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"But who…?"

"We don’t know It’s worrying, particularly in the present situation We had hin of any puncture on hiest that his blood had been taken--"

"Wouldn’t the blood frohtly

"Possibly," agreed Mr George "But if someone had … well, wanted toGideon’s blood There are countless explanations No one knew Gideon was going to be there that evening, so it’s unlikely that so in wait for him on purpose It’sIn certain years, these cellars were swarlers, criminals, creatures of the underworld in every sense My own belief is that it was an unfortunate coincidence…" He cleared his throat "In any case, Gideon seems to have survived the adventure pretty well--at least, Dr White found no serious injuries So the two of you will be able to set off on Sunday at hed a little "Funny idea: a soirée in the middle of the day on Sunday"

Yes, ha ha, hilarious "Where’s Gideon now?" I asked i--at least, I hope so He only went to hospital for a scan, and as it found nothing, thank God, he discharged himself The fact is, he had an unexpected visit fro"

"I know," I said "Mr Whitistered Raphael at h heavily "The boy ran away fro with his friends Falk has this crazy idea of keeping Raphael in England In these turbulent tis to do--Gideon in particular--than bother about difficult boys, but Falk could never refuse Selina anything, and it seeh school with some kind of certificate, away from the friends who have such a bad influence on him"

"Selina … is that Gideon and Raphael’s e "They both inherited those striking green eyes from her Here we are You can take the blindfold off now"

This tiraph room

"Charlotte said that in the circuhteenth century," I suggested hopefully "Or postponing it? Just to give Gideon time to recover, and e shook his head "No, on’t be doing that The ti of your visits was very io to the soirée the day after tomorrow--that’s definite Any particular year you’d like to elapse to today?"

"No," I said, taking care to sound indifferent "I don’t suppose it makes any difference if I’e was carefully taking the chronograph out of its velvet wrapping "No, it doesn’t We usually send Gideon to the year 1953, a nice quiet year We just have to take care he doesn’t ine it would feel rather eerie to be shut up somewhere with your double" He patted his round little paunch and looked thoughtful "How about 1956? Another quiet year"

"Sounds perfect," I said

Mr George handedoff "Just in case … but don’t worry, there won’t be anyone around in the small hours, not at two thirty AM"

"Two thirty AM?" I repeated, horrified Hoas I going to findto believe I’d lost ht not be anyone at all in the building Then our plan would fall through! "Oh, Mr George, please don’t send ht all by myself!"

"Gwyneth, it round"

"But I … I get scared at night! Please, don’t send me off all alone in the dark" I was so desperate that tears came to

"Very well," said Mr George, his little eyes looking atthat you … well, let’s just pick another time of day How about three in the afternoon?"

"That’s better," I said "Thank you, Mr George"

"There’s nothing to thank raph for a moment and smiled at me "We really do ask a lot of you--I think in your place I’d feel rather uneasy alone in a cellar s that other people don’t…"

"Yes, thanks for re me," I said Xemerius wasn’t with us He’d probably have been very cross at being described as a "thing" "What about all those tombs full of bones and skulls just around the corner?"

"Oh, dear," said Mr George "I didn’t mean to add to your worries"

"I’m not worried," I said "I’m not afraid of the dead In " I saw Mr George raise his eyebrows and added quickly, "Though of course I think they’re dreadfully uncanny, and I certainly wouldn’t like to be sitting around here at night next to a lot of cataco with the other one "Try the fourth finger this time, please That one hasn’t been punctured yet"