“I have no idea. It all depends when he can get away. I know Daniel will want to catch Houdini’s act before he sails back to Europe. In truth I don’t know if I’m so keen, after what I witnessed last night. I’d keep expecting something else to go horribly wrong.”

“I’m sure these things are usually perfectly safe. Why don’t you come with us tonight, if Daniel isn’t free to escort you. Then we can go to a coffeehouse afterward for a heated discussion on how the illusions were done.”

“I watched many of them last night and I was completely baffled,” I said. “Even simple tricks like making a card rise from the pack. But then I’m Irish and easily impressed by anything that appears to be supernatural, I suppose.”

“So what are your plans for today, Molly?” Gus asked. “Ever since your engagement you have been so caught up with that policeman of yours that we’ve hardly seen you.”

I nodded. “Daniel keeps wanting me to look at houses and flats,” I said. “When all I want is to stay here and have him move into my house. I promised he could furnish it to suit his taste and it is a perfectly acceptable address, is it not? So close to Fifth Avenue, and to his police headquarters, but for some reason he is not keen on the idea.”

Sid and Gus burst out laughing. “For some reason?” Sid said. “My dear Molly, the reason is sitting before you. He doesn’t approve of your associating with us. He’s afraid we are filling your heads with wild, radical thoughts.”

“If he stopped to think for a moment he’d know that I am not easily led by anyone,” I said. “And you are my dearest friends. Why would I not want to live so close to you, especially when his career entails working to all hours? It would be most reassuring to me to have friends I could call upon in need.”

“Then stick to your guns,” Gus said. “We don’t want you to move away. So tell him it’s the new Ansonia building or you’re not moving.”

I smiled. “I’d rather live here than one of those fancy new buildings. And of course Daniel couldn’t live so far uptown. He has to be within reach of police headquarters.”

“Then this spot seems ideal to me,” Gus said.

“Me too,” I said.

“You haven’t yet revealed the secret of your latest cases.” Sid pulled her chair up closer to me. “What dastardly crime or sordid divorce are you working on? Come on, spill all. We won’t let you go until you confess.”

“I wish I had something to confess,” I said. “In truth I’m currently unemployed. Not a case on the horizon. I suppose people go out of town in the summer months.”