He did not ask a question. That he already knew about my involvement did not surprise me. He paid people in my neighborhood to watch me and report to him everything I did.

I saw no benefit in lying. "I have. What is your interest?"

"Let us say I have had my eye on the piece. I would very much like to be informed when you have found it."

"Why?" I asked, curious in spite of myself. "It is a Mayfair lady's necklace. Expensive, yes, but hardly in your league."

His expression did not change. "Nevertheless, report to me when you have found it. Better still, bring it to me."

I regarded him as coolly as he regarded me. "I know you find this repeated declaration tedious, but I do not work for you. Nor do I ever intend to work for you. Lady Clifford asked me to discover what has become of her necklace, and that is what I will do."

Denis did not like the answer no. He'd been known to punish-thoroughly and finally-those who told him no too often. But I could not say anything else. I had pledged myself to Lady Clifford, and that was that.

"I did not say I would not allow you to return the diamonds to Lady Clifford," Denis said. "I want to examine the necklace myself first, is all."

"Why?"

"That, Captain, is my business."

Meaning I'd never drag the reason out of him, no matter how much I tried. "What is special about this necklace?" I asked instead. "You betray yourself with too much interest."

Denis tapped his walking stick on the roof and almost instantly, the pugilist footman wrenched open the door. "That I can determine only when I hold it in my hands. Good day, Captain."

The footman helped me climb to the ground. Denis turned to look out the opposite window as the footman closed the door again, finished with me.

I was happy to go, but he'd started me wondering. Denis did not involve himself in anything that did not bring him great profit. A missing lady's necklace should be, as I'd told him, far below his notice. I would have to find out.