As Matthew was being searched, he felt the Owl watching him. Damn the man! If he’d had his druthers he would poke those eyeballs out with a sharp stick. He felt woozy. If anyone in this foyer had known the Prussian language, he and Julian would already be on the path to reduction as dogfood.

But with a knock at the door another visitor’s presence was announced, taking the Owl’s attention. Matthew looked back to see what appeared to be a young boy entering the house and displaying his invitation. This person could not be over twelve years of age, was small-boned and slim, sharp-nosed and dark-eyed and completely out of the element here. He wore what was certainly an expensive black greatcoat, gray gloves and a gray tricorn with a single white feather sticking up from its band. He clasped a cowhide satchel under his arm. As Matthew watched, this new arrival—a mere child, at that, and only in height perhaps three inches over five feet—stopped before the wicker basket and, smiling thinly at the Owl, produced from his coat first one pistol, then another smaller than the first, an even smaller pistol from his left boot, and lastly a short sword in a leather sheath from between his shoulderblades.

The man who had searched Matthew used the universal language of a thumb’s jerk to order him to move along, and offered the return of the wig which now looked somewhat like a crushed dead animal.

He put it on, straightened it as best as possible, was grateful that he’d not had to take off his gloves, and again moved forward in a lurch to catch up with Julian. First no carriage, now no weapons … a fine plan, flying to pieces like an old grainsack in a hurricane.

What a house this was! Even with the present dangers Matthew could not help but be awed by the grand elegance of the place. Light woods were tastefully mixed with dark woods, everything was polished to perfection, a beautiful many-hued Oriental carpet graced the floor just past the foyer, and a runner of the same colored the wide staircase. From a large chandelier hung an array of illuminated ship’s lanterns. Upon the sky-blue walls were mounted various paintings of seascapes, and a great white ensign of the Royal Navy was hanging from above. Its red cross served to remind Matthew of Cardinal Black’s signature, and the fact that all this beauty was the smooth white powder on a killer’s face.