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“It would be helpful if we knew exactly who to look for in so large a gathering,” Clarke said grimly. “Although the fisherman in Bristol’s description of the fellow he witnessed at the dock was helpful, Jealous is the only one of us who knows the man. And it’s been years since he saw him.”

“That is where I hope Miss Dennington can assist us,” Sir John said.

The clock on the mantel struck the hour, and as though Sir John’s clerk had waited for that very moment, a knock sounded at the door.

“Enter!” Sir John called.

Brogden stepped into the room. “Miss Dennington is here to see you, my lord,” he said.

“Excellent,” Sir John said. “Show her in.”

The gentlemen rose to their feet as Hannah and her maid, Fanny, entered. Dressed in an elegant floral gown and a bonnet trimmed with flowers and lace, Hannah glided toward the desk. Her gaze shifted from one man to the other until it rested upon Samuel, and then her polite expression softened. He responded with a smile, noting with bemusement that his earlier anxiety had evaporated. Hannah was well used to being in a room full of businessmen, and she knew exactly how to comport herself among them. She would not be intimidated by Sir John, Clarke, or Jealous, but her small smile meant solely for Samuel had told him that she was glad he was there.

“Miss Dennington,” Samuel said, “may I introduce Sir John Fielding, magistrate of Westminster.” He turned slightly to include his colleagues in the introduction. “Mr. Charles Jealous and Mr. John Clarke, principal officers at Bow Street.”

Hannah curtsied. “I am honored to meet you, my lord,” she said. “Gentlemen.”

The gentlemen bowed. “The honor is ours, Miss Dennington,” Sir John replied. “Please be seated.”

Hannah took the empty chair next to Samuel, and when everyone had resumed their places, Sir John got straight to the point. “Mr. Ross has informed us that you may have witnessed a person of interest in our investigation of the fire at the London wharf.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Would you tell us what you can about him? Including a description and your impressions of the gentleman.”

“Of course.” She hesitated as though gathering her thoughts. “It was soon after four o’clock. The sun was lowering in the sky, but there was still enough light to see the man clearly. He arrived at the wharf in a small tender boat and appeared to be in a great hurry.”

“Could you tell which direction he had come from?”

“No, my lord. I did not notice him until his craft bumped the quay.”

“And what made you think he was in a hurry?” Sir John asked.

“He did not bother to tie up the boat, and he moved quickly. He was not running—I daresay that would have garnered too much attention—but he walked with purpose and kept his head down.”

“Did he speak to you?”

“No, my lord. Mr. Ellerby, the wharf clerk, greeted him. He responded with a nod of his head but then turned away. He continued in the direction of the warehouses and spoke to no one else whilst he was yet within my sight.”

“I see.” Sir John steepled his fingers. “What do you remember of his appearance?”

“He was short,” Hannah said. “Not much taller than I am. And thin. Everything about him was faded brown. It was the color of his jacket, breeches, and shoes as well as his thin hair and whiskers.” A hint of color touched her cheeks. “I’m afraid his appearance brought to mind the rats that tend to frequent the wharf.”

“That’s as apt a description of Aitken as I’ve ever heard,” Jealous said.

Sir John nodded his agreement. “Would you know him if you saw him again, Miss Dennington?”

“Yes, my lord.”

The magistrate’s eyebrows disappeared beneath his black band. “Without question, it seems.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“I once heard Mr. Dennington remark upon Miss Dennington’s extraordinary ability to notice things that most would miss, my lord,” Samuel said. “If I might be so bold, I would suggest that he might say something similar about her ability to recognize people.”

“Is this true, Miss Dennington?” Sir John asked.

“It is, my lord. Although I recently struggled to identify someone I had not seen in twelve years because he had gone from being a boy to a man.”