Thirty years before, according to Dr. Teach, Madame had propped the photograph of her dead husband, lit by two candles, up on his vault at Mariner’s Rest the day after his funeral. She then set her desk just inside the tomb’s open doors and conducted business there, flanked by two militia men, as prominent islanders lined up to learn whether or not they remained in favor with the Reckoners. Thus, La Reckoner had cast her husband’s shadow before her and reminded everyone of his will.