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‘Anyway, do you want me in your debt or not?’

Shurq Elalle pushed past Bugg ‘I don’t like being ignored You’re all ignoring me as if I was-’

‘Dead?’ Delisp asked

‘I just wanted to point outthis house, which is that I, too, owe Tehol Beddict I may be dead, but I am not without honour In any case, Delisp, I believe you owe ht now Sixty per cent, I seem to recall-’

‘What do you need all that money for?’ the Matron demanded ‘How many variations of sex-assassin attire exist out there? How many bundles of raw spices do you need to keep fresh? No, wait, I don’t want to know the answer Sixty per cent Fine, but it’ll take me a day or two – I don’t keep that kind of coin around here Where should I have it delivered?’

‘Tehol Beddict’s residence will suffice’

‘Hold on,’ Tehol objected ‘I can’t secure-’

‘I intend,’ Shurq cut in, ‘to spend it quickly’

‘Oh All right, but I’s there Suspicions will be insatiably aroused-’

‘Stop staring at the railing, et out of here’

The storm had passed Rainwater still flowed down the streets, but people were venturing out once more It was late afternoon Shurq Elalle halted at the foot of the Teht, on your roof, Tehol Beddict Midnight’

‘What about Ublala Pung?’

‘I adhts’

‘Shurq Elalle Ublala Pung survived a Drowning He walked across the bottom of the canal You two have a lot in common, if you think about it’

‘He’s alsoadded