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Like the corset, the shoes, eolden buckles for the ball dress, were surprisingly coh they looked as if they came out of a museum "Those are the most beautiful shoes I’ve ever worn in my life," I said appreciatively

"I should ’ope so," said Madael, you are ready Mind you ’ave a good night’s rest tonight You will ’ave an exciting day tomorrow" As I slipped back into my jeans and favorite dark blue pullover, she draped the dresses over her headless tailor’s dummies Then she looked at the clock on the wall and frowned in annoyance "Oh, zat unreliable boy! ’E was to be ’ere fifteen o!"

My pulse rate instantly shot up "Gideon?"

Madame Rossini nodded "’E do not take zis seriously, ’e think it does not matter ’ow ’is breeches fit But ze fit of ze breeches is very, very important"

’Ideous! ’Orrible! I tested my new ht sound, but all ood intentions vanished into thin air

Suddenly I couldn’t wait to see Gideon again And at the sa hilances of his a second time

"Ah," said Madame Rossini "’Ere ’e is Come in!"

My whole body stiffened, but it wasn’t Gideon coh the doorway, it was red-haired Mr Marley Nervous and aard as usual, he stammered, "I’m to take the Ruby … er, Miss Gwyneth down to elapse"

"Okay," I said "We’ll be finished with this in aat an

"I just flew through a real live home secretary," he said cheerfully "It was cool!"

"And where is ze boy?" asked Mada!"

Mr Marley cleared his throat "I saw the Diam--Mr de Villiers just noith the other Rub--with Miss Charlotte He ith his brother"

"Tiens! I couldn’t care less about zat," said Madaht InLesley Just one word: hara-kiri

"If ’e does not co of ’im to ze Grand Master," said Madame Rossini "Where’s my telephone?"

"I’ e the black scarf this way and that in his hands "May I…?"

"Go ahead," I said, sighing, and I let hi hopeful is telling the truth," said Xe with your cousin for all he’s worth So’s his pretty brother What do boys see in redheads? I think they’re all going off to the cinema I didn’t want to tell you ain"

I shook"I could keep an eye on theorously

All the way down to the cellar Mr Marley persistently kept silent, and I was deep in raph room and Mr Marley took off the blindfold did I ask, "Where are you going to sendfor Nu at the floor instead ofraph myself Please sit down"

But as soon as I had sat down on a chair, the door opened again and Mr Whitht behind him

My heart missed a beat

"Hello, Gwyneth," said Mr Whit squirrel smile "Good to see you" He pushed back the tapestry that hid the safe "Right, so noe’ll send you off to elapse"

I scarcely heard what he was saying Gideon still looked very pale, butThe thick white plaster was gone, and I could see the wound going up to his hairline It was about four inches long and was now held together by lots of narrow strips of plaster I waited for hi, but he just looked at h the wall and landed right beside Gideon I gasped with alarm

"Oops Here he is already," said Xemerius "I wanted to warn you, sweetheart, but I couldn’t decide which of the duties for Gideon’s little brother this afternoon They’ve gone off to eat ices, and then they’re going to the cinema Looks to me like cinemas are the haystacks of the ht, Gwyneth?" asked Gideon, raising one eyebrow "You look nervous Would you like a cigarette to calm your nerves? What was your favorite brand, did you say? Marlboros?"

I could only stare at him speechlessly

"Leave her alone," said Xemerius "Can’t you see she’s unhappy in love, bonehead? All because of you! What are you doing here, anyway?"

Mr Whitraph out of the safe and put it on the table "Then let’s see where to send you today…"

"Mada, sir," said Mr Marley, turning to Gideon