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"I shouldn’t underesti"

Conall ruminated a brief moment on this absurd statement and then said, "Yes?"

"It wasn’t simply that the poison was to coent involved, a mastermind if you would believe it Ivy seems to think that this man orchestrated the whole atteht you had put the

The earl’s face became still--the quiet before the stor the identity of this agent?"

"Only that he was supernatural"

Behind the stopped He looked over at them, his vulpine face sharpened further by inquisitiveness Randolph Lyall’s position at BUR was not held because he was Beta to Lord Maccon, but because of his innate investigative abilities He had an astutea olf

Lord Maccon’s temper frothed over "I knew the vampires had to be involved somehow! The vampires are always involved"

Alexia stilled "How do you knoas vahost, or even a olf"

Professor Lyall carave news"

The earl continued to expound "Well, if a ghost, she would have long since disanimated, so we’re well out of luck there And if a olf, he must have been a loner of some kind Most of those were killed off by the Hypocras Club last year Daest we start with the vampires"

"I had already reached a sio to the hives," suggested Professor Lyall, already heading for a hat rack

Lord Maccon looked as though he would like to protest

His wife put a hand to his arood idea He is far entry"

Professor Lyall hid a smile, clapped his top hat to his head, and walked briskly out into the night without another word,the bri

"Very well," gruo after the local roves There’s always a chance it could be one of theht here and keep off that foot"

"That is about as likely as a va to call upon Lord Akeldama As potentate, he must be consulted on this matter The dewan as well, I suppose Could you send a ?"

Figuring that Lord Akeldama would at least ensure that his wife reossip if for no other reason, the earl made no further protest He cursed without ent Haverbink off to alert the dewan Lord Maccon did, however, insist upon seeing her to Lord Akeldaations

"Alexia, ? Aren’t you supposed to be abed reveling in the romanticism of a weakened condition?"

Lady Maccon was, for once, not in the humor to entertain Lord Akeldahly untoward has occurred"

"My dear, how perfectly splendid! Do sit and tell old Uncle Akeldama all about it! Tea?"

"Of course Oh, and I should warn you, I have invited the dewan over This is a matter for the Commonwealth"

"Well, if you insist But, hastly to consider that such a randeur of my domicile" Lord Akeldao without the dreaded lip skirt The va an unexpected mustache around a corner of his hallway Muttonchops were permitted in e aentlemen-about-town Even so, they must be as well tended as the topiary of Hah, Alexia settled herself into one of Lord Akeldaback chairs The ever-considerate Boots rushed over with a pouf on which to rest her throbbing ankle

Lord Akeldama noticed him and thus the fact that they were not alone "Ah, Boots, my lovely boy, clear the roo metable next to the French verbena hand cream There’s a dear"

Boots, resplendent in his favorite forest-green velvet frock coat, nodded and vanished fro in a laden tea trolley upon which lay the expected assortment of delicacies and a s else, my lord?"

"No, thank you, Boots"

Boots turned his attention eagerly onto Lady Maccon "My lady?"

"No, thank you, Mr Bootbottle-Fipps"

Re dandy some embarrassment, for he blushed and backed hurriedly out of the rooold-tasseled throw pillows and the fat calico cat purring placidly in a corner

Lord Akeldama flicked the forks of the auditory disruptor, and the low-pitched hu sound co He situated the device carefully in the center of the trolley The cat, who had been lying on her back in a highly undignified sprawl, rolled over, stretched languidly, and aruntled by the noise When her lashing tail and obviously presented backside were ignored, she yowled ie her out of the room

Lady Maccon calculated that she and her host were on fah terms for her to pour her own tea She did so while he dealt with the de one silken leg over the other and rocking the crossed foot back and forth slightly This was a gesture of impatience when exhibited by any ordinary human, but with Lord Akelday rather than any particular emotional state "I used to love pets, my dove, did you know? When I was ed cautiously Lord Akeldafurther confidences

"Yes It is greatly troubling that I am now left with only a cat for co the plethora of fashionable gentlemen who seemed to be ever in, out, and about Lord Akelda more than one cat"