In the space of time since Devane and Matthew had departed, the Owl had sent the remaining four of his men who could walk—minus Perry with a bullet wound in his upper chest—out into the park, where Bogen’s body had been found and one of the coach’s drivers had emerged from his hiding-place to relate the story. Bogen was brought in and deposited in the foyer, and Samson Lash had sent a man down into the pit to find that the door to the passages had been unlocked. How Corbett had discovered the entrance beneath the gazebo’s steps and who had left the door unlocked—or who had unlocked it on purpose—were questions that Lash was not yet prepared to consider.

After a few minutes in which Lash continued to turn the cup between his hands and contemplate the bitter twistings of fate, Cardinal Black returned with the Owl.

“Close the door,” Lash told the cardinal, still speaking in a wan and quiet voice. Then, to the Owl: “Your men are gone?”

“Just now. I instructed that Perry be taken to the Highcliff hospital.”

Lash nodded, staring at the cup. The Owl had previously arranged for two coaches to arrive at six o’clock to transport his team of six security guards back to their homes. By their agreement, payment for the Owl’s services was now due and then he was to be ferried to his own townhouse in Southwark by one of Lash’s coaches.

“Sit down,” said Lash.

The Owl pulled a chair up before the vice admiral’s desk while Black stood in a shadowed corner probing at his blood-crusted nostrils and occasionally making a noise that was between a growl and a spit.

The Owl said, “Sir, I regret—”

“Don’t speak,” Lash interrupted. He kept turning the cup of ashes around and around, and then at last he released a long quiet sigh and put it aside. “Well,” he said. “Here we are.”

“May I say something?” the Owl ventured, and when Lash did not reply he dared to go further. “They can’t be travelling very fast in this weather. I’m sure you know the route they must be taking, and—”

“The northwest pike,” said Lash. “Yes, I know.”

“—and also I doubt that either Devane or Corbett have much experience in handling a coach of that size or a four-horse team. They will be hobbled by their circumstances. You, on the other hand, do not have to concern yourself with guarding two hostages and I presume you have another driver at hand.”

Lash gave a brief nod, though he was staring through the Owl.