Page 31 (1/2)

"Werewolf on the loose?" asked Professor Lyall casually

Biffy pretended to blush, re just such an incident a few years back when he had broken into his fory but had never quite recovered from the humiliation Lord Akeldama had been decent about the whole incident, which so untoward certainly has happened" Biffy looked around, eyes bright with curiosity

A gaggle of excited drones rushed through the hallway at that juncture, carrying various-sized ee brown leather gloves

"What ho, Biffy," called out one excitedly

"Boots, what’s afoot?" Biffy asked

Boots separated frole and slid to a stop before the tolves "Oh, it’s all go around here! Shabumpkin let loose a lizard in the front parlor"

"A lizard? Whatever for?"

"Just because, I suppose"

"I see"

"Can’t seee! Alot it Cracking teal color"

Then ca Boots hastily excused hi after the sound

Biffy turned to Professor Lyall, grinning "A lizard"

"Massive one," agreed the Beta, pretending seriousness

"It’s all go at Lord Akelda out the vareet thene "Did you hear what that silly boy let loose in s As if I should ad I don’t even like poultry Never trust a chicken--that’s what I say But enough about s? To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

Lord Akelda a black-and-white-checked jacket with black satin trousers, the beginnings of whatdress Except that he had paired this with a burnt ue spats

He received the rooht blue eyes darted back and forth between the tolves with a hint of suspicion Had the opportunity presented itself, and had it not been a delicate and highly personal ht have tried to tell his forements But the opportunity did not arise, nor was it likely to One did not, after all, gossip about oneself It was simply not done

Lord Akeldama’s drones, however, would be pretty poor spies if they had not already informed their master as to the Beta’s ne toy, which meant that Lord Akelda for confirht be causing his former master emotional pain, but it had been two years, and he was tolerably assured that Lord Akeldaer, and ossip about their neighbors

As was often the case with Lord Akelda, in the end Biffy and Lyall found the to him the bulk of the information Professor Lyall was not happy with this, but Biffy was co information, but rarely did he put it to any concrete use He was rather like a little old biddy who collected demitasse teacups that she then set upon a shelf to adypt and the expansion of the God-Breaker Plague Lyall was convinced to tell hiypt and how they all ht be connected

Once they had relayed all they could, the tolves stopped and sat, looking expectantly at the thin blond vampire as he twirled his monocle about in the air and frowned up at his cherub-covered ceiling

Finally the va indeed, but I fail to see how I could possibly be of any assistance Or how this air Pack experienced Losing a Beta So sad When was it? Last week or the week before?"

"Well, Dubh did say so to Lady Maccon about Alessandro," said Lyall

Lord Akeldahter "And there is Matakara to consider The hive queen wanted to randdaughter You are correct to be suspicious, Dolly dear But there are soto untangle them, as weave them back into a pattern soan tokey, and while I should hate to iven his most excellent service, there is only one person who knohat happened--what really happened--to your Sandy when he was in Egypt, my dear Dolly"

Biffy and Lyall looked at one another They both kneho

Lyall said, "It’s always difficult to get him to talk"

Biffy said, "I’ve often wondered if he could say anything atory ‘yes, sir’ "

Lord Akelda his teeth "So, lovely boys, in this instance it is not me you want for information Who knew I should ever be outclassed by a butler?"

Professor Lyall and Biffy stood, bowing politely, knowing that what Lord Akelda, for the first time in their collective careers in covert inquiry, a true challenge: convincing Floote to talk

They tracked Lady Maccon’s butler down to the kitchen where he was overseeing the menus for next week’s repasts

Biffy had never really looked at Floote before One didn’t, as a rule, exaht think it interfering Floote was the perfect servant, always there when needed, always knoas desired, soistered in his eht we have a moment of your time?"

The butler looked up at them A nondescript man with a nondescript face, he could outdo Professor Lyall at his own game Biffy noticed for the first time hoeather-beaten Floote’s skin was and that there were deep wrinkles about his nose and mouth and the corners of his eyes He noticed that the butler’s shoulders, once rae Floote had acted as valet to Alessandro Tarabotti, so far as Biffy knew, since Alexia’s father first appeared in the Bureau’s official registry Floote had worked for Alexia after that He e! He’d never even thought to ask

"Of course, sirs," said Floote There was some wariness in his tone

They adjourned into the back parlor, leaving the cook and the housekeeper to finish the menu without Floote’s input Floote did not seeestured with one of his fine white hands, his vulpine face pinched "Please, take a seat, Mr Floote"