“The name. And I will know if you lie. Because I know who had the real cane.”
Keales swallowed hard. “Marty. Um... Martin Sullyard.”
“Mr. Sullyard keeps company with another man. A big man. Like a bull elephant.”
His eyes widened again. “Yeah. That’d be Moses. Moses Crago.”
“And Mr. Crago works for...”
“Nobody now. He used to work one of the warehouses on the docks.”
Rose stepped back and offered the knife to Davis, handle first, and he took it gingerly. She pulled the ten-pound notes out of her pocket but hesitated before handing them over. She tilted her head sideways, peering at Keales with curiosity. “Mr. Keales, how well do you know Mr. Sullyard?”
He shrugged.
“Do you know him well enough to invite him to go gambling with you and your windfall of twenty pounds?”
He stared at her, unmoving. “Maybe.”
“If you and Mr. Sullyard show up at Campion’s Gentlemen’s Emporium Friday night around eleven in the evening, you may come here after and collect another twenty pounds. No matter whether you win or lose on the floor.”
His mouth fell open and he looked at Davis again. “Is she serious?”
“Lady Rose is always serious.”
Keales looked at her again, but his eyes narrowed. “How would you know we were there?”
“How did you find out I was searching for that cane?”
He thought about that for a moment. “You know people in the hell.”
“Mr. Keales, I know people all over this city. Especially people in Covent Garden. If Mr. Sullyard is at Campion’s Friday night, I will know by Saturday morning. You may pick up your money on Sunday afternoon. Do we have a bargain?”
He looked Rose up and down, suddenly his expression that of a savvy Covent Garden merchant. “You ain’t crazy at all, are you? It’s an act to get what you want.”
“Do we have a bargain?”
He nodded, his mouth set a firm line. “Yes. And if you are looking for anything else that might pass through my shop, you let me know.”
She held out her hand. “I will do just that, Mr. Keales.”
He shook her hand as if she were a man, and Rose nodded to the footmen, who escorted Keales out.
She turned to Davis, who handed her the cane. He glanced toward the departing pawnbroker. “Please tell me we will not be entertaining regular visitors of his ilk.”
Rose examined the head of the cane, which did have a brownish-red spot between the wolf’s ears. “Dear God, I hope not. I’m hoping we can conclude this series of miscalculations and misunderstandings within a few days so that I may make my way to Yorkshire.”
“You will be missed, my lady. The household will be much duller without you.”
“A proper English household, in other words.”
“If you say so, my lady.”
She grinned. “Would you please return the knife to Cook? I need to send a note to Lord Robert right away.”
“May I make a suggestion, Lady Rose?”
She looked up at him. “Of course.”
