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“I have met him a handful of times over the years, but it has been at least three e”

In itself, that was suspicious Or perhaps the le to look her in the eye without revealing his guilt

There were two doors on the first-floor landing They knocked on the one nearest to the stairs, heard groans and gru from within when they knocked for the third time

“What have I told you drunkards about—” The woman stopped abruptly She opened the door fully and lance at the quality of Isabella’s vibrant gown, her filthy scowl beca smile, despite the absence of a front tooth “What can I do for you fine people at this very late hour?”

Isabella placed her hand on his aresture to infor for someone,” she said “A Mr Blackwood We were told he lives here”

The wo hair at her temple “A Mr Blackwood you say? Does he have thick dark eyebrows that meet in the middle?”

“I would not say they were entirely thick, but they do e of his nose”

“Does he have a large mole on his cheek?”

“Yes, I believe so,” Isabella said with a sigh

The wo “Does he have—”

“Good heavens,” Tristan interrupted “Can you just tell us if you know of him or not”

“He … he did live here, but now he’s moved”

“When?” Tristan stepped closer “Do you knohere we ht find him?”

“You’re not the first to co for hiood” With a hty cold at night” She took the ends of her sharapped the the door open all this time”

Isabella nudged him