Page 11 (1/2)

"We’re hitting a spot of bother getting anything substantial in the way of onlookers froht have some contacts in that area, from your before days?"

"Lord Akeldama did have me visit a pub near there upon occasion One of the barht remember me"

"Barmaids? Very well, if you say so"

"Would you like me to inquire now?"

"Please, and if you wouldn’t mind so, with excellent if understated taste in waistcoats and a generally put-upon expression Not the type of company Biffy would have chosen in his past, but that was the past "Certainly, Professor, delighted" Perhaps theycowlicks

"Now, Biffy, don’t tell fibs I know I’m not up to your standards"

If he still had the capacity, Biffy would have colored at that bold statement "Oh, sir, I should never even hint that you were anything but ideally suited to--"

Professor Lyall cut hi Shall we?"

Biffy finished his last enerally teased at table Then he stood, grabbed his hat and cane, and followed the professor out into the night

They walked in silence for a long , sir"

"Yes?" Professor Lyall had a very gentle voice

"I ondering if perhaps your appearance were not as calculated to be unobtrusive as that of Lord Akeldama’s drones, only in a far more subtle way" Biffy sahite teeth flash in a quick sround"

"Did Dubh do that?"

"Not as I understood it But he was a far fly froair Beta for treason before he left the pack Dubh stepped in because there was no one better"

"What an awful mess that must have been"

Next to him, Professor Lyall’s footsteps paused one infinitesi, Biffy never would have caught the hesitation "For the Kingair Pack? Yes, I suppose it was You know, at the tiht The Woolsey Pack had its own problems"

Biffy had heard the rumors He had also done his best to learn the history of his pack "The Alpha prior to Lord Maccon had gone sour, I understand"

"That’s a rather elegant way of putting it--as though he were curdled milk"

"You didn’t like him, sir?"

"Oh, Biffy, don’t you think you could call me Randolph by now?"

"Goodness, must I?"

"Everyone else in the pack does"

"Doesn’t make it palatable Can I renah, please"

"Randy?"

Sour silence greeted that

"Lyall, then Are you going to answer my question, sir, or avoid it?"

Lyall cast hiht I didn’t like hio sour?"

"All of the old ones, I’ers But the really strong ones, the ones who live past three or four hundred, they all go--as you say--sour"

"And how old is Lord Maccon?"

"Oh, don’t you worry about hiht be one of the ones who does"

"And you have a plan?"

Professor Lyall gave a small huff of amusely world than that of the va at that

"Perhaps they siht of his dear Lord Akeldaain, he said nothing

Professor Lyall sighed "You’re one of us now Youthe change You’re taking on pack responsibility"

"Barely Have you seen the wayof late? Practically scruffy"

They hailed a hanso theood ood ti establish ht folk, it was quiet late at night Nevertheless, the pub looked unfortunately popular

The locals quieted at the advent of strangers, especially one dressed as flawlessly as Biffy A murmur of suspicious talk circulated as they made their way to the bar

The barmaid reood tipper and he never groped or expected anything Plus he dressed so well he tended to make a favorable impression on feentlee since I clapped eyes on you last?"