Mr. Gardiner asked Darcy if he wished to hear the findings of those employed in the discovery of what could be known of the events surrounding the murder. Mr. Darcy gave a sad and barely perceptible nod of his head. Mr. Gardiner continued, “Darcy, this much has been established: the runners bent the course of their enquiries toward the less creditable gaming establishments, located in King Street, as well as the more remote environs out of the reach of the regular London constabulary. A gentleman answering to a general description of the Viscount had been seen at various of the lower gaming dens in the days prior to his death, nearly all of which are believed to belong to the infamous William Crockford.”

Here, Mr. Darcy looked up and asked Mr. Gardiner if he should know the name of William Crockford, as he did not.

“Darcy, would to Heaven that you did not need to know it now. The maleficent Mr. Crockford is known in London police circles as ‘The Shark.’ Crockford is reputed to be a man of a deceptively torpid countenance, but one who is possessed of an uncommon intelligence and implacable determination, both of which he has used to great effect in the creation of a vast criminal network of assorted felons, whose debts have placed themselves under his service. His considerable fortune—estimated to be several hundred thousands of pounds, as conjectured by the Bow Street officer-in-charge—has been amassed through clever exploitation of unlucky gentlemen gamesters, regrettably, just such as was the Viscount. Crockford has been implicated in the ruination of numerous gentlemen through various dishonest gaming practises, but the association is of such a secretive kind, that no records exist which could conclusively tie Crockford to any specific misdeeds. It was possible for the officers to establish, however, that Dunfield had recently borrowed substantial sums from several of Crockford’s money-lenders. The officer and I conjecture that this perilous act was a vain attempt to win enough at the lower establishments in order to redeem the debts of honour previously contracted. Crockford being better at his game than his victim, Dunfield had lost the entirety of the borrowed sums in the low gambling houses within the week prior to his death.”

In an attitude Mr. Gardiner had never before witnessed, his nephew sat in the chair with his head bowed, and supported on his hands in a most abject manner. “I do not deny that this history is almost too dreadful to be credited as the truth, especially as it concerns one so closely connected with an ancient and respectable family. I entirely understand, Darcy, if you do not wish me to continue.” Darcy only raised an hand and silently motioned for Mr. Gardiner to proceed.