Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick Page B

little of each other."
      Is that when you first heard rumors of mysterious deaths in the
    polite world?"
      Yes, I suppose so. But I must admit that the occasional demise of
    an elderly lord or a rich widow did not arouse curiosity or interest
    in me or anyone else. I was busy with my career as a man of business and raising Anthony. There was little time to spare for idle
    speculation. Then Napoleon escaped from Elba and we were once
    again at war."
      And Crackenburne summoned you back to your other profession,"
    she said.
      He also summoned Zachary. But this time Crackenburne did not
    ask me to give Elland his instructions. Elland and I were colleagues
    of a sort and we exchanged information, but we did not work
    together."
      When did you become suspicious of him?"
      In the months following the victory at Waterloo, the series of
    suicides and accidents I mentioned occurred in a fairly short span of
    time. At that point I was on my way to establishing my new career
    as a private-inquiry agent. I began to notice some of the similar
    details of the deaths, as I told you."
      And you eventually tracked down Zachary Elland," she
    concluded.
    Yes. In the course of the investigation I showed the death's-head
    rings to Crackenburne. He remembered old rumors of a professional
    murderer who had once used the same signature. They called him
    the Memento-Mori Man. It was said that no one who met him and
    learned his true identity ever lived to tell the tale. Elland obviously
    had heard the stories and decided to pattern himself on a legend."
      Tobias, listen to me. Elland's decision to become a professional
    murderer had nothing whatsoever to do with the work he did for
    you."
      There was a note in the safe where I discovered the rings and the
    journal. It was addressed to me. In it Zachary said that if I found the
    letter it meant that I had won. He congratulated me as though I
    were the victor in a chess match."
      Such villainy is almost incomprehensible."
      In the note he informed me that I was a worthy opponent. The
    last line of the letter read, It is the thrill of the hunt that I will miss
    the most."
      He was truly a monster."
      I must tell you," Tobias said in a low voice,   there are times when
    I can comprehend his passion for the hunt all too well."
      Tobias."
      There is a very intense sensation that comes over me when I
    know that I have picked up the scent of the quarry. There is no deny
    ing that there is a certain dark thrill attached to the business." He
    looked at her across the candle. In the light of flaring flame, his eyes
    glowed like those of some great beast of the night.   Elland once told
    me that he thought the two of us had a great deal in common. He
    may have been right."
      Stop it at once, Tobias." She squeezed his arm very fiercely.   Do
    not dare to suggest that you and Elland were alike in any way. To
    take satisfaction in the hunt is one thing. It is your nature to seek
    answers and to see that justice is done. It is quite another matter
    altogether to take pleasure in death. We both know that you could
    never do that."
      Sometimes late at night, I have wondered if the difference
    between Elland and myself is only a matter of degree."
      Damnation, Tobias, I will not abide such foolish talk. Do you hear
    me, sir?"
    He smiled humorlessly.   Yes, Misses Lake, I hear you."
      I never met your old acquaintance, but I can assure you that you
    and Zachary Elland are as different as night and day."
      Are you quite certain of that, madam?" he asked much too softly.
      I am absolutely positive of that fact. My intuition, as you well
    know, is extremely keen." She wanted to shake him.   You are no
    killer, Tobias March."
    Tobias did not say a word, but his gaze was disconcertingly
    steady. Belatedly, she thought about their last case, the one she had
    privately titled the Affair of the Mad Mesmerist in her journal.
    She cleared her throat.   Yes, well, there may have been