Page 18 (1/2)

Madaical analytical technician of some note He has a particular expertise that you , Alexia"

The German opened his door farther and craned his neck to see around Mada

"Alexia?" He scanned her face in the faint light of the street torch "Not the Alexia Tarabotti, the Feood or bad if I were?" The lady in question was a little distressed to be engaging in a protracted doorstep conversation in the nighttiarbed in red and white striped flannel

Madame Lefoux said, with a flourish, "Yes, the Alexia Tarabotti"

"I cannot believe it! The Female Specimen, at my door? Real y?" The little man thrust said door wide and nipped out and around Mada it up and down enthusiastical y in the A a new threat, let go of Mada in Alexia’s direction

Alexia wasn’t real y sure she enjoyed being referred to as a speciry

Alexia prepared her parasol with her free hand "I would not, young sir, if I were you,"

she said to the dog "My skirts have been through quite enough for one evening" The dog appeared to think better of his attack and began juht

"Coe, here, on my very doorstep This is--how do you say?--fantastic, ya, fantastic!" The littleFloote for the first time, silent and stil to one side of the stoop

"And who is this?"

"Uh, this is Mr Floote,o in tie-Wilsdorf let go of Alexia and went to walk a slow turn around Floote The Gerhtshirt, in the street, but he didn’t seeured that as she had just shown her blooht to be scandalized by this behavior

"Is he, is he really? Nothing e-Wilsdorf reached out a crooked finger and yanked down Floote’s cravat and shirt, checking the neck area for lommed onto Floote’s boot

"Do you mind, sir?" Floote looked decidedly put-upon Alexia couldn’t tel if it was thethat irritated most; Floote could abide neither a wrinkled col ar nor da, the Gerar behavior Once again he grabbed Alexia by the hand and positively dragged her into his tiny house He gestured for the other two to fol ow, giving Floote yet another dubious once-over The dog escorted them inside

"Wel , you realize, under ordinary circuht Never can tel with the English But I suppose, just this once Though, I did hear so miss" The German raised his chin and atteh he were so maiden aunt It was a particularly unsuccessful look, as, aside froood head shorter than Alexia

"Heard you had o and be doing A most unfortunate choice for the Feet just those tords in before Mr Lange-Wilsdorf continued on without apparent pause or need for breath, shepherding them into a messy little parlor

"Yes, well , we al make thea strange aching pain of loss

Mada about the room with interest Floote took up his custo, exhausted by his own frenzy, went and curled in front of the cold fireplace, a posture that made him look, if possible, evendevice

There was a bel rope near the door, which the little ently and then with such enthusias tea, I a of tea Sit down, sit down"

Madame Lefoux and Alexia sat Floote did not

Their host bustled over to a little side table and took a smal box out of a drawer

"Snuff?" He flipped the lid and offered the leaf about

Everyone declined But the Ger to accept Floote’s refusal

"No, no, I insist"

"I do not partake, sir," objected Floote

"Real y, I insist " A sudden hardness entered Mr Lange-Wilsdorf’s eyes

Floote shrugged, took a smal portion, and inhaled delicately

The German watched him closely the entire time When Floote showed no abnormal reaction, the little man nodded to himself and put the snuffbox away

A disheveledawoke and, despite a clearly extensive association with the doh he posed a grave threat to the safety of the world

"Mignon, we have the guests Bring up a pot of Earl Grey and some croissants at once Earl Grey, mind you, and that basket of kumquats Thank God for the kumquats"

He narrowed his eyes at Floote onceood deal older than the Gerentlehtful, ya, delightful Alexia Tarabotti, here in htcap to enact a twitchy little bow in Alexia’s direction The action revealed a set of precariously large ears, which looked as though they rightly belonged to someone else

"Never met your father, but I have studied much over his stock First to breed a feenerations, ya It is a miracle, some have claimed, the Female Specimen" He nodded to himself "I have the theory, of course, to do with brood fe outside of Italy Bril iant choice of your father’s, ya? A little of the fresh blood of English"

Alexia could hardly believe the stateh she were the result of soram "Now, I say--!"