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“I only knew of the mark when the coroner asked that I identify his body But Joseph mentioned the Brethren in the days before his death”

“And you do not kno he came to be a member of this club?” Verity asked

The gentleman stared absently at the oppressive wallpaper before releasing a weary sigh “Joseph ran with a wild crowd Men who lack principles Powerful men who do not deserve the name hich they were born”

Mr Trent sat forward “Do you know the names of these men?”

Mr Bradley waved his hand casually in the air “Knowledge is power, Mr Trent, do not let anyone tell you otherwise But a loose tongue can bring the devil’s wrath down on anyone’s head I prefer to keep toabout their onfall”

“If we all adopted such an attitude,” Mr Trent began in an unforgiving tone, “the ieance for your kin, but I will have justice for mine”

Mr Bradley’s head bobbed The poor th Pity hung like a dead weight in Verity’s chest Was it pride that prevented hi his obvious discomfort? He was a reasonably handsome man Were it not for his disability and his obsession with books, Mr Bradleyfor his attention

“Let ive you the na no fear as to the repercussions should the men learn they had made the list of suspects “Duffen Wincote Sellwood Layton”

Mr Bradley took a“All of those ood Lord says, all of those men shall one day reap what they sow, but it shall not be by my hand”

“Then let it be by mine”

Perhaps Mr Trent enjoyed the power that caht He certainly seee into battle

“I’ your position if called to a dawn appointaze flitted back to his book Was it sha eye contact? “One with ht”

Mr Bradley see his lips sealed But Verity would learn so

“Sir, did your brother share a friendship with any of the men mentioned?” Verity came to her feet and crossed the rooile up close Indeed, disdain for the world, not a lack of self-assurance, flashed briefly in his eyes “As a ic, can you not advise us as to the best place to start an investigation?”

The gentleht a lump to Verity’s throat The need to breathe easier left her inhaling a few deep, dusty breaths She turned her head and coughed