BooksBarbecue
Back Cardinal Black Save as PDF
Chapters (44)
  1. Title Page
  2. One: Into the Storm
  3. One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Two: London Calling
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Twelve
  16. Thirteen
  17. Fourteen
  18. Fifteen
  19. Three: The Malignant Seven
  20. Sixteen
  21. Seventeen
  22. Eighteen
  23. Nineteen
  24. Twenty
  25. Twenty-One
  26. Twenty-Two
  27. Twenty-Three
  28. Four: Squirrels and Cats
  29. Twenty-Four
  30. Twenty-Five
  31. Twenty-Six
  32. Twenty-Seven
  33. Twenty-Eight
  34. Twenty-Nine
  35. Thirty
  36. Thirty-One
  37. Thirty-Two
  38. Five: Revelation
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. About the Author

“Good evening,” Matthew replied, which brought upon him a look from Julian that nearly fried his wig. Oh my God! Matthew thought. He felt sweat spring out from his armpits. I’m not supposed to know any English! But after all it was a dress rehearsal, though it had to be treated as seriously as the real thing.

Speaking to the false Count Pellegar again, the clerk said, “How may I—”

“Your night manager. I wish to speak with him.” Julian was making no effort to alter his speech, though the words were delivered with the haughty annoyance of a wealthy dandy who has little to do but belittle others. Matthew thought that was the wisest course since keeping up an affected voice would be most difficult.

“Oh … of course, your Excellency.” The clerk picked up a small silver bell from his desk, rang it in what seemed all the cardinal directions of the compass, and here came three young attendants on the run. “Jackson!” the clerk said to the first youth who arrived. “Go fetch Mr. Brinewater. Tell him Count Pellegar wishes to speak with him.”

“Sir!” The youth had nearly shouted it up to the gigantic chandelier. He took off at a run again and the other attendants went back to what they’d been doing.

“I am so pleased,” said the clerk to Julian, “that your missing bags were located.” Matthew noted that the clerk could not help but be a bit goggle-eyed standing so close to the furnace of all these flaming colors.

“I as well. Some fool of a servant packed them in the baron’s trunk, as I suspect you heard.”

“So pleased,” the clerk repeated with a blank but polite smile, as it was not his place to repeat anything he might have heard that spoke against the efficiency of a Prussian servant.

Julian said haughtily, “I commend you and your establishment for finding a room for Count Mowbrey and Mr. Spottle. But I am not satisfied that acommodations were not made for them at the proper time.”

Matthew grimaced for fear that Julian was going a room too far.

“Of course, of course! Ah! Here’s our Mr. Brinewater!” It was said with relief that this international incident would go no further with him involved.