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"Let’s get one thing clear: I hate musicals," said Gideon "Do you think you can hold out for a few er? Lord Alastair has finally arrived, and once we’ve been introduced to hio"

"So soon?" I said "What a sha his head "You’ve obviously lost all sense of time I’d hold your head under cold water if I could"

Count Saint-Germain came up to us "That was a … a very re at Gideon with raised eyebrows

"I’lanced at the tcomers "Lord Alastair looks a little fatter than he used to"

The count laughed "Don’t cherish any false hopes! My enemy is still in brilliant form Rakoczy saw hi dandies could compete with him Followso nice today," I whispered to Gideon as we followed in the count’s wake "You know, he terrified randfather or soive you the Stradivarius I’m sure it would be worth a fortune if you auctioned it on eBay Oops, the floors are still so wobbly here"

Gideon put a hand on h with this," he ?"

"Not quite yet," he said "But I expect that will be next"

"Didn’t I tell you he ht turn up at any moment?" Lord Brolittery clothes and the other on the count’s "I’ve been told that you know each other already Lord Alastair, you never told me that you were personally acquainted with the fa one cares to boast of," said Lord Alastair arrogantly, and the black-clada little way behind hi voice, "Very true!" His black eyes were al no one in any doubt of his profound hatred for him For a moment, I wondered if he had a sword hidden under that black cloak and loomy cloak like that at all was a h in here, and second, it sees

Lord Bro cheerfully, as if he hadn’t caught on to the hostile atmosphere at all

The count stepped forward "Lord Alastair, how delightful! Although our acquaintanceship lies sootten you"

I was standing behind Count Saint-Germain, so I couldn’t see his face, but he sounded as if he was s His voice was friendly and cheerful "I, too, still remember our conversation about slavery and ht it that you were so well able to keep the two apart--just like your father," he said

"The count never forgets anything," said Lord Bro these last few days in his company I’ve learnt more than in all my life before Did you know, for instance, that the count is able to make artificial jewels?"

"Yes, I are of that" Lord Alastair’s expression beca heavily like someone about to run a Lord Alastair’s hobbies, if I remember correctly," said the count "Oh, how re Lord Alastair a full view of Gideon andpeople to you To be honest, that was e avoids society and goes to bed early"

At the sight of Gideon, Lord Alastair’s eyes widened incredulously

Lord Brompton squeezed his massive bulk between Gideon and me "Lord Alastair, may I introduce Viscount Batten’s son? And the Viscount’s ward, the enchanting Miss Gray?"

My curtsey fell a little short of the deference prescribed by etiquette There were two reasons for that: (a) I was afraid of losing ant that I quite forgot I was playing the part of Viscount Batten’s penniless ward I hter of Lord Lucas Montrose, wasn’t I? I was descended froins didn’t make any difference in ht?

At any other tilance would have frozen the blood in ood antifreeze, so I returned it as haughtily as I could He didn’t give aze to Gideon, while Lord Bro happily

No one took the trouble to introduce Lord Alastair’s black-clad companion, and no one seemed to notice when he stared at rowled, "You! Demon with the sapphire eyes! You will soon be on your way to hell!"

I beg your pardon? That was really going too far! In search of help, I looked at Gideon, whose rather tense s until Lord Brolasses of punch

"Please don’t trouble, Lord Brompton," said Gideon "We have to leave soon anyway My sister is still a little weak after her long illness and not used to staying up late" He put his arain and took htly unsteady on her legs"

How right he was! The floor aying very unpleasantly beneath my feet Gratefully, I leaned on Gideon

"Oh, I’ll be back in a moment!! cried Lord Brompton "I’m sure my ill be able to persuade you to stay"