Free No Place for a Lady by Joan Smith

elegant bits and pieces that stood out in contrast to the rest. The wine decanter and glasses, sitting on a silver tray, had the prismatic sparkle of crystal. On a side table there was a chess set, with a board done in squares of dark and light marble. Handsome carved marble pieces were scattered over the board, indicating a game in progress. A crystal ink pot and some desk accessories were also there.
    “You see why I required the desk,” Alger said. He had come up behind me. “Sharkey is my usual chess partner. I fear I cannot match him for skill. Did he settle his account, by the by?”
    “Yes,” I said, and blushed to remember how I had been talked into taking that valuable watch.
    “The ruby ring?” he asked, with a brow lifted in concern.
    “Ruby? He said it was garnet.”
    “Looked like a ruby to me. I would not advise you to accept anything but cash from him, Miss Irving. One dislikes to speak ill of a man behind his back, but I once bought a watch from him and lived to regret it.”
    “What happened?” I asked in alarm.
    “A constable came and relieved me of it. I narrowly avoided incarceration myself. ‘Receiving stolen goods,’ I believe was the charge. I managed to convince them of my innocence.”
    “You mean he is a thief! He said he bought up bankrupt shops and households.”
    “He does that, too, upon occasion.” My distress must have been evident, for he said. “Miss Irving! You haven’t ... ?”
    “A watch,” I said, and drew it from my pocket. Now that I knew why he had asked for secrecy, I did not feel guilty about revealing the transaction. “I got it for Miss Thackery’s birthday. She lost her watch. Oh, dear, I must give it back to him at once. I wish you had warned me, Mr. Alger.”
    “It was my intention to warn Sharkey off from pulling this stunt on you. I even—” He stopped and just frowned.
    “You gave him money to pay his rent! You did, confess it, Mr. Alger. I saw you giving him money.”
    “You don’t miss much! It was a loan. He always repays his loans, one way or another.”
    “That was very kind of you, but I fear kindness is wasted on Mr. Sharkey. I shall ask him to leave.”
    “Oh, I would not be too hasty, Miss Irving,” he said, with an ingratiating smile. “Heaven knows who you would find to replace him. He is having a difficult time making ends meet at the moment, but he always pays eventually. He supports his widowed mother, you see, and four younger sisters.”
    “That is kind of him to be sure, but I shall give back his watch all the same.”
    We went to Mr. Sharkey’s room and knocked on his door. There was no answer. We ran straight downstairs, only to find that Mr. Sharkey had left. “I shall give it back to him first thing tomorrow,” I said, “and in the meanwhile, I shall hide it in a vase, in case the constable comes to search me.”
    “They are not allowed to search your house without a warrant,” Mr. Alger said. I must have looked suspicious, because he felt obliged to explain his knowledge of this fact. “You will not be acquainted with Sharkey for long without learning the rudiments of your legal rights,” he said, with a smile. “It is quite an experience, learning how the other half lives, is it not?”
    “ ‘Experience’ is one word for it.”
    “You must not let yourself become so upset over these trifles, Miss Irving.”
    “Trifles! I am a receiver of stolen goods! I might be locked in the roundhouse before morning.”
    “Perhaps he came by the watch legitimately. And in the worst case, I can recommend an excellent lawyer. He will get you off with a couple of years. I am joking, Miss Irving! I think you require a glass of wine.”
    He poured a glass of wine and took one himself. I could see Mr. Alger was upset over something. He was silent, and wore a puzzled frown as he sipped his wine. But before he left, he made the effort to be more sociable.
    “You have not forgotten we are to visit Somerset House