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Alexia gasped as, just above where she gripped the end, tickedly sharp spikes flipped out, one of silver and one of wood

"I did notice your cravat pins," Lady Maccon said

Mada them delicately with her free hand "Oh, they are more than simply cravat pins"

"Of that I have no doubt Does the parasol do anything else?"

Mada In this, you understand, Lady Maccon, I am an artist"

Alexia licked her botto to coht only your hats were exceptional"

The Frenchwoht "Pull this lotus petal here, and so"

Every noise in the lab fell silent All the whirring, clanking, and puffs of stearound as ambient sound became suddenly noticeable by way of their absence

"What?" Alexia looked about All was still

And then, moments later, the mechanis in an at the parasol

"The nodule here"--the inventor pointed to the egg attachnetic disruption field It will affect anysteel If you need to seize up a steaine for any reason, this will probably do the trick, but only for a brief aain the Frenchwoman blushed "The disruption field is not of my own invention, but I did n" She continued on "The ruffles contain various hidden pockets and are fluffy enough to disguise small objects" She reached inside the wide ruffle and pulled out a little vial

"Poison?" asked Lady Maccon, tilting her head to one side

"Certainly not So farcriravely After all, Madame Lefoux was French "Certainly not"

Mada that the parasol was of an old-fashioned pagoda shape "You can also turn it thus"--she flipped the parasol around so that the shade was pointing the wrong direction--"and twist and press here" She pointed to a snetic disruption ened it to be quite difficult to operate, to prevent any unfortunate accidents The rib caps of the parasol will open and emit a fine mist At one click, these three will emit a mixture of lapis lunearis and water At two clicks, the other three ribs will emit lapis solaris diluted in sulfuric acid Make certain that you, and anyone you care about, stay well out of the blast area and upwind Although the lunearis will cause only mild skin irritation, the solaris is toxic and will kill hurin, the scientist added, "Only olves are resistant The lunearis is, of course, for them A direct spray should render the species in question helpless and gravely ill for several days Three clicks and both will e, madame" Alexia was suitably impressed "I did not know there were any poisons capable of disabling either species"

Madame Lefoux said mildly, "I once had access to a partial copy of the Templar’s Amended Rule"

Lady Maccon’s mouth dropped "You what?"

The Frenchwo it about in her hands reverently "I shall have to change over half my wardrobe to match it, of course But I suspect it will be worth it"

Madame Lefoux dimpled in pleasure "It will also keep the sun at bay"

Lady Maccon snorted in amusement "As to the cost, has my husband dealt with the necessities?"

The Frenchwoman held up a small hand "Oh, I am well aware that Woolsey can see to the expense And I have had dealings with your pack before"

Alexia smiled "Professor Lyall?"

"Mainly He is a curious man One wonders, sometimes, as to his motivations"

"He is not a man"

"Just so"

"And you?"

"I, too, a like one," replied Mada to misinterpret Alexia’s question

"So you say," replied Lady Maccon Then she frowned, re Ivy had said about the new hat shop: that actresses like Mabel Dair were known to frequent it "You are dealing with the hives as well as the packs"

"And ould you say that?"

"Miss Hisselpenny mentioned that Miss Dair visited your establishment She is drone to the West herself with tidying the laboratory "I provide to those who can afford my services"

"Does that include loners and roves? Have you catered to, for example, Lord Akeldama’s taste?"

"I have not yet had the pleasure," replied the inventor

Alexia noted that the Frenchwoman did not say that she had not heard of hirave lapse! It ought to be rectified i, say around entleman in question and see if he is available"

Madae to get away How very kind of you, Lady Maccon"

Alexia inclined her head in grand-da silly "I shall send around a card with the address, if he is amenable" She wanted to meet with Lord Akeldama alone first

Just then, a new noise h the hubbub of h-pitched, "Alexia?"

Lady Maccon whirled about "Oh dear, Ivy! She has not made her way down here, has she? I believe I closed the door to the ascension chamber behind me"