“Before we begin,” said Julian, who sounded amazingly calm in this den of Hell, “a word to the wise.” He was speaking to Lash, but directing it to the Owl. “The others out there are getting somewhat restless. Arguments have begun. I note that no one had the presence of mind to remove the set of fireplace tools from the room. With those, any of the creatures in that parlor could commit mass murder.”

Lash nodded. “See to it,” he said to the air, and immediately the Owl left the room and once more closed the door.

Matthew would’ve breathed a sigh of relief, but now Cardinal Black was watching him … and Black had seen him face-to-face in Y Beautiful Bedd, if only for a short time but time enough. Mister Corbett, Black had said that night in the village’s hospital. I’ve heard much about you.

“Gentlemen,” said Lash, “I have been looking forward to this meeting, most of all.”

“The baron and I are honored.”

“Show me what you have.”

Julian took the key from his pocket and unlocked the satchel. Matthew thought Julian must have nerves of steel, to have fitted that key in the locks so smoothly; if it had been up to him he’d still be fumbling with a sweat-slick key from now past midnight.

Julian opened the satchel and shook it until all ten of the gold bars had left their pockets and lay on the desk just short of the book.

The gold gleamed up into Lash’s face. He reached out to run his fingers over one of the bars, and then he said quietly, “Where is the other half of your offer?”

“Ah. Here.” Julian unsnapped the inner compartment and brought out the five pieces of parchment, and Matthew thought that if these weren’t what Lash meant, they were both dead. In dramatic fashion, Julian laid down one sheet at a time, and when he was done Matthew caught the briefest shine of sweat through the powder on Julian’s forehead.

Lash said nothing as he studied the sheets. He took an arm and pushed the gold bars and the book aside so that he could further arrange them to his liking. Miss Mulloy peered at the drawings over one of his massive shoulders. In the corner, Cardinal Black shifted his position just a few inches, as if the spider were preparing to strike.

Lash spoke.

“Excellent,” he said. Then, with a rush of emotion: “Excellent! I knew you wouldn’t fail me. Even though after our last communication I heard nothing more.” He lifted his gaze to Julian and presented him with a scowl that would’ve withered Matthew to his knees. “You should have written to tell me you had these. I was left hanging for much too long.”

“My apologies. I … didn’t feel a letter was secure.”