went in through the back door and found the body, Mr. March. I watched you from across the street when you came out, and I knew at once that my worst fears had been confirmed.

With two apprentices dead after a connection to Mrs. Gray, I no longer had any doubts about the identity of their killer. I went to see her yesterday afternoon and you know the rest.

I regret to say that neither Zachary nor Pierce proved to be well-suited to the business. Zachary developed an unfortunate taste for the darker passions aroused in the course of the hunt and lost sight of the importance of selecting only quarry that deserved to be hunted.

For his part, Pierce was interested primarily in the financial aspects of the business and, while I am happy to say that his early selections were more in keeping with the firm’s goals, I fear it was only a matter of time before he, too, lost sight of the higher purpose for which he had been trained. But regardless of the outcome, both young men had been my apprentices and I had a duty to avenge them. It is done.

There is nothing left to be said. I shall fade back into my retirement and trouble you no more.

Oh, one more thing: Mrs. Lake, I stopped at the herbalist’s shop in Wren Street as you suggested and was given a very fine tonic. I have every expectation of outliving my doctor.

Perhaps I still have time for a few more dreams.

Yours truly,

“Well.” Lavinia refolded the letter very slowly. “I trust that is the last we will hear of the Memento-Mori Man. He didn’t tie up all the loose ends, though, did he? We will never be able to prove that Lady Ferring and her friends Mrs. Stockard and Lady Huxford were among Pierce’s clients, but I cannot say I am entirely sorry about that. One cannot help but admire their fortitude and determination to achieve justice in their own way when it was denied to them by the world, can one?”

“The names of Pierce’s clients are not the only lingering questions the Memento-Mori Man failed to answer, so far as I am concerned,” Tobias said around a mouthful of scrambled eggs. “I’ve still got two more.”

Emeline looked at him. “What are they, sir?”

“First, I’d give a great deal to know whether or not he actually is retired, or if that was just a tale he told us to discourage us from searching for him.”

Emeline shuddered. “We can only hope that he is no longer actively plying his trade.”

Lavinia frowned at Tobias. “What is your other question?”

“Tobias swallowed the eggs and reached for his coffee. We know he obtained two apprentices from Mother Maud, but who is to say that he did not take on others? I would very much like to know how many apprentices he trained in all.”

Three days later they walked through the large park to the remote, overgrown area where Tobias had long ago established his private retreat. They spread a blanket on the grass in front of the old Gothic ruin and unpacked the picnic lunch Mrs. Chilton had prepared.

Sunlight slanted, warm and dappled, through the leaves of the trees.

Tobias examined the array of small savory pies, pickled vegetables, cold chicken, hard-cooked eggs, cheeses, and breads as he opened the bottle of claret. “Mrs. Chilton has outdone herself.”

“She always does where you are concerned.” Lavinia reached into the basket and removed the package wrapped in paper and string and handed it to him. “This is for you. To celebrate the conclusion of the Memento-Mori Man affair.”

He looked at the package with a decidedly bemused expression. It occurred to her that, although he had given her several gifts, this was the first one she had presented to him.

“Thank you,” he said.

He took the package from her hand and opened it with such exquisite care that she suddenly wished she had found something far grander and more expensive to give to him. But when he got rid of the paper and string and held the lamp in his hands, the pleasure she saw in his eyes told her that she had made the right choice.

He examined the intricately worked relief. “Alexander cutting the Gordian knot.”

“I thought of you immediately when I saw it in the shop window.

He lowered the lamp and looked at her. “I shall treasure this, my sweet.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

He poured claret into two glasses and handed one to her. She cut two slices of one of the pies and arranged them on the plates together with some pickled vegetables, chicken, and eggs.

They ate and talked for a time. When the meal was finished, Tobias leaned back on his elbows and drew up one knee. He looked at her.

“It would seem that love is in the very air these days,” he said a little too smoothly. “Anthony has made it clear that he and Emeline will soon announce their engagement.”

“It was inevitable. They are made for each other.”

Tobias cleared his throat. “It is also very apparent that Dominic and Priscilla are enthralled with each other.”

“Indeed,” she murmured. “Priscilla’s mama is quite pleased. Dominic has charmed her.”