Save for a spot on the bottom one, where a gap appeared.
Wrexford looked more closely and saw three circles visible in the faint powdering of dust, which seemed to indicate that the items had only recently been removed. Also catching his eye was a small pocket notebook lodged beneath the bottom shelf.
A glance across the room showed Drummond was still at work. Turning back to the cabinet, the earl opened the book and began to thumb through the pages.
The clatter of the canisters soon quieted. A momentarywhooshof the flame reigniting filled the air, followed by Drummond’s querulous voice. “I really don’t know what more I can tell you, Mr. Tyler. Now, I really must turn all my attention to—”
“Perhaps you can clarify what happened to the three bottles that appear to have gone missing from this cabinet?” called Wrexford.
Drummond dropped his stirring spoon and rushed over.
“According to your very detailed notes, the missing substances are rhodium, palladium, and mercury.”Which also matched the ingredients of his own experiments.Wrexford held up the notebook. “You list the position of each container and the date it is used up. There is no entry for those three, so I assume they, too, were stolen.”
The chemist blinked. A sheen of sweat coated his forehead. Whether it was from the heat of the crucible or some other cause was impossible to discern. “That cabinet should have been locked!”
“It wasn’t,” said Wrexford. “Rhodium is quite expensive. And the amount of mercury listed is rather large. Did you have them for a reason?”
“I . . . I wished to try out an idea I had in mind, once the current phase of my experiment is finished,” answered Drummond stiffly. “I would rather not elaborate on the details, milord. I believe it to be a very original idea.”
“I have no intention of stealing a march on you,” said Wrexford dryly. “Tell me, do you keep the main door to your laboratory under lock and key?”
“Yes, of course. And as I told Mr. Tyler, there was no sign of forced entry,” replied Drummond. “Perhaps now the Institution will take my complaints seriously. It’s plain as a pikestaff that this was no random prank. Someone who is familiar with the laboratories here wants to discredit my reputation with Davy and ruin my career!”
The chemist’s mouth pinched to a pout. “I had high hopes of presenting some very exciting results at the next meeting of our members, but I was forced to start over on my experiment, as the theft ruined the timing.”
“Did you report the theft to the authorities as well as the superintendent here?” inquired Tyler.
“No, I didn’t waste my breath. Do you really think a Runner is going to bother hunting for a few bottles of powders and liquids?” snapped the chemist. “Especially as the Institution has not deigned to take any of my complaints seriously.”
The earl made no reply.
Bitterness welled up in Drummond’s voice. “And nor, it seems, do you. Why are you askingmethese questions? I’ve given all the details I know to the head watchman. You should be interrogating the others who work in this section of the building to find out who the culprit is.”
“You truly believe one of your fellow men of science was responsible?” asked Wrexford.
“Yes!” insisted Drummond, his face flushing in anger. “I told you, there are vipers here who are up to no good. I often work late and I’ve seen the slithering that goes on late at night when they think no one is paying attention.” He sucked in a sharp breath. “Strange noises, odd packages, people who clearly have no business being in a laboratory.”
Wrexford held back the sarcastic retort that immediately came to mind. “Suspicious people, you say? Like whom?”
Drummond let out his answer in a huff. “Like that reverend who has been preaching sermons about the evils of science.”
* * *
Charlotte turned from the stove, hearing the metallic clink of the outer door latch. The lads trooped into the room a moment later, looking well pleased with themselves. A telltale smudge of strawberry jam on Hawk’s chin explained why.
“Sorry we was—were—late, m’lady,” said Raven. “We were asked to wait for the gentleman to write his reply, and then we stopped by Bow Street to see what we could learn—”
“The Runner asked His Nibs where he was last night, and His Nibs admitted he had been out walking—alone!” interrupted Hawk in a rush.
His brother shot him an aggrieved look.
“Sorry,” apologized Hawk in a small voice.
“Come sit,” said Charlotte. “You must be hungry after all your travels.” Notwithstanding the strawberry tarts they had been fed by Jeremy’s cook. “You can both tell me all the details while we eat.”
Raven’s expression brightened. He crossed to the table, but before taking a seat, he reached into his pocket and fished out a folded piece of paper. “Here’s the letter, m’lady.”
Both boys watched intently as she cracked the wax wafer and skimmed over its contents.
