“It’s a wicked old world.” Daniel tucked his truncheon away.

“Son, I suggest you mend your ways, or you’ll find yourself picking oakum in Newgate. You’ll have plenty of time to consider your ill-spent youth if you’re shipped off to the Antipodes.” Sir Bertrand tapped the back of the man’s head with the hilt of the knife, just hard enough to sting.

The man grunted and squirmed.

Sir Bertrand rose, lithe and agile, and brushed himself off. The miscreant took the opportunity to push himself up and race after his departing friend.

“It is, as you say, a wicked old world.” He adjusted his cravat. “What happened after you left Almack’s?” Just like Sir Bertrand to get right to business.

They fell into step, and Daniel recounted the events. “I was able to eliminate Mrs. Fairchild from suspicion in the murder of Mr. Montgomery. She was at a receiver’s shop pawning a diamond necklace to pay a gambling debt the morning of the explosion. Her alibi was verified.”

Daniel hitched his cloak collar higher as a gust of wind skittered across the path, stirring up last fall’s leaves. “It isn’t all dire news, however. When we got her into an interview room at Bow Street, she split like a sack of beans, admitting she stole the household money at Montgomery’s during the luncheon. She confessed she excused herself and found the office, jimmied the lock, and made off with the money.”

He scratched his cheek, remembering. “She would not stop blathering once she started, and she threw in both crying and wheedling. About how she had hoped to marry Mr. Montgomery and solve her financial problems, and how his daughter was being obdurate and not giving her any money or gifts, even though she had put it to her as bluntly as possible. Every time she tried to visit after the funeral, she was told Miss Montgomery was not receiving visitors.”

“So you caught a thief but not a killer. Did she admit to the cheating at Almack’s?”

“Yes. As I said, everything came gushing out once the sluice gate opened. Mr. Donaldson was fuming when we told him we had all we needed from her to convict him. I turned the pair of them over to an associate, and they’ll stand before the magistrate to answer. I plan to visit Miss Montgomery later today to inform her that, while I have apprehended the thief of her household money, none of it was recovered.”

“I don’t envy you. What is the state of your investigation now?” Sir Bertrand walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his footsteps crunching on the gravel path.