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the house, extra maids are required."
      I see." There was nothing unusual about the collection of items on
    the night table, Lavinia thought. She saw a candlestick, a pair of
    spectacles, and a ring.
    She went to the wardrobe and opened it. Tobias came to stand
    behind her with the candle. Together they surveyed the array of
    expensively cut garments.
      I want to speak with the blond maid." Tobias opened the drawers
    of the wardrobe, glancing briefly at carefully folded handkerchiefs
    and small clothes. Will you ask your butler to locate her, sir?"
      If you feel it is necessary." Beaumont took a step back and then
    hesitated uncertainly.   What is it that concerns you about this situ
    ation, March?"
      I would like to find out if Fullerton was still in the company of
    the maid when he fell to his death." Tobias turned away from the
    wardrobe and went to the night table. He stood looking down at the
    objects on the surface.   Perhaps she can describe precisely what
    occurred."
      Very well, I shall go and have a word with Drum." Beaumont
    swung around and disappeared down the hall, seemingly relieved to
    have another clear goal.
    Lavinia opened a trunk and looked inside. It was empty. All of the
    items that had been packed in it were no doubt hanging in the
    wardrobe. She closed the lid and looked at Tobias, who was in the
    process of going down on one knee to peer beneath the bed.
    She saw his jaw tighten when he shifted his weight to his left leg,
    but she resisted the urge to ask him if he was in pain. He did not
    welcome constant inquiries on the subject of the injury he had
    sustained in Italy a few months earlier. The wound had long since
    healed, but she knew it still bothered him on occasion.
    What on earth do you expect to find under there?" she asked
    instead.
      How the devil should I know?" He finished his perusal of the
    floorboards, grasped a bedpost, and hauled himself back to his feet.
      I believe we are finished here." He massaged his left thigh impatiently.    Now for the roof."
      Tobias, what is this all about? You do not think that Lord
    Fullerton's death was an accident, do you?"
    For a few seconds he looked as if he intended to evade the question. Then he shrugged.   I think he was murdered."
      I was afraid that you had concluded as much. But what leads you
    to believe that?"
      It is a long story." He headed for the door, taking the candle with
    him on a small stand.   One that I do not have time to go into just
    now."
    He was putting her off again, she thought. But this was not the
    moment to argue the point.
    Very well, but mark you, sir, I do intend to obtain a proper expla
    nation from you at the earliest possible opportunity."
    She found herself speaking to thin air. Tobias was already outside
    in the hall, moving toward the staircase.
    She was about to follow him, but something made her glance once
    more around the room they had just finished searching. Her eyes
    went to the night table. A pale wedge of moonlight illuminated the
    objects on the surface. It seemed to her that something had changed
    in the arrangement of the items.
    In the next breath she realized what the difference was. The ring
    was gone.
    An uneasy sensation fluttered across her nerves. Tobias was no
    thief. He had taken the ring for some very good reason, one that he
    had chosen not to confide to her or to Beaumont.
    Her partner had been acting in an exceedingly odd manner since
    his conversation with Aspasia Gray.
      I really do not care for that woman," she said aloud to the empty
    room.
     
    Five
     
    The servants" floor mirrored the same scene of confusion, curiosity,
    and excited dread that Lavinia had seen on the lower floors. Small
    groups of people hovered in the narrow, low-ceilinged corridor, talk
    ing in soft voices.
    At the sight of Lavinia and Tobias, all conversation ended
    abruptly. Everyone turned to look at the intruders from the guest
    floors.
    Tobias focused on the nearest person, a young