Then Lash smiled, but there was something deadly playing at its edges.

“My house,” Lash said quietly. “My rules.”

Victor was silent.

“Let me reassure you—all of you—what your winning bid purchases.” Lash walked toward Firebaugh and put both huge hands on the man’s thin shoulders. Matthew thought those hands could break the shoulder bones in two seconds of effort. “You are winning not only the book, but the services of Doctor Firebaugh for one year from tonight. The very talented doctor has given the contents of the book an intense study in the short period of time we have owned it, but let me assure you that he will thoroughly understand its directions before you reach your destination. Doctor Firebaugh has been trained in the knowledge of chemicals at the Royal College of Physicians by two of the most renowned names in London’s medical profession, Doctors Lucian Crippen and Wilfred Jekyll, and you may not be aware of the intelligence of those individuals but I dare say you shall.” Lash gave the shoulders a reassuring pat and strolled back down to the other end of the table, where he picked up the pocket watch, looked at the time and then set it back down.

“In addition,” Lash said, “the winner of this auction shall have the benefit of two bodyguards chosen from this man’s able team.” He motioned toward the Owl, who briefly nodded. “These bodyguards will remain on duty until your ship leaves London, to prevent any of the saddened and disappointed losers from attempting to take what is not rightfully his—or hers—or theirs.” He gave Matthew and Julian a pointed look. “These bodyguards will be armed and ready to kill, with my blessing. Doctor, are we nearing the time?”

“Yes, I would say so,” Firebaugh responded.

“I foresaw,” said the vice admiral, “that all of you might question the validity of the potions. Therefore I have taken the liberty of applying one of them—from the doctor’s creation— to a glass of the wine that was partaken at dinner, and the effect should be imminent.”

If Matthew’s heart had been beating hard, now it began to gallop like a racehorse. His gloved hands grasped the arms of his chair. What if he or Julian had swallowed a truth serum? Christ! he thought. To have everything spill out here at the dinner table … disaster upon disaster!

“Soon now,” said Lash, with another glance at the watch.

“I still protest this arrangement!” Victor argued. “It’s unfair, not to hear what my competition is—”

Sandor Krakowski began to laugh.

All eyes turned toward him.