“Surveillance,” Matilda said, “but also… be on the alert. Listen a little more carefully on darts night. Tell the crossing sweepers to keep an eye out for strangers who don’t sound like they’re from London, but who ask after me or my house. For God’s sake, keep a close eye on Tommie and, for that matter, a close eye on me.”

“Could there be a house-stealing swindle afoot?” Mrs. Winklebleck asked. “The cheats present themselves as the owner of the premises and accept coin for its sale. You are left with a lawsuit on yer hands and squatters in yer house. T’other house-stealing rig sees you snatched off the street. You aren’t set free until you sign the papers giving up the house.”

“Bad business, that,” Cook said, “but London is the place to try such a scheme. Houses come dear here, and there aren’t enough of them for all who need shelter.”

Matilda, clearly, was not shocked by Mrs. Winklebleck’s suggestion. “Harry attempted something like that once. I wasn’t supposed to know about it, but I overheard him berating a… a colleague for bungling some bit of deception. Nobody is to risk injury or worse over this situation, but something is afoot, something unsavory, and I would appreciate your assistance getting to the bottom of it.”

“MacPherson used to make up the assignment schedule for picket duty,” MacIvey said. “We know how to take a gander without drawing notice.”

“In twos, then,” MacPherson said. “Every ninety minutes? That’s once a night for each of us if we start at half past ten in the evening and work in pairs. The crossing sweepers generally work until ten-ish, and Charles will know who minds the corner nearest the house.”

Bentley sketched a rough map of the neighborhood, and the whole household was soon crowded around the reading table, discussing approaches, places to hide, vantage points, and paths of ingress and egress to the property.

Something of a soldier’s focus on a mission took over the meeting, while half cups of tea grew cold, and the hour advanced. A plan emerged, of surveillance on the house and neighborhood, supervision for Tommie, and intelligence gathering. Tremont hadn’t contributed much beyond a few questions, and he knew the discussion would continue after he and Matilda left the library.

“I must see that Tommie gets to bed,” Matilda said, rising from her place at the reading table. “I thank you all for your concern. This is not a problem I could handle without reinforcements.”

“Won’t be any problem a’tall,” MacIvey said. “The lads will keep a sharp eye out and have a few quiet words in the right ears, and whoever thinks to help himself to your house will make other plans in a hurry.”