‘‘Oh, yes,’’ he said with some amusement. ‘‘You are the first person to escape Suffrage House in . . . come to think of it, I think you’re the first person to escape, period. The committee is not pleased with that fact. When you add Dr. Kostich’s benefaction in with the large sum of money the committee is offering for your recapture, you will no doubt understand why every thief taker available is even now descending on Europe in order to find you.’’

I groaned and plopped down on the edge of the windowsill. ‘‘Great. Just what I need—even more people after me.’’

Gabriel looked grave for a moment, but suddenly his dimples appeared. ‘‘It’s somewhat ironic, then, that Mayling will be in the last place anyone expects to find her—Suffrage House itself.’’

‘‘I have to get there first,’’ I said darkly.

He paid no attention to my black mood. ‘‘Come, little bird. As the thief taker noted, time is passing, and we must find your twin soon.’’

‘‘I seldom offer my help without recompense— busman’s holiday and all that—but as I find myself at a bit of a short end with regards to my current case, and as I am the best tracker in all the L’au-delà, I might be willing to help you locate your twin.’’

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. ‘‘What would you want for helping us?’’

‘‘Oh . . .’’ Savian looked thoughtful for a moment before smiling at us both. ‘‘Let’s just say that all I’ll ask is a favor to be granted at a later time.’’

‘‘What sort of favor?’’ I asked suspiciously.

‘‘I have no idea until the time comes,’’ he answered.

Gabriel and I exchanged glances. He made a little shrugging movement that I took to mean he wasn’t overly concerned about the thought of owing a favor to Savian. I was less certain as to the wisdom of putting ourselves in his debt, but there didn’t seem to be much I could do about the situation.

‘‘Very well,’’ I agreed. ‘‘We’d be happy for the help. Cy’s trail is starting to get very faint.’’

Gabriel nodded toward the body. ‘‘I don’t suppose you are responsible for that?’’ he asked Savian.

‘‘No, although I would have liked to have been. He wasn’t much of a credit to the watch.’’

‘‘What are we going to do about him?’’ I asked, nodding toward Porter’s body.

‘‘He is of no matter to you now,’’ Gabriel said, dismissing both the body and the issue it presented.

‘‘Not directly so, but if he was asked to employ me, then we’ve still got to deal with whomever he was serving.’’

Gabriel made a face. ‘‘We will deal with that situation after we retrieve the phylactery.’’