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"What’s thefor the can-can?" I finally asked

Mademoiselle Charline raised one thin eyebrow "What, pray tell, is the can-can?"

I barely restrainedout into a Bludhter If the can-can hadn’t yet been invented in the Mort’s Paris, then I suddenly knew exactly hoould ? Maybe

Did I care? Hell, no

Especially considering that popularity would, I hoped, bringcould beco didn’t have a Beethoven, then De the dais in the air But I wouldn’t show that off today, where Charline ht claie and unstoppable, facing thousands of soon-to-be adoring fans I’d wanted stardo taken by the slavers and finding my best friend, I wanted it even more

"Well, Mademoiselle Ward?"

"Do you have ‘The Infernal Galop’?"

She rolled her eyes "Of course We did the operetta last season" When she snapped her fingers, Blaise ran fros with a disc and placed it reverently on the flower-shaped gramophone half-hidden by the curtains

After a few , and I went into my act with the quiet professionalism of a well-oiled andbefore, but I kneell enough from a lifetime of Earth cartoons and es in pace and work theh I had used a few flashy moves to persuade first Vale and then Madame Sylvie to take me on, I understood that this wasn’t a job interview; it was a dictionary of De of my abilities that would determine my place in the show Made in a notebook and staring at ’s ass

I was flawless, of course After doing the saon, I knew thefrom my act was a partner Without Cherie, I had to skip the trickier parts or rely on the stacked chairs or

"That move is traditionally done with a partner Would you like to borrow solanced at Made out of the move with a flourish, I murmured, "I am a solo act, mademoiselle"

"But you had a partner"

"Yes Had And I don’t care for another"

"I see"

More scribbling, and I bent over backward into the next move

When I was done, the crowd clapped politely There had even been so the trickier parts that Criminy had devised for Cherie and me, moves that couldn’t be accomplished by a human or daimon But Mademoiselle Charline had never cracked a s; she and Madame Sylvie had to be a true force of nature when they were both in the sa Now she closed the red leather book and stared at me so hard that I felt as if someone had set a lit match under my nose Even her third, painted eye see--why did you choose it?"

A light laugh hid my crafty smile "The operetta is traditionally perfor is about a party in hell, correct?"

"Of course Everyone knows this"

"Then debut the Bludman as the queen of hell Let there be a party of dancers around me as I writhe Fake fire, i "You did not answer the question"

So I told her the truth "Because it’s wild and unstoppable and dark and ht you will be backstage, helping with makeup and dress Learn as ht I’ll have notes to you after tonight’s show, including choreography"

"Okay"

"No You will say, ‘Merci, Madeaze lit o Vite We have things to do besides stare at your pasty flesh"