Marcus said to the phalanx of soldiers lounging in front of the Eversea town house. He’d brought out a plate of seedcakes for them, and they all took one. They looked bored, as well they should. Why on earth would they think Colin might migrate to his own town house? “Good morning, Mr. Eversea.” “Any signs of my brother yet?” “None, Mr. Eversea.” “Good,” he said. They all laughed. “One hundred pounds, Mr. Ever- sea! Colin is worth a fortune!” “So I’ve heard. But not for the lot of you, am I right? Finding him is your job. What a shame, eh? And my brother is innocent, you know.” He’d said this every morning since Colin disap peared. It had become a ritual for all of them. “If you say so, sir,” they answered politely. Soldiers amused him. “Where are you off to, Mr. Eversea?” “To see Mr. Redmond. We’ll be having a talk about gaslight.” “Oh, very good, sir!” Marcus didn’t have far to go, for the Redmonds’ town house was also on St. James Square.
