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Professor Lyal frowned "Only that Miss Wibbley has beco to me?"

"I believe you were once fond of Miss Wibbley,of ? Youher to needle Alexia at the tied, did you say? Who’s the unfortunate fel ow?"

"Captain Featherstonehaugh"

"Ah, now that name does sound fah on our last tour in India?"

"Ah, no, sir, I believe that was this one’s grandfather"

"Real y? How time flies Poor man Not much to hold on to with that chit That’s what I like about ot a bit ofbut say, "Yes, h he did shake his head over the obtuseness of his Alpha Who, having decided al would once e, already referred to Alexia as his again Unless Lyal rong, and circumstances had already proved how improbable that outcome, Lady Maccon was unlikely to see the situation in the sarand crested coach and four that served as Woolsey’s

"Nohat is this about Mrs Tunstel and a hat shop?" Lord Maccon wanted to know, adding before Professor Lyal could answer, "Sorry about drinking your specimen col ection, by the way, Randolph I wasn’t quite runted softly "I shal hide it better next time"

"See that you do"

CHAPTER TEN

In Which Alexia Meddles with Silent Italians

Lady Alexia Maccon did not, of course, realize that they were Tethy adjust moments to discover that she was, in fact, not exactly a prisoner but relaxing in the guest quarters of a lavish residence located in, if the view from the as to be believed, sohtful southern aspect, and a cheerful spray of sunlight danced over plush furnishing and frescoed wal s

Alexia tumbled out of bed, only to find she had been stripped and redressed in a nightgown of such fril iness as iven her husband conniption fits under other circumstances She wasn’t co her in the buff nor the copious fril s, but she supposed a sil y nightgoas better than nothing at alShe soon discovered she had also been provided with a dressing gown of velvet-lined brocade and a pair of fluffy bed slippers Her dispatch case and parasol, apparently unuring that any person of refined sensibility would have burned her unfortunate claret-colored gown by now and finding no more respectable attire anywhere in the roorabbed her parasol, and stuck her head cautiously out into the hal way

The hal proved itself to be e vestibule, covered in thick carpets and lined with a nuies The humble cross appeared to be a particularly popularsaint sporting jade flowers in his hair and ruby sandals She began to wonder if she was inside souest bedroo no soul to save, Alexia had always considered religious matters outside her particular sphere of influence and therefore interest

Al unbidden, her stoistered its utter emptiness and the infant-inconvenience sloshed about sympathetical y Alexia sniffed the air A delicious sht and adequate hearing

--although she had been re out her husband’s voice--but it was her sense of smel that set her apart from ordinary mankind She attributed this to her oversized nose Whatever the case, it stood her in good stead this particular day, for it led her unerringly down a side hal way, through a wide reception chamber, and out into a athered about long tables to eat

I outside and not for a picnic!

Alexia paused on the threshold, unsure An asseown Such a danger as this she had never before had to face She braced herself against the horror of it alHere’s hoping ets wind of this

The seated estures were the main method of cole soible Latin out of a Bible in a monotonous tone To a man, the silent eaters were darkly tan and dressed respectably but not expensively in the kind of tweed-heavy country garb young ht favor

--knickerbockers, vests, and boots They were also ar to say the least

Alexia sed nervously and stepped out into the courtyard

Strangely enough, none of the istered her existence at alThere were one or two very subtle sideways glances, but, by and large, Alexia Maccon was entirely and utterly ignored by everyone there, and there were at least a hundred assembled She hesitated

"Uh, hal o?"

Silence

True, prior familial experiences had prepared Alexia for a life of omission, but this was ridiculous

"Over here!" A hand waved her over to one of the tables In aentlemen sat Mada of relief, also wore robes She had never seen Floote in anything less than professional attire, and he seemed, poor man, even more embarrassed than she by the informality of the dress

Alexia wended her way over to theh startlingly fee to see her without the custoarb She was softer and prettier Alexia liked it

Floote looked drawn and kept darting little glances at the silentas well " Madame Lefoux spoke in a low voice so as not to interfere with the biblical recitation Her green eyes glittered in evident approval of Alexia’s inforown-- drool? I cannot say I blame them Are these the famous Templars, then? well , Floote, I can see why you do not like the thieves Ruthless providers of a decent night’s sleep" She spoke in English but had no doubt that at least souage, and could speak it, too, if they ever did speak

Madame Lefoux went to make room for Alexia, but Floote said firmly, "Madam, you had best sit next to me"

Alexia went to do so, only to find that the continued co her a seat on the long bench