"Indeed?"

"The police found a pocket watch with my name on it at the scene of the Toller murder, the time stopped presumably at the very moment the act of violence was carried out"

Everything about Wilson seemed to sharpen with alarm. "Was it one of your watches?"

"No. It was a cheap timepiece. The engraving work was poorly done, but quite legible."

"This means the killer knows that you are searching for him. He used the watch to point the finger of guilt at you."

"So it appears" Adam tapped his fingertips twice. "Matters have become more complicated. I did not want to alarm Julia, but I think the time has come to tell her and Southwood what is going on"

"Indeed. This situation has become extremely worrisome. It would be best if they were made aware of events" Wilson narrowed his eyes. "I assume the police consider you a suspect?"

Adam shrugged. "The inspector had some questions but most of them were put to rest when he discovered that I had an excellent alibi. A close acquaintance verified my claim that I was otherwise occupied when Toller was murdered."

"I am relieved to hear that" Wilson relaxed visibly. "That should make things a good deal less dire. What time was Toller killed?"

"Midnight"

Wilson nodded. "That was well after the séance had ended. You were no doubt at your club. You probably have a dozen witnesses." He gave a disdainful snort. "The killer should have had the sense to confirm your whereabouts be-fore he tried to implicate you."

"I was not at my club."

"Where were you? The theater?"

"No. I went to the rooms in Stone Street." "At midnight?"

"Yes"

"I don't understand." Wilson scowled. "When you go there, you always go alone. Who is this acquaintance who vouched for your whereabouts?"

"My very good friend, Mrs. Fordyce."

"Fordyce? Fordyce" Wilson's expression was puzzled. "Do you refer to the author Mrs. Fordyce?"

"Yes."

Wilson looked stunned. "The deuce, you say. This is no time to exhibit your eccentric sense of humor, Adam"

"It is not a joke. Brace yourself, sir. I am about to be-come embroiled in a shocking scandal involving murder and an illicit liaison with a famous sensation novelist."

TWENTY-THREE

"Brace yourselves." Caroline folded her hands on top of her desk and faced Emma and Milly. "A number of startling incidents occurred last night and early this morning while you were out."

"How exciting." Enthused, as always, by the promise of entertaining news, Milly bustled to the nearest chair and sat down. "Do tell us everything, dear."

Predictably, Emma did not appear nearly so enthusiastic. She lowered herself into one of the reading chairs and examined Caroline with the air of a physician watching for signs of a high fever. "Are you all right?"

"I am quite fit, I assure you" Caroline paused. "So much has happened in the past few hours that I am not certain where to begin."

"Just start anywhere, dear," Milly advised with an airy wave of her hand.

"Very well. Another medium has been murdered in a manner that is strangely reminiscent of the way in which Elizabeth Delmont was killed."

The clock ticked into the astounded hush that followed that announcement.

"This is shocking news." Emma looked dazed. Absolutely shocking."

Milly had clearly been jolted out of the first flush of excitement. "Another dead medium, you say? Which one?" "Irene Toller," Caroline said.

"Delmont's rival?" Milly frowned. "But I thought that you and Adam had concluded that Toller was very likely a suspect in the murder of Elizabeth Delmont"

"Mr. Hardesty and I certainly considered that a distinct possibility. But we may have been wrong."

Before she could launch into a more thorough recitation of events, she was interrupted by the muffled clatter of hooves, harness and carriage wheels.

The rumble in the street ceased abruptly as the heavy vehicle halted in front of Number 22.

"I wonder who that can be," Emma said, distracted.

Someone banged the brass knocker. The sound was followed by the patter of Mrs. Plummer's footsteps. The door opened in the front hall. Voices could be heard.

A short time later Mrs. Plummer loomed in the doorway of the study. Her ruddy features were redder than usual. She held herself in a self-consciously erect, square-shouldered manner: a woman with a message of great importance.

She cleared her throat portentously.

"The Earl of Southwood, Lady Southwood, Mr. Wilson

Grendon and Mr. Hardesty have called. Shall I say that you are home?"

Milly shot to her feet. "Oh, my. An earl and a countess? And Mr. Grendon, as well? What will the neighbors think?"

Emma lurched out of her chair. "Why would Mr. Hardesty bring his relatives here? They must have got the wrong address, Mrs. Plummer."

"No," Caroline said wearily. "I fear they have come to the right address." She nodded to Mrs. Plummer. "Please show our guests into the parlor."

"What is going on?" Milly demanded.

"Why would the Earl of Southwood and his wife call on us?" Emma asked. "And Mr. Wilson Grendon, too"

Caroline rose. "It has to do with another startling incident that I have not had a chance to relate to you."

"What is it?" Emma asked.

"The police viewed Mr. Hardesty as a possible suspect in the murder of Mrs. Toller."

Emma and Milly stared at her, openmouthed.

"Do not concern yourselves," Caroline said hastily. "All is well. I was able to provide him with a firm alibi. But unfortunately, I fear that the entire affair is about to erupt into a sensation in the press."

"I must tell you that I am a great admirer of your stories, Mrs. Fordyce." Julia accepted a cup of tea from Milly. "It is so exciting to meet you."

"Yes, indeed." Wilson enthusiastically helped himself to a tart from the tea tray. "Don't mind saying that you make a delightful change from the usual run of Adam's acquaintances."

"Very true," Richard, the Earl of Southwood, said. He was a quiet, thoughtful man who stood directly behind his wife as though casting a protective shadow over her. He gave Adam a dryly amused look. "But then Hardesty rarely reads anything other than the Times, so it stands to reason that his circle of associates is usually equally dull."

Adam, positioned near the window, ignored his brother-in-law. He seemed content to let his relatives conduct the interview with Caroline, Emma and Milly.

Caroline managed a smile. In truth, she was feeling overwhelmed. Given what Adam had told her about his family's odd past, perhaps it should not have come as a surprise that Richard, Julia and Wilson did not exhibit the cold, supercilious behavior one would have expected. They were not, after all, typical members of the Polite World. Nevertheless, she was secretly astonished at how comfort-able the elegantly dressed visitors appeared in their modest surroundings.

Julia's expression became more serious. "Adam has told us something of your recent adventures."

Wilson nodded somberly. "We are aware that you have assisted him in his search for a certain diary. The two of you have certainly had an exciting time of it"

"Indeed they have." Emma leaned forward tensely, pinning Adam with her sharp gaze. "I do not like to pry and if it were not for the fact that Caroline is quite intimately involved in this affair, I would not dream of doing so. But my niece appears to be in this thing up to her neck and I feel it is only right that we should know why you consider it so important to retrieve that diary, Mr. Hardesty."

Milly abruptly ceased smiling, allowing everyone a clear glimpse of the sturdy, purposeful character that lay directly beneath her cheerful, optimistic exterior. "I am in

complete agreement with Emma. The situation has become distinctly menacing, what with two women dead. I think we deserve to be given some notion of the nature of the threat if only so that Caroline can be protected."