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He answered Professor Lyall in a roundabout way "London’s rove va, throwing his weight around like he was a queen It’s a good thing the contrivance cha, and it wasn’t hats"

Lyall looked Biffy up and down, assessing "You’re co Biffy You’ll make an excellent replacement"

"Replacement for what?"

"Ah, as to that, patience is a virtue,has it been going on would you say?"

"They’ve been getting worse over the last few years, but it’s gone quite tannic indeed since our Alphas left Why, one rove accused aiters Made quite a fuss over it I never stock gaiters! And just this evening I saw one of the in the street Assuredly, it was down near the embankment But still, in the open air? Iin the park Eating in public! It’s sietting rather wild as well Do you know BUR had a missive from Queen Victoria on the subject? Bertie was seen at one of the Wandsworth events She is a progressive, our dear Regina, but she is not all that progressive Her son fraternizing with a hive on a regular basis--not at all acceptable I understand the potentate got an earful on the subject"

"Oh, dear Poor Lord Akeldaht all his neolf culture and his old va to bear on the situation "Is all this va inside their urban territory?"

"That is one theory Any others?"

"Is it because Countess Nadasdy is no longer in Mayfair? There is no queen for London central Could that be causing dissonance?" Biffy watched Professor Lyall’s face closely He would never have called the Beta handso in the ht Lord and Lady Maccon and their Alpha naturea queen, and the Grande Dame of Kentish Town is simply too far away to oversee matters in Westminster and the south side of the Thames"

Biffy knew a little of London’s northern queen "She also cares very little for the affairs of society Not even fashion"

"There are soone off like that" He sniffed in a way that suggested the odor of rotten meat that undercut the scent of all vanificant emphasis in speech "What can we do about it?"

"I shall have BUR keep a close eye on the roves, call in the rest of our pack if I have to, but full-moon revels are likely to be overly fervent this month And there is little I can do then We can but hope that Lord and Lady Maccon complete their business quickly and return home before a second full moon, as one alone may tax us to our limits"

Biffy said, off the cuff, "Or we could find a replace for the position?"

"Why, Professor, is that wittiness I detect?"

"Only for you"

"Charmer" Biffy tapped hihtly and then actually looked embarrassed by the casual contact

Prudence led the her jaunt hidden in a lifeboat on the port side of the proed to catch her Despite her supernatural strength, he also h to transfer her to his wife

"Mairl who resulted from this transaction And then, as they were on the outer deck and she earing only a pink party dress, "Brrrr!"

"Yes, well, dear, you have only yourself to blaht"

"Dada?"

"Yes, precisely"

Lord Maccon waved shyly at his daughter, standing a good distance away to forestall any additional accidents

"Oh, now, Prudence, look at that," said herup

"No," said Prudence, but she looked up

Above the stea as deliveries were transferred between the two Mail was dropped down a taut silk chute Alexia thought it looked like fun and wondered if people ever came aboard in such a manner

"Any mail for Casablanca?" the assistant deck steward yelled,to-and-fro "Mail for Casablanca? Departure in ten minutes! Any mail?" He continued his call and went down to the lower decks

The floating post was a good deal different-looking fro Prudence was duly fascinated Lord Maccon took it as an opportunity to skulk off in pursuit of port in the sammon

"Bibble!" was Prudence’s opinion The infant was excessively fond of air flight, although she had yet to try it personally There was some fear that, like her father and other olves, she would fall victim to airsickness Her fondness waswhenever she happened to spot one above the town or when she was taken on a walk to Hyde Park Occasionally, she was even allowed to sit in Lord Akeldama’s private air transport, Dandelion Fluff Upon a Spoon, when it was at rest upon the roof of the vaibles, including one that was an exact replica of Dandelion Fluff Upon a Spoon

The postal dirigible was very sleek and stealthy in appearance Alexia and her daughter were riveted Its balloon section was narrowed for speed It had six aether current propellers, and its barge section was ine Any other available space was utilized by the post itself and a sers,to trade luxury and coht have stayed a good deal longer, but her teeth started to chatter Lady Maccon noticed and took her daughter to the nurse It was some time before Alexia remembered that the deck steward had attempted to deliver mail to her

Lady Maccon went in pursuit of her deliveries, finding theood time and then, suspicious of the contents, went to find her husband She guessed hat it was froht want to witness the opening of her new parasol