Chapters (44)
- Title Page
- One: Into the Storm
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Two: London Calling
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Three: The Malignant Seven
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Four: Squirrels and Cats
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Five: Revelation
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- About the Author
“A journey of considerable length,” said the man. “I have businesses to guide.”
“As I understand, sir, your businesses are so successful they run themselves. Also, that you don’t often leave this gracious abode. I understand as well that some of your ventures are in … shall we say … competition with those of the professor. I mentioned the old man, John Lamprey. I will add to that: the weakened old man, John Lamprey.”
“I have heard as much.”
“And correctly heard. But consider why Professor Fell might be interested—desperate, possibly—to get the mirror,” said Black, as he again toyed with his satanic rings. “In control of the mirror and its power, Fell might do … what? Destroy you and his other competitor Doctor Phibes with one breath of a desire? Bring this house down to a cinder? Wipe you out, sir, as if you had never existed? Oh … it is paramount not only to gain control of the mirror, but to prevent Fell from gaining control. And … there is one more reason a trip to Italy would be of benefit to both you and me, over and beyond the mirror.”
The man who sat in shadow did not respond, but the cardinal knew he was listening.
“Professor Fell will be travelling only with a guard of four men fully loyal to him. Corbett is what I would call a wild card, and Greathouse the same,” Black went on. “Fell will be far away from that army he commands … or believes he commands. He will be out of his element. Out of his stone walls and his protection. Out in the open, and thus open to being removed entirely from the scene with a minimum of effort. But first … have him lead us to the mirror, and then … a wreath of thorns for his grave?”
“He believes strongly enough in this mirror to leave his protection?” the man asked.
“Certainly so. The privately chartered Essex Triton sails for Venice in four mornings, at six o’clock from Dock Number Eight of the Raleigh Globe company. If the professor did not believe so strongly, would he be making such an effort?”
“Your information is accurate?”
“You know my reputation. That is my master’s word.”
The man gave a quiet grunt of consideration. Then he said, “Why don’t I just kill you now and sail off to find the mirror myself?”