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A collective gasp rang through the room

“Five thousand!” Lord Newberry cried before Sir Melrose olden-haired Adonis flashed his perfect teeth “You know I can settle immediately, Daventry”

Five thousand!

“Six!” Sybil blurted Heavens, she would need to sell her ain, and that was most definitely out of the question “And I, too, can settle today”

Cassandra tugged Sybil’s pelisse and whispered, “Have you lost yourwith your future”

Thetone of the anonymous letters had robbed Sybil of her facilities If she stopped to consider the full implication of the threat, she would cru wreck

Indeed, nus had occurred to leave her nerves in tatters Twice during the last week, a stranger had followed her holass in the kitchen , though the culpritbut a hunk of bread Soh Cook had not placed the order Sybil had woken to find her bedcha phantom-like in the wind

“The items are of no use to either of you” Sir Melrose’s croaky voice dragged Sybil fro reverie “Price should not be the only consideration As an elected member of the Royal Society, you can trust Mr Atwood’s ill be treated with the utmost reverence”

“And yet many are critical of the Society’s approach to science,” Sybil said She read the broadsheets How else was a woman to keep abreast of current affairs?

She turned to Mr Daventry, who appeared to have lost interest in the conversation A sullen gentleure cared nothing for the argust the bidders Indeed, he studied the equipment on display as if he could read their untold secrets

“Seven thousand” Lord Newberry’s bid sent the roo into shocked silence “Take it now, Daventry, for I shall not ain”

The mention of his name drew Mr Daventry’s attention back to the men with more money than sense “Perhaps there is soe of heart The iteer for sale Not today at any rate”

Sir Melrose’s eyes bulged in their sockets “Atould be mortified by this debacle”

“As Miss Atwood kindly reo to a worthy patron I suggest those who are interested in obtaining the items should send a written statement of how they intend to use the collection”

“This is outrageous!” Sir Melrose barged past those in the seats next to hie to approach Mr Daventry and pursue his complaint “You shall have my explanation as to why these items are of importance within the hour”