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The pendulu chest "He's going to be killed!" a woman screamed

"Sliced and diced," Eruous cheeriness He lowered his voice to a stage whisper "Lord Cavendish is a ham at heart, I fear Don't worry, uest to go to pieces But if it worries you " He snapped his fingers and the swinging penduluave a violent convulsion and lay still

Eh there was no scene set up in the cha of all The walls were covered in black velvet that stole what light escaped through the opaque black screen The ath of relief when Eeway that would lead froeon When Austin and Skye went to follow, he barred their way

Austin sturand sweep "After you, Gaston"

Emil had shed his foppish Prospero act and now his voice was businesslike and as hard-edged as cold steel

"While Marcel leads our guests out of the cataco lady," he said, lifting a fold

of black velvet draped against a wall Behind the cloth was a cleft in the stones about two feet wide

Austin blinked "What's going on? Is this part of the show?" "Yes," Emil said with a hard smile "This is part of the show" He produced a pistol

Austin looked at the gun and gave a soggy laugh "Hell of a show," he said, shaking his head so the bells jangled

He stepped through the opening, with Skye, then Emil behind her They descended two more sets of stairs The telistened on the walls and dripped down on their heads They continued down until Emil finally ordered them to stop in front of a recess about five feet wide and four feet deep

He thrust the torch into a sconce and pulled a cloth off a pile of bricks A trowel and a bucket of mortar sat on the floor next to the bricks Frolass was covered with dust and cobwebs The bottle was stopped up with a cork, which Emil removed with his teeth He handed the bottle to Austin

"Drink, Monsieur Austin"

Austin stared at the bottle "Maybe we should let it breathe for a while"

"It has had centuries to breathe," Fauchard said He gestured with his gun "Drink"

Austin grinned foolishly as if he thought the gun was a toy and put the bottle to his mouth Some of the wine dribbled down his chin and he wiped it away He offered the bottle to Fauchard, who said, "No, thank you I prefer to remain conscious" "Huh?"