The harassment of the Sugar and Spice Tea Shop and Mediumistic Establishment appears to be at an end; Vito and Paulo don't show up again. Peter Collins's Halloween article in the Boston Globe runs on the front page of the entertainment section. However, the party doesn't completely break up (lucky for the run!).

Esme arranges some further dinners; in addition to any social causes, the Valiants find that they can get useful advice on cases, Peter gets useful leads on some stories and some good connections for interviews from Esme, and Charlie gets free food... During the next year or so, the Valiants cases, in addition to the more normal runaways and unfaithful spouses, include:

• The Mysterious Affair of the Man in Grey. A woman who thinks she's being stalked hires the Valiants. Initial surveillance indicates that she is, in fact, being stalked, by a man in grey. The man in question doesn't appear to be very bright, and can't easily explain why he's following the woman. Before he gets locked up as a maniac, however, some psychological suggestions by Dr. Schreber and some archival digging by Mr. Collins turn up suggestions that the man is, in fact, one of those separated-at-birth twins who has begun to recognize his long-lost sister. A somewhat stilted reunion is arranged, and the woman seems reassured.
• The Eccentric Case of the Eccentric Husband. A woman, having heard about the Valiants' success in exorcizing the ghost which was haunting Mrs. Genelli (at least, that's the way she puts it) wants them to exorcise the ghost possessing her husband. While the husband is, in fact, behaving somewhat oddly, Dr. Schreber is able to pin it on atropine poisoning, and a search of the house discovers some old herbal teas which seem to be contaminated. The obvious suspect, the wife, is eventually ruled out when some records-digging turns up what appears to have been Grandfather's death of atropine poisoning (the herbal tea having been Grandmother's). Mr. Bellesby also proves helpful here, both in doubting any actual possession, and in confirming some very long-ago murderous emotions associated with the tea.

• Dr. Schreber continues his medical practice and "researches into the workings of body and mind", and begins to make a name for himself as the physician of choice for those suffering from nervous disorders. At the monthly dinner get-togethers, his offers to "enhance" people's drinks tend to be declined.

Family Matters
Index