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Mr Crepsley wasn’t surprised that Murlough had been watching the hotel - he’d half expected it - but was stunned that I’d gone back to the square

"What were you thinking?" he snapped

"You didn’t warn me to stay away," I replied "I did not think I needed to"

He groaned "What could have possessed you to return?"

I decided it was time to tell hiirlfriend," he said at the end, shaking his head in wonder "Why did you think I would disapprove? There is no reason you should not befriend a girl Even full vampires sometimes fall in love with humans It is co wrong with it"

"You’re not angry?" I asked

"Why should I be? Matters of your heart are no concern of mine You acted properly: you made no promises you could not keep, and you remained aware of the fact that it could only be teirl is how it ties in with the vao after her?"

"I doubt it," he said "I think he will stay clear of the square Now that we know he has been there, he will expect us to check on the area in the future However, you should be careful Do not go to see her when it is dark Enter by the back door Keep away fro her?" I asked

"Yes" He smiled "I know you think I often spoil the fun, but I would never intentionally ratefully

"And Evra?" I asked "What will happen to him?"

Mr Crepsley’s sht about it for a couple of minutes "You truly refused to swap ht beit up to ied "We said we’d trust each other, rehed into his fist When he faced ravely underestiain I made a wiser choice than I realized when I chose you to serve as my assistant I feel honored to have you by my side"

The complimentnice things - so I gri out of it

"What about Evra?" I asked again

"We shall do e can to rescue him," Mr Crepsley said "It is unfortunate that you refused to swap h would make the offer, we could have laid a trap Now that you have shown loyalty toward ain Our best chance to beat him has slipped away

"But there is hope yet," he said "Today is the twenty-third We know that Evra will not be killed before the twenty-fifth"

"Unless Murlough changes his mind," I said

"Unlikely The va indecisive If he said he would not kill Evra until Christht and toht to search for his lair"

"But he could be anywhere in the city!" I cried

"I disagree," Mr Crepsley said "He is not in the city - he is under it Holed up in the tunnels The drainpipes The sewers Hiding from the sun, free to move about as he wishes"

"You can’t know that for sure," I said "He ht have only been down there today in order to follow me"

"If he was," Mr Crepsley said, "we are sunk But if he has made his base down there, we stand a chance Space is not so plentiful beneath the ground Noises are easier to detect It will not be easy, but there is hope Last night, we did not even have that

"If all else fails," he added, "and we end up empty-handed" His face hardened "I will call to our murderous cousin and offer him the deal which you yourself put to him earlier"