Abstract: Grace Hammer lives a sweet enough life with her children in London's dank and dirty East End, dipping the pockets of wealthy strangers foolish enough to enter there. She keeps a clean house and a tight hold on her magpie nature, restricting her interests to wallets and pocket watches. At night she dreams of shiny things. Out in the dark countryside Mr Blunt rocks in his seat by the fire, grinding his teeth. He has never forgotten his scarlet treasure, or the harlot who stole it from him. At night he dreams of slitting her lily-white throat...