Chapter 3It had been a brisk morning for trade at Shelford’s, the exclusive tailors on Bond Street, even if the most modish customers wouldn’t dream of appearing on the premises until after noon.
At ten o’clock, Daniel Walters, senior assistant to Mr. Shelford, had discreetly withdrawn when the master tailor greeted an older, heavily corseted customer, leading him decorously to a private room for his appointment. Daniel had a sneaking suspicion that the gentleman’s early arrival was to spare him from direct comparisons with various specimens of muscular and youthful manhood who would appear later in the day.
While the store was empty, Daniel occupied himself by tidying the main counter. He noticed some correspondence placed there by the shop boy and methodically opened each letter, recog
