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out. "I told you, I am not being blackmailed."
    "Perhaps not, my lord, but the blackmailer was sufficiently well acquainted with you to know that you
    intended to he out of Town for a considerable length of time."
    "That was not a secret, either." "No?" Iphiginia gave him a challenging look. "Virtually everything you do
    is a secret to most people, sir. Think back. How many people actually knew your plans to go to your
    estate for a month?"
    "Any number of people," Marcus replied easily. "My man of affairs, for example. My servants."
    "And the men with whom you played whist shortly before you leftLondon?" Iphiginia asked blandly.
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    "Hell and damnation." Marcus experienced a grudging sense of admiration. The lady was clever, indeed.
    "You really did make a thorough study of me, did you not?"
    "Yes, sir, I did. I am very good at research. Among the things I discovered almost immediately was
    that-you had played cards with Lartmore, Darrow, Pettigrew, and Judson at one of your clubs the day
    before you leftLondon."
    "And Lady Guthrie confirmed that they had also played a few hands with her late husband."
    "Not only that," Iphiginia said with great satisfaction, "but they had played cards quite regularly with him
    for nearly twenty years before he died, sir. That number is important because my aunt's great secret dates
    back eighteen years. "
    Marcus smiled slowly. "Brilliant, Mrs. Bright. Absolutely brilliant. You have concocted a truly amazing
    tale to explain your astonishing behavior. I am consumed with admiration for your inventiveness and
    originality."
    Her face fell. "You believe that I have invented the entire thing?"
    "Yes, madam, I do." Marcus held up a hand. "But don't let that stop you. I assure you, I am enjoying the
    play to the utmost. You are a captivating actress of exceptional talent. I feel privileged to have a minor
    role in the performance."
    Confusion and a deep wariness flickered in her eyes. "You do not believe me, but you are not angry?"
    "To he perfectly truthful, I'm not, yet certain just how I feel about the entire affair. I am still pondering the
    matter."
    "I see," she muttered. "Do you generally take a long time to consider matters before you decide how you
    feel about them?"
    He smiled at the note of asperity in her voice. "You sound like a governess demanding a response from a
    slow pupil. The answer is that I have a rule against altering a decision once I have made it. But the
    corollary to that rule is that I gather 0 the facts first before making my decision."
    She brightened. "I am well aware of your famous rules, sir. May I take it that you are still gathering the
    facts in this instance?" "Why not?" "That is a great relief, sir." She gave him her shatteringly brilliant smile.
    "I have faith in your intellectual nature. I know that once you realize that I am telling the truth, you will he
    only too happy to assist me in my efforts to discover the blackmailers
    Marcus felt the carriage rumble to a halt. "Rest assured, Mrs. Bright, I shall take pleasure in learning
    everything there is to know about this entire situation."
    "Of course." She seemed blithely unconcerned now. "That is your nature."
    "Do you know," Marcus observed as his footman opened the carriage door, "I do, not believe that
    anyone has ever before set out to study my nature. Did you find the task interesting?"
    “Oh, yes, my lord." Her eyes glowed. as she allowed herself to he assisted down onto the pavement. "It
    was every bit as fascinating as the ruins ofPompeii."
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    "Nice to know I can hold my own with a classical ruin." Marcus got out of the carriage and took her
    arm. He glanced up at Dinks. "I shall be a while."
    Dinks, who had been with him for years, nodded with an air of cheerful complacency. "Aye, m'lord.
    We'll he waitin' for ye."
    Iphiginia glanced sharply at