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"And I was mindful of all the opportunities he provided me, before I was married"

"Yes My uncle told arded her in sudden concentration, as if she were seeing Hero for the first tiineer, but part of Napoleon&039;s forces, and committed to social refor fortifications that had been da repairs or delorious end" She said this so calo she could not have spoken so tranquilly of Fridhold "He was injured in his work six years ago, and the fever that followed killed hi him in that way," said Hyacinthie in apparent indifference

To her astonishment, Hero heard herself say, "It spared hin"

Hyacinthie blinked "Yes," she said slowly "But he died, so why does the how of it

"Fraulein!" Hero exclaioczy intervened "You kno hard it hen your parents died, Fraulein Sieffert This was just such a loss for my friend and her children" He blotted the answer he had just coes of the note

"You have children?" Hyacinthie asked

"Three sons and a daughter They are withanything hter," marveled Hyacinthie "Tell me about them"

"My oldest son is eleven, then twin boys who are nine, and ht," said Hero

"They must provide consolation for you," said Hyacinthie because it was expected of her, and because she sensed that Hero missed her fafried will soon be going off to school He&039;s the oldest"

Ragoczy folded the note and wrote Graf von Ravensberg in his neat hand on the envelope "I thank you for serving as the uardian, Fraulein Sieffert If you will extend your goodness and take this to hi wax, and struck the hanging flint-and-steel to light the wick embedded in the wax

Hyacinthie beae" She could not keep the satisfaction out of her voice

As the wick flared, Ragoczy turned the stick of wax, encouraging a small drop to fall onto the back of the envelope "I hope your uncle is satisfied with his book now"

"He said the necessary corrections had been ratified by the discussion it engenders when it is published," Ragoczy said, pressing his signet-ring into the wax and leaving an impression of the eclipse He waved the envelope twice to be sure the as cool

"And I hope you will have a pleasant journey back to Ravensberg," added Hero

"It is a long journey to oczy held out to her "I don&039;t knohen I shall see Aain"

"Let us hope you oczy "It is a city that i, more so now that the Netherlands have becoain, Cooczy had to stifle a laugh as he exchanged a quick glance with Hero

"I have business here, so it is very likely that I will," said Ragoczy He bowed slightly to Hyacinthie "Would you like one of my servants to accompany you back to your hotel?"

"It isn&039;t far, and I want to purchase some muslin and lawn on my way But thank you for your concern" She tilted her head and achieved a shy smile She slipped the envelope into her silver-link reticule "I will hand this to my uncle the instant I see hioczy as he s to the Graf"

Hyacinthie was reluctant to leave, walking slowly and sighing once "Thank you for the leoczy bowed once more "A pleasure, Fraulein"

Kuyskill appeared in the entry-hall as if conjured frouided Hyacinthie toward the door, opened it for her, and stood watching her open her parasol and descend to the street Only then did he close the door and say to Ragoczy, "She is up to mischief, Comte"

"Not mischief, but she is after oczy He was about to go back to the secretary when Kuyskill went on

"Rogier is back from the docks and has an inventory for you Shall I send hioczy looked at Hero "Will you excuseas you need," she replied with a wave of her hand "I have to write to ood ti in behind Kuyskill

"You should have sent a servant with that young woman She shouldn&039;t be out on the streets alone like that," said Kuyskill,his eree, but she refused escort, so what can I do?" Ragoczy countered "Her guardian is careless with her; I cannot offend hi my servant upon her"

Kuyskill nodded slowly "Probably so," he allowed as he opened the door to Ragoczy&039;s study where Rogier aiting "I still don&039;t like to think of her, unaccompanied"

But Hyacinthie was not alone on her erratic course back to the hotel: Otto Gutesohnes was at her side, deferential and gallant all at once He had donned a long duster-coat and threaded two lashes through the buttonhole to show off his occupation, and carried his wide-brimmed coachman&039;s hat in his hand; he stayed by her side as she dawdled past shops and vendors&039; stalls

"So youhave you driven for the Comte?" Hyacinthie asked as Gutesohnes escorted her over a narrow bridge; she spoke in German and she smiled provocatively as she asked

"I haven&039;t worked for hi so I a his place until he is healed" He returned her ses for hi

"Messages, dispatches, books, whatever he asks," said Gutesohnes

"That means you travel alone?"

"From time to time," he answered cautiously, not sure what she intended and not wanting to spoil such a pro flirtation

"He must trust you, to send you on such missions"

"He has allowed one for hi and to Koln thus far, with stops along the way in both instances" He waited "I may be sent to Praha in the fall"

"Would your travels, perhaps, bring you to Austria-to Salzburg, perhaps?" There was noher intention now "My uncle is often preoccupied with his studies, and I e, if I knew I could meet you there"

He had not expected such a direct invitation, and so he walked on in silence for a short distance Finally he said, "I would not want to compromise you in anyway, Fraulein"

"No one would know," she said "I can send you a note, telling you where the cottage is, and-you do read, don&039;t you?"

"Yes," he said "I&039;m no scholar, but I am not a dolt, either"

She beauardian wouldn&039;t approve, would he," said Gutesohnes, halting as three dogs ca up to theive you the direction for overness; she will receive notes for me"

"And she&039;ll tell your uncle," said Gutesohnes, ever hed discreetly "You shouldn&039;t be involved in anything clandestine"

She slapped playfully at his arm "You&039;re much too discreet for that, aren&039;t you?"

Gutesohnes shook his head "I fear for you It isn&039;t fitting that you should engage in anything that would se, when the Graf is seeking to find you a husband"

"Shts she had passed with her uncle in her bed "If no one knows," she said patiently, "it "

"But a rumor could ruin you," he cautioned her

"I don&039;t care," she announced

"You should care," he said "You can throay all your happiness in the world in a foolish gesture" He knew this was true, but he was flattered that she would take such a chance on his behalf "Save your acts of defiance for a h and harsh "You don&039;t know, do you?" She glared at hih a se in demeanor, Gutesohnes hesitated "Knohat, Fraulein? I don&039;t understand"

"No," she said, ignoring him "You have no notion None at all"

"Notion about what?" he pursued, confused and nonplussed

"Nothing! You wouldn&039;t understand in any case," she declared, and walkedthe street that bordered the canal until they reached the Majestic Hotel, where her uncle was preparing to depart At last she slowed and illing to look at him once more, this time with her seductive smile firmly in place "You&039;ve done your duty You can report back to the Comte now; tell him I thank hiain," she said with an ill-concealed smirk as she went up theto convince her that his company had been his idea, not an order froht have been a blown kiss for his efforts

Text of a letter written in Greek frooczy, Cooczy near Lake Geneva, Yvoire, Switzerland; carried by private courier

To the s of Ismail al-Rachad on this, the 2ndday of Septes,

I have received the gold you were good enough to send to me not two days since, and I have spent a third of it already, os of your three ships held in harbor will be released and the ships permitted to set sail by the 10thof this month, which would not have been possible without the money you have provided It is truly as you observed in your letter: gold and license keep close co it a bribe-has made me keenly aware of how readily the local authorities ence This was not unknown to me before, but it has been demonstrated with such stark clarity that I can only marvel at how openly these men abuse their offices

I am sorry to report that the Daystar has had an outbreak of fever a her crew, and before she can sail, a dozen sailors h the mercy of Allah the lives of ood physician here, and he has said that the crew has contracted infla to be replaced and those men too ill to sail will be taken into the physician&039;s care until they are dead or sufficiently recovered to return to the sea I a with Captain Irkul to findypt for the deMontalia woe such for her, but Iwoman to travel alone in this part of the world There are ers that threaten her, most of which I doubt she comprehends or is prepared to deal with I trust you knohat you are asking for her when you charge e she seeks

There has been an ilad to say that your ships are sailing with full holds For the next year, if all goes well, we should recoup a good portion of the losses of the last two years, if Allah wills it If this continues to be the case, I will finally send for my family and set them up in a suitable house I may even take a third wife In five years, I will purchase a ship of my own and if Allah favorsco-lived, so I have a good expectation of seeing fifty years A rateful to you-dog of an Infidel though you are-for all the opportunities you have provided ret the trust you have placed in me,

Your most devoted servant

Is Company

Antioch