Page 19 (1/2)

Rue knocked loudly on the door to his apartain

She waited

She knocked a third tientle jacket and tweed trousers and carrying a heavy Latin tolanced up at Rue, his skin pale as any vampire’s, spectacles perched at the tip of his nose Percy, itfor a bluestocking ginger fellow, but terribly peaky about it

"Oh It’s you"

"Where’s your foot"

"With so sensible like food, I suspect May I cohastly sister with you"

Rue took that as per slowly down the hallay fro well"

"Who is?"

"Your sister"

"Oh, is she? How unfortunate It would do her soood to be in ill health for once"

"Percy, how can you be so tiresome?"

"Rue, I’m terribly busy at the ?"

"Agricultural research I think it reat British jam industry to move from quinces to crab-apples for pectin production"

"Oh, indeed? Is there a jam industry of any note?"

Percy continued on as if he hadn’t heard "But the relative ratios of storage to fruit gelatine are proving difficult to calculate Plus if crab-apple trees require s may tip back in the quince’s favour Do you know?"

"Do I knohat?"

"If they need ht ask a farmer"

"Don’t be ridiculous There must be a book on the subject"

Rue decided this conversation could go on for hours "Percy, your country needs you"

"I highly doubt that"

"Very well then – I need you"

"Don’t tell fibs, Rue, it doesn’t suit"