He was, however, pleased to note that most of the mental check marks on the Admiration side were placed there after receiving smiles or flirtatious glances from the ladies. And many of the young women in this town were lovely. But it also struck him odd how the so-called respectable gentlemen had a prejudice against a man with an awkward gait. With many Mexican War veterans hobbling about town, not to mention a few ancient codgers who must have served in the War of 1812, they should’ve known better. But in truth, he couldn’t have cared less what they thought; it was, and forever would be, the opinions of women that mattered most.

The crack of teamster whips and the rattle of wagon wheels filled his ears. The scent of manure and livestock choked the air, broken only by the occasional whiff of cigar smoke or perfume water from passersby. Passersby, who with their expressions, all added an invisible mark to his growing list.

Yes, he thought, the self-righteous and pretentious dandies were the ones who contributed the most to his Revulsion column. Though he had to admit, he loved goading them on if they appeared to waver in the Uncertain category. Indeed, to test their rudeness, sometimes he’d go so far as to exaggerate his limp after viewing a flicker of loathing in the eyes of old coots. He added that touch now, as two prune-faced gents wearing stovepipe hats alighted from a black carriage at the corner of Eighth Street. They shied away from him as if he were a leper. He took a long stride with his right leg, then with nerve-racking slowness, dragged his left one across the cobbled sidewalk to meet it. The two onlookers rewarded his effort with grimaces and maladroit comments about his “going back to where he came from.” He chuckled, tallied two check marks for Revulsion, then resumed his regular, though graceless, manner of walking.

Just up ahead before a jeweler shop, he spied a young lady in a plum, satin hoop-skirt. She looked at his face. She smiled. One for Admiration.

Now, another winsome creature waltzed along, this one wearing a dress with the most revealing décolletage he had beheld all morning. She looked at his face. Then down at his leg. A waver—still uncertain—he smiled—Come on, Come on!—she smiled. Hot damn! Another one for Admiration.

But did it count? he asked himself. After all, you smiled at her first.

Hell, yes, it counted, another inner voice argued. Don’t forget, you prodded those gaffers at the corner to swing their votes the other way. He laughed out loud. He supposed it was only fair.

Before he knew it, he viewed his five-story destination, just between the corners of Sixth and Seventh Streets. Signs on the building front advertised the presence of Gilman’s Drug Store and the banking concern of Sweeney, Rittenhouse, and Fant. But he wasn’t interested in either of them. Instead, his gaze lifted to the large sign hanging from the second-floor balcony—Brady’s National Photographic Art Gallery. Grinning, he skirted the pedestrians, coaches, and omnibuses clogging Seventh.

When he entered the building, he waited for his eyes to adjust to the artificial light. He doffed his hat and finger-combed his thick, ebony hair. He smoothed his luxurious mustache, now long enough to shield his entire upper lip, while the ends spilled down almost to the tip of his firm, stubble-free chin. After brushing street dust from his black trousers and frock coat, he adjusted his black-satin cravat and plucked an errant thread from his red waistcoat, its silver embroidery twinkling in the mellow gaslight. Satisfied with his appearance, he scanned the hallway.

He counted fourteen Imperial photographic portraits hanging in ornamental frames. He recognized the pinched, slightly bemused countenance of President James Buchanan, the ever-dignified and always-austere Henry Clay, and the baggy-eyed, hangdog expression of Commodore Matthew Perry. Others included the stern-faced and grim General Winfield “Old Fuss and Feathers” Scott, and the formidable, almost chilling visage of Daniel Webster, along with a host of other politicians, actors, or heroes of the past and present. Altogether, the collection impressed him, for Mathew Brady and his staff had come a long way in advancing the quality and popularity of the world’s newest art form.

Smiling, he clambered up the staircase to a spacious reception room. Twin brass and crystal chandeliers spilled gaslight from the high ceiling. Rosewood chairs upholstered in red damask and a long couch of black horsehair dominated the room’s center. Several easels stood about, lending the room an artistic atmosphere, while a gas-burner stove sat neglected on this June morning. A mammoth French plate mirror graced the far wall, while seemingly hundreds of framed daguerreotypes covered the others. Clusters of people marveled at the images, whispered commentary regarding the subjects, and strolled from picture to picture leaving behind swirling clouds of cigar smoke. Though fascinated by the images himself and inclined to follow the example of the spectators, he instead decided it would be more prudent to study his reflection in the mirror. After all, he wanted to make a good impression and couldn’t afford a slipshod appearance.

After another moment primping hair and smoothing clothes, he decided he was ready for anything. His gaze came to rest on a gallery employee sitting behind a small desk in the corner. He hitched over to the slight, smooth-shaven worker who busied himself scribbling notes in an appointment ledger.

“One minute,” the employee blurted without looking up from his work. He wore a lime-green frock coat with a gold waistcoat and matching tie. Thinning brown hair, slick and stinky with pomade, revealed a shiny scalp below. After the requested one-minute stretched into two, the man finally raised his head. A wintry smile of forced politeness cut through his long face. Authoritative eyes probed and dissected. With prissy grace, he set down the pen and clasped dainty hands together on the book’s open pages.

“What might I do for you today, sir?” he asked in a high, rather effeminate voice.

“I’m here to see Mr. Alexander Gardner—” You pompous ass, he wanted to add, but didn’t. “I was told he might be in this morning.”

“Is he expecting you?”

“I’m not certain.”

“Not certain? Mr. Gardner is a very busy gentleman,” Pompous-ass said with a distinct tone of exasperation. He clucked his tongue in feigned sympathy. “I believe you have wasted your time. Perhaps you should have made a firm appointment—”

“He was aware of my intended arrival, though he might not have been aware that I’d be here this morning. Regardless, I’ve no intention of leaving without meeting with him.”

Pompous-ass pushed back his chair to stand behind the desk. He pocketed his hands in gold-and-green-checkered trousers. The faux smile vanished, crimson dotted his cheeks, and his manner dripped with arrogance. “And who might I say is calling?”

“Storm. Gideon Storm.”

“And you’re here for a portrait sitting with Mr. Gardner?” Pompous-ass scanned Gideon from head to toe. He frowned, as if sorting through memory files to determine whether or not the name “Gideon Storm” bore any special significance. “I don’t believe he is receiving clients today—”

“I’m here on another matter.”

“Which is?”

Gideon paused. He had no use for people who made it their business to pry into his personal affairs. Never had; never would. This pushy gatekeeper was no exception. Gideon purposely curved his lips into a cocky smile. “Dealings between Mr. Gardner and myself are none of your concern.”

Eyebrows raised at the blunt statement; hazel eyes flamed. Pompous-ass obviously didn’t like being left in the dark when it came to his employer’s personal business. “Mr. Gardner will want to know the reason for—”

“Mr. Gardner already knows, so don’t let it twist your underdrawers into a knot. Just announce me.”

Defeated and knowing it, Pompous-ass clenched his teeth. “If you would be so kind as to wait here, I will see whether he is available to meet with you now.” Without waiting for a reply, he flitted off toward another staircase and ascended.

Gideon spent the next five minutes studying the framed daguerreotypes before Pompous-ass returned. Gideon barely kept himself from laughing when the look on the man’s face clearly indicated that his employer agreed to the impromptu meeting.

“Follow me,” Pompous-ass sneered, then led the way up the staircase.

Gideon followed him to the fifth floor. There, the man led him across a long room—the studio itself. Sunshine bathed the room, allowed entry through large ceiling skylights. Cameras and lenses cluttered the area. Body-rests, headrests, and head clamps abounded. Hand-painted screens, curtains, and backdrops lined the walls. A conglomeration of chairs dominated a corner—a Gothic chair with fringe and buttons, hand-carved oak chairs, dozens of straight-backed chairs, and a Sarony posing chair with fringe on the removable arms and back. Props, many of which Gideon had observed moments before in the reception room’s daguerreotypes, commanded another corner—Italian vases, tables, footrests, a four-foot Corinthian column that became Ionic when revolved, a thick leather-bound copy of the Congressional annals, and an ornate gold clock perpetually set at 11:52 with Brady’s name printed across its face. A side door stood ajar, allowing Gideon to view the darkroom with its baths, dippers, and pipes. Finally able to comprehend that he was now in the studios of the famous Mathew Brady, Gideon’s stomach fluttered in awe.

The man ushered him to a closed door. He knocked and entered. “Mr. Gardner? Gideon Storm is here,” he said, then gestured Gideon inside.

Gideon smirked at Pompous-ass. He stepped forward—Yes, there’s a definite check mark for Revulsion in his eyes!—and entered the cramped office. A mahogany desk, its surface blanketed with papers and business ledgers, sat beside an open window. Opposite the desk, filing cabinets surrounded a floor safe. Gilt-framed daguerreotypes concealed nearly every inch of wall space. A potted fern with brown-tinged foliage drooped in a corner beside a porcelain cuspidor.

Alexander Gardner was standing before the window, an unlit cigar in hand. Gideon judged him to be in his late thirties. His chest-length beard and shoulder-length hair, both raveled and dark, waved in the warm, summer breeze. A beige smock, stained with photographic fluids, covered his husky frame, giving him the aspect of a deranged French painter. With abrupt gestures, he stepped from behind the desk and thrust out his free hand. A good-natured smile softened his stern features.

“Mr. Storm,” he said, his voice laced with an accent Gideon couldn’t yet place, “it is indeed a pleasure. Indeed a pleasure.”

Gideon took the man’s large hand and smiled, seeing a tally for the Admiration column in his gaze. “It’s Gideon, Mr. Gardner. And it’s a pleasure for me as well.”

The man vigorously pumped Gideon’s arm, as if a relentless energy pulsed just beneath his surface composure. “Call me Alex,” he said, then peered over Gideon’s shoulder. His shimmering eyes clouded. “That will be all, Jules.”

Gideon turned. Jules—Pompous-ass is still a better moniker!—began to shut the door, but was plainly hesitating and burning with curiosity. His pointy nose lifted haughtily. “Alex, if there is anything you need—”

Alex shook his bushy head. “No, thank you, Mr. Hardwicke. That will be all. And please remember”—a wry flicker lit his eyes—“it’s Mister Gardner. Besides, I believe you have left a crowded reception room unattended for far too long.”

Jules Hardwicke blanched. With a slight bow and a look of terror on his face, he yanked the door closed, all to Gideon’s delight.

“Forgive me,” Alex said with a chuckle, “but I just love putting that tight-laced popinjay in his place.” He gestured to a chair. “Oh, please, take a seat.”

Gideon complied, deciding he liked the man.

“A drink?” Alex asked, raising his eyebrow. He sat at his desk and tugged open the drawers. “I believe I have a bottle of Scotch somewhere.”

Scotch. That’s it. Gideon decided the man possessed a Scottish accent. “Splendid.”

Alex produced a bottle and two glasses, then poured a healthy dose of liquid in each glass. He handed one to Gideon, then imbibed his drink in a quick gulp. Releasing a pleasurable sigh, he sleeved his damp mouth. “Now then, Gideon. I’m told you have experience.”

Gideon sipped from his own glass, savoring the rich flavor. “Two years as an apprentice at Jericho’s Gallery in Baltimore.”

“Fine agency. Fine agency. And your specialty is . . . ?”

“A little of everything, I suppose. I’ve had darkroom experience. Printing, also. And I’ve had a few months learning about retouching and mounting and—”

“Yes, Mister Jack-of-all-Trades,” Alex interrupted with a good-humored grin, “but what is your passion in this business? What causes your blood to bubble, your skin to prickle, and—forgive the expression—your manhood to stand at full attention?”

Gideon smoothed his mustache and laughed. “Camera operation.”

“Camera operation!” The man’s eyes danced. Wildly, he waved his arms above his head, the unlit cigar still clutched in his left hand. “Mine too! Mine too! How much time were you allowed at Jericho’s to pursue this passion of yours?”

“Not enough to my liking, I’m afraid. They kept me in the darkroom most of the time.”

“Is that the reason you left their employ?”

Gideon paused. “I moved here for personal reasons.”

Alex nodded, but didn’t pry, presenting Gideon with another reason to like him. “Well, Gideon, our mutual acquaintance has raved a great deal about your work.”

“Seth is a loyal friend. Munificent with his praise. I appreciate you seeing me on his word and—”

“Oh, it was more than his word. To be honest, I’ve studied some of your work.”

“But how did you—I mean—where did you—”

Alex smiled. “Seth gave me a package of your portrait shots.”

Normally, Gideon would’ve been annoyed someone had gone behind his back and performed any deed without his knowledge or consent. But he supposed Seth Warburton, a former neighbor in Baltimore who now dwelled a few blocks from Gideon’s current residence, had only good intentions in mind. Indeed, Seth was one of the few individuals whom Gideon trusted with personal information concerning his life, although it had taken Seth more than ten years to earn that trust. Seth’s presence in Washington was one of the reasons for Gideon’s recent move; with his lack of friends—true friends—Gideon didn’t want to lose contact with the man.

Now, Gideon battled the familiar twinge of annoyance and asked the question burning his soul. “And what did you think of my work?”

“Quite good. Quite good. I do believe you have some talent. How old are you, lad?”

“Twenty-three.”

“Ah, you show great promise. Great promise, indeed.”

Numbed with excitement, Gideon swallowed his remaining Scotch in one gulp. And instead of chastising Seth for his secretive maneuver, Gideon resolved then and there to buy his friend a round of drinks later that evening. “Coming from you, sir, that’s a true compliment.”

“None of this ‘sir’ business. It’s Alex. I shan’t tell you again.”

“I’ll remember,” Gideon said with an admiring grin.

“Fine. Now, Gideon, before I agree to take you on, I will need to ask you a question. Please don’t think me rude, but I must have an answer regarding a matter of great import—”

Gideon’s stomach tightened. Here it comes. The prying into my personal business. Questions regarding my limp. Or the reason I moved to Washington City. He knew this man was too good to be true.

Alex thumped his fist on the desk. “What do you think of composites?”

The question took Gideon aback. “Composites?”

“Yes. Photographic portraits of separate individuals grouped together in a single image. What do you think of them, lad?”

Gideon shook his head. He’d never really thought about it. All he did know was that they seemed to give him headaches for very little reward. “Well—” He paused, unsure as to why this man wanted his opinion, or what response the man was hunting for. Gideon decided to tell the God’s-honest truth. “I do believe they’re a lot of work and—well—worthless.”

“How so?”

“They require numerous sittings, untold amounts of retouching, and frankly, I don’t feel their cost is worth the time it takes to complete them.”

Alex wedged the unlit cigar between his lips and blinked. “Are you aware that Mr. Brady favors them? No, I’ll modify that—loves them, would be more appropriate.”

An empty feeling filled Gideon’s stomach. He knew he should’ve lied. Just when he was all set to celebrate his career advancement the rug had been pulled from under him. “No, sir—I mean, Alex. I didn’t know.”

But for the sounds of civilization creeping through the open window, a long moment of tense quietude filled the office. Alex pulled out a lucifer match, struck it, and lit the panatella. Smoke spiraled from his mouth until the breeze brushed it aside. He aimed a hairy-knuckled finger at Gideon. “Can you start Monday?”

The question sent a shock wave through Gideon. He was certain he’d forfeited his chance at obtaining a job at this prestigious gallery. “But—but you said Mr. Brady—”

“I know what I said. But like yourself, I also detest those blasted composites. Financial disasters. Disasters! But Brady rarely steps foot outside of his offices in New York City. And if the truth be told, I’d prefer he forever stay in Gotham and leave me in peace. You see, Gideon, here in the nation’s capital, I run the show. And what I say is law. I have one rule—no handouts or discounts for any work. Brady and I have had numerous arguments over this. Hell, if it were up to him, he’d give gratuitous sittings all day long just to lure customers away from the competition. But I won’t have it. A business is a business. So, Gideon, do you think you can abide by my rule?”

Gideon beamed. “Most certainly.”

“Good.” Alex jumped to his feet. “You’ll be paid fifteen dollars a week. I’ll expect you Monday morning at nine sharp, then we shall see what you’re made of. Any questions?”

Butterflies tickled Gideon’s insides. He forced back the urge to shout for joy. Instead, he rose and extended his hand toward his new employer. “None at all.”

Alex gave him another energetic handshake. “Splendid. Splendid. Now”—his eyes glinted with whimsy—“off with you.”

Gideon nodded his thanks and left the office. As he waited for his galloping heart to slow, he took a moment to view a camera operator arranging a shot of an elderly woman wearing an azure hoop-skirt and a hat adorned with multicolored flowers. Her shiny stone face and pale complexion made Gideon think of her as a giant blue porcelain vase.

He raced down the stairs as best he could. Smiling, he could hardly believe the famous Alexander Gardner, working for the world-renowned Mathew Brady, had thought him worthy of a shot. Indeed, he pinched himself on the arm just to make certain he was not dreaming.

Little did he realize when he’d accepted the position at Jericho’s Gallery that he would actually enjoy the work. Not only had it kept him hidden in the darkroom for hours on end—In the dark, no one can study a gimpy leg!—but it also gave him the opportunity to view photographs. And he loved photographs of any kind. Daguerreotypes. Ambrotypes. Tintypes. Calotypes. Melainotypes. They all had one thing in common—they never deceived. Veracity unquestioned. You could always—Always!—trust the image frozen in time before your eyes.

But a rare occurrence it must be to discover a talent in the field of employment one chose on a lark. For the first time in years, Gideon actually felt blessed. Alexander Gardner’s generous praises continued to echo in his head as he reached the reception room. And Jules “Pompous-ass” Hardwicke.

Just for laughs, Gideon now walked past Jules’ desk and immediately fell into his exaggerated-limp routine. And he wasn’t at all disappointed when the man’s face soured.

Could he tally Jules again? he wondered. After all, he’d already checked a mark under the Revulsion category for the man some time ago.

But for the first time all day, Gideon didn’t care. All he wanted to do now was celebrate. And what better way to do that then to head to the bar at Willard’s Hotel and treat Seth Warburton to a whiskey?

He beamed—perhaps 1860 would turn out to be a good year after all.