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"Lorine," Silk said, using a gentle tone He knew doing so would beher "Do you happen to know the person in this portrait?"

He showed it to her, and she looked hard at it, but she shook her head "I’m sorry, but the lady’s face is too faded out"

The child looked too, and her reaction was alrave I hate her" Lorine placed her hand on the child’s shoulder as if to quell her outburst

"Lorine?" Silk said "Your young charge appears to recognize the person in this irave, sir, but it’s just not clear enough to say"

Silk nodded Most likely the truth While he kneho had sat for the portrait, the child, at least, confir ination He had questioned the two about Miss Goodgrave, but they’d only told him what he’d already heard

"I want a portrait of me!" Arhys declared

"And you shall have it" And ht

Arhys twirled and clapped "You are much nicer than the professor!"

"Then you shall not be dismayed to hear that your professor is dead"

Lorine stu her hand to her mouth Arhys watched her uncertainly Silk turned on his heel, not interested in witnessing the wailing of fein as soon as his words sank in

Now that he knew the portrait was beco more identifiable, another impulse led him to leave the comfort of the cabin for the outside world He stepped out on deck and paused to take in the air, which was moist and heavy Athe running lights of the boats The thru were louder outside The still water carried snippets of conversation back to hi the banks Others on duty outside cursed as they were bitten by insects, but the biters never seemed to bother Silk

He e floated quietly behind, though the coupling that joined it to his packet squeaked interht, was tied down to the barge’s deck Guards and boat around theht and silhouettes Unlike boatilely leaped from the stern of one boat to the bow of the next, Silk required a more cautious course

"Boatman," he called to the nearest man on watch

"Yessir?" The felloas little ht"