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They entered the dining roo the course of Alexia’s conversation with Professor Lyall, most of the rest of the current town residents--tolves and a few assorted clavigers--had arisen and assembled around the table They all stood politely as Lady Maccon seated herself before returning to prior conversation or consuhtly apart fro deep absorption in the latest issue of Le Beaux Assemblée, otherwise known as Beau’s Court and Fashionable Magazine Addressed Particularly to the Gentleman of Leisure Lord Maccon frowned at him, but the dandy didn’t seem to notice

Alexia helped herself to a bowl of stewed fruit, plu, and custard After some conversation with her husband on domestic ations

"You didn’t!"

"I e I should like to visit Mada at BUR for the docuave his Beta a repressive look

Professor Lyall shrugged, as though to say, You rowl, "you know I a I shouldn’t like you to be stirring up trouble over an event well and truly settled"

Lady Maccon, perfectly understanding that the nature of his groas not one of anger but of distress, put down her fork and placed her hand over his "But you e that if there is a connection, we should pursue all avenues of investigation I promise to keep my attention focused on the relevant details and not be distracted by personal curiosity"

Lord Maccon sighed

Lady Maccon lowered her voice, although she was perfectly well aware that she was surrounded by beings with supernatural hearing who could discern every word she said "I know this is a subject that pains you, et to the root of this matter, you must see that there may indeed be a correlation"

He nodded "But have a care, please,withof Professor Lyall’s evening paper seereeo of her husband She glanced up and across the table "Biffy, would you be a as I make my rounds? I should appreciate the companionship of one hted What hat should I wear?"

"Oh, your town topper should suit us well enough We shan’t be going into society"

His face fell slightly at that "Very good, my lady Should I retrieve it now?"

"Oh, no, please finish yourfood in the pursuit of information The one is far more vital than the other, despite what Lord Akeldahtly and continued on with the consu

Mada If that style leaned toward gentle leaned toward scientific theory and practice, Lady Maccon was certainly not the kind of person so in want of sensibility that she would critique a friend for such eccentricities Some considerable inti that Madame Lefoux liked her and that she liked Madareat deal more Trust, for example, seemed still in question Between them existed a friendship quite different from the one she shared with Ivy Tunstell There was no discussion of the latest fashions or societal events If asked, Alexia ht say that she could not recall precisely what it was she and the French inventor did discuss, but whatever it was, it always left Alexia feeling intellectually stretched and vaguely exhausted--rather like visiting a irl behind the counter when they arrived at Chapeau de Poupe Mada and pretty This one seerand Lady Maccon and was ray tails and top hat, appeared to take over the e

"My dear Lady Maccon!"

"Madarasped both of Alexia’s hands and kissed first one and then the other of Alexia’s cheeks No air was left between lips and flesh, as was the custoesture for fashion’s sake No, for Mada American businessenuine affection

"What an unexpected pleasure! But are you certain you should be in public in your condition?"

"My dear Genevieve, you have been so long away I began to suspect you ht never return to us Then what should London do when in need of a new hat?"

Madaed both the compliment and rebuke of Alexia’s statement with a tilt of her dark head

Lady Maccon noted, with soaunt Mostly coles, Mada her most recent travels, she had lost flesh she could not afford to lose The inventor always had been more concerned with the pursuits of the reen eyes sported such dark circles

"Are you well?" asked Alexia "Is it Quesnel? He is supposed to be ho perfectly beastly?"

Madame Lefoux’s son was a cheerful towheaded creature with an unfortunate nose for mischief There was no malice to his actions, but his mere presence resulted in a kind of e whenever he was in residence

Madahtly and shook her head "He did not make it home this time"

"Oh, dear! But then if not Quesnel, what could possibly be the matter? Truly, you do not look at all well"

"Oh, pray, do not concern yourself, Alexia So more How are you? I understand you have taken a residence in town You certainly look a a tranquil environment? I read recently that it is terribly i your disposition, this hasthat her solicitude was unwelcome, the Frenchwolassical order, or is this merely a social call?"

Lady Maccon accepted the conversational redirection She respected her friend’s need for privacy and her expertly cultivated aura of mystery She also did not want to appear nosy "Oh, is there an order? I suppose I could collect it But, in actuality, there is a matter I should very much like to discuss with you" Alexia noticed the curiosity in the eyes of the new shopgirl "In seclusion, perhaps?" And then, as she was not certain as to the extent of the shopgirl’s knowledge, she confined her voice to a whisper "Below?"

Madaravely "Of course, of course"

Alexia looked to her escort "Biffy, will you find yourself entertainh here for a quarter of an hour, or should you prefer to run along to the Lottapiggle Tea Shop on Cavendish Square?"

"Oh, I can abide a while araceful gloved hand at the forest of dangling hats displayed all about hierated ostrich feather, h a fountain "Beautiful bri," replied hisher friend toward the back of the shop, where a door in the wall led to an ascension rooent Street, and into the inventor’s much-vaunted contrivance chareat wonder of the world, if only because it was a wonder the Frenchwo inside it The massive, cavelike laboratory was not only ht that the only reason it could not be heard in the street above was that Regent was one of the busiest thoroughfares in London Then she wondered if that hy Madame Lefoux had chosen this particular spot