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"I’ it’s beautiful, madam," Criminy said with a smirk, "but we do prefer our perfor smirk, Madam Morpho put herAs she straightened up, the butterfly wobbled to standing, flapping its orange-dotted wings slowly as if just waking up and in need of a good stretch
"Curious," Crih, unfortunately"
Madaer to the butterfly, and it stepped up like a trained bird, careful and sure
"Ithe butterfly "Due to a grave , I cannot return there But you’ll find I won’t drive a hard bargain, salary-wise And given a few days’ time, I am confident that I can construct the props my performers need to amaze any audience I don’t think I need tell you that most city dwellers have never seen a live butterfly and even the London Zoo is without a living specimen I could easily sell this collection, even dead, for a large enough sum to purchase my own island and retire in reclusive comfort"
"Why don’t you, then?" Criminy said sharply
Mada antenna and said, "I would sooner sell hed and stared down into the depths of the trunk Other than a bulk of black cloth strapped into the lid, it held nothing but dozens and dozens of books, each of which, one had to assume, held a rare, beautiful butterfly
Tish put a hand on Criful look "I think I can solve this conflict easily enough"
He chuckled and nodded "Slove on your right hand," Tish said with a s so his future, she had felt like a fraud, but now she had a professional grace and confidence about her glancing
Mada her tall hat list to the side dangerously, but she slipped off her glove without corasped it and shuddered briefly before relaxing with a smile She leaned over and whispered into Crihter so loud that the nosy tightrope girl caon to see what all the fuss was about
"I don’t understand," Madam Morpho said
"You’re hired," Criht listening to theof Abilene the Bearded Lady, Mada sun Before her was the forbidding door of a wagon painted the glittery gray of pyrite Calligraphed in the familiar carnival curlicues were the words The Mysterious Mr Murdoch, and underneath that, in sist She sht, and knocked on the door
She didn’t like to think of herself as one of those foolish, treh life In fact, she had elbowed her way through university withto herself each time one of them dropped like a dead fly under the pressure She was one of the tenacious feho had earned top le every day, both within the classroo to be a harder creature than the world-renowned Professor Beauregard under whom she had studiedin ain, and the door opened A sles stared at her without saying a word
"Mr Murdoch, good --"
The ulped and stuttered, "I-I-I’m sorry, miss, but it’s not me I mean, I’m not him I mean, he’s someone else"
"Could you please procure hihtly laced leather collar of his coat
"Mr Murdoch, he doesn’tbothered at b-b-breakfast, miss," he said "Later, perhaps?"
"Sadly, no Master Stain’s orders Tied poodle, thethe door open for her She pointed to her trunk, and he hurried out Before he could , she said, "Please, do take the foot, and I’ll take the front The contents are extraordinarily fragile"