“Many. We killed a few and caught a few. But … many remain, I suspect.”

“Gone three days? And not a word?”

“I wouldn’t expect a letter anytime soon,” said Fell. “The post out here is not dependable.”

Hudson came so close to overturning the table that he broke out in a sweat and saw a few black spiders running across his hands.

“We made an agreement,” said Fell. “If I let Matthew go to bring back the book, he agreed to find for me a man for whom I have been searching many years. I believe that man is somewhere in Italy. Who he is and what he has that I desire does not concern you.” Fell’s chin lifted a fraction, as if defying Hudson before the other man could object or question. “It is my sincere wish—hope—that Matthew does indeed find Cardinal Black, and that he and Julian can wrest that book from him and bring back a chemist to produce the antidote for Miss Grigsby. When—if—that happens, I have agreed to return you and the young lady to New York, and Matthew will be free to act on my accord.”

“A great plan!” said Hudson, with a steaming dollop of sarcasm. “Well, what do you know about this Cardinal Black?”

“He’s a demoniac and has so far murdered a score of people. His mark is leaving a Devil’s Cross carved into the foreheads of his victims.”

“Oh, is that all? Didn’t Matthew take a Bible to beat his brains out with?” Hudson wrung his hands to make the spiders whirl away. “Lunacy!” he nearly shouted. “That boy’s no match for a murderous demoniac!”

“Really?” Fell gave a short, sharp laugh, though his expression remained grimly solemn. “That boy has bested the gang of men I sent to New York to create a school for future talent, he caused the death of Tyranthus Slaughter, he finished off the Thacker brothers and destroyed my home and most of Pendulum Island, he stole from me the very valuable Minx Cutter, and the Devil only knows what else he’s done … and you say the boy’s no match for this Cardinal Black? Bite your tongue, sir! I say again … bite your tongue!”

Hudson had heard a quaver in Fell’s voice. Perhaps it was as vitally important to him that Matthew return, as much as it was vitally important for Matthew to provide an antidote to Berry’s decline. Hudson had the thought also that Berry was not the only one in decline; if this Cardinal Black had turned Mother Deare against the professor and dared to strike Fell so directly, then it seemed other sharks in the sea were smelling the blood of a weakened old man.

Hudson took a slug of his wine that emptied the glass. Weakened or not, right now Fell was in command. “What am I supposed to do while we’re waiting for Matthew to come back?”

“You’re to mind your manners. We’ll put you to work rebuilding the structures that were damaged, if you’re willing. Such effort will secure you a decent bed and some privileges that I have yet to decide upon.”