Krakowski muttered something that was in his own language and unintelligible, but he did as the doctor said and closed his eyes.

“You must have a big brain,” Merda said to Firebaugh. “A fucking genius. Are you?”

“The creator of the book, Doctor Jonathan Gentry, was a true genius,” Firebaugh replied, “I try.”

“You’ll have to do better than try, when I have you in my country,” Victor said. “My employers will expect more than table tricks.”

“I shall deliver,” Firebaugh answered, with a measure of regal dignity. “And I can promise you, sir, that the book’s ‘table tricks’, as you call them, have the power to turn the tables on any enemy your employers see fit to destroy.”

Julian suddenly broke from his state of contemplation. “Fine words,” he said. “But I’d like specifics that Vice Admiral Lash failed to supply. For instance, how many potions are inscribed in that book? Even … how many pages does the damned thing have?”

“You’ll get to see that for yourself, Count Pellegar.” Elizabeth Mulloy had entered the room, bringing Montague back to the group, and Matthew noted that she could move as quietly as a cat. “The book is in Vice Admiral Lash’s study. Madam Sauvage, I believe you are next.”

Lioness retrieved her satchel and went with Miss Mulloy, while Montague sat scowling in a chair as if things had not gone as well as planned. Merda aimed a little chuckle in Montague’s direction but when he didn’t get a bite on his line he reeled it in and sat twiddling his thumbs.

“Doctor Firebaugh,” Julian persisted in a quiet, smooth voice, “how does a member of your profession—and your standing—come to be involved in this matter? I would think with your qualifications you’d be quite happy with a profitable life in this city. Who knows where you might wind up?”

“Yes,” Montague said, “he might wind up in that hellhole called Berlin.”

“Or somewhere in Africa,” Merda spoke up. “A good question, Your Excellency. Let’s hear it, doc.”

Matthew pretended to be intent on toasting himself before the fire, but he was listening intently.

Firebaugh put aside his book and removed his spectacles. He rubbed his forehead, gazed up at the blue-sky ceiling for a moment and then said, “It is true I graduated with high honors from the Royal College of Physicians. I have studied medicine and chemistry, it seems, for most of my life. I am forty-two years old and for the last six years have been practicing at the Highcliff hospital, which is not quite a half-mile from this house. In fact, that was where I met the vice admiral four years ago, when he came in to have a—” He paused, obviously not knowing whether to reveal this bit of information.

“Check of his ball sack?” Merda prompted.