“Let me send down for some for you.” I went over to the bellpull. He shook his head. “Too much to do. I’ll have one of the constables bring me in a sandwich. I have to go back immediately. I’ve a vehicle waiting. I only came to see if you were all right and to let you know what’s happening. You will be careful, won’t you? I think you’ll be quite safe here. You’re registered under a false name and the desk clerk knows, but just in case don’t open your door to anyone you don’t know.”

At that moment there was a noise outside and the door handle began to move. Daniel leaped across the room and wrenched it open. “Holy Mother of God,” said a shocked voice outside. “You gave me quite a fright, Captain Sullivan.”

“Oh, it’s you again, O’Hare,” Daniel said in a clipped voice. “What do you want now?”

“Such a warm greeting, it brings tears to my Irish eyes,” Ryan said, coming into the room past Daniel. “As to what I want—first I wanted to see how Molly was this morning and if there was anything I could do to keep her happy. And second I’ve rummaged through my things and brought over some clothes she might wear until she has some of her own. I told her she’d look stunning in britches.”

“My wife will not be wearing britches,” Daniel said curtly. “And thank you for your offer. It was most kind, but I have a woman police officer coming over shortly with some suitable new clothing.”

“Then ‘all’s well that ends well,’ as we say in theater,” Ryan said, giving me a breezy smile. “If you need company, Molly, you only have to summon me. I’m dying to read you a scene from my new play. So funny I have to chuckle every time I read it. Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Of course we’ll have problems with the fig leaves and the censors…”

“I must be leaving,” Daniel interrupted. “And Mrs. Sullivan will be leaving soon as well.”

“Where are you going, Molly, my love?” Ryan asked.

“I’m afraid that has to stay a secret,” Daniel said before I could answer. “One attempt has been made on my wife’s life. I can’t risk a second. The object is to get her away from the city as quickly as possible. And the fewer people who know of her whereabouts the better.” He tried to usher Ryan from the room with him, but Ryan refused to be ushered and dodged nimbly to my side.

“I think I’ll stay and watch over you until you are transported away,” Ryan said.

Daniel sighed. “I’ll come to check on you later today, when you are settled in,” he said. “Take care of yourself.”

“More to the point you take care of yourself, Daniel Sullivan,” I went over to give him a kiss. “You’re the one in danger, not me.”

“I’ll be careful, I promise,” he said, managed a grim smile, and left.