            ,,*APT] ,,XVIII
         ,,! ,,MY/]I\S ,,DEVICE
  ,! "D 0 WELL ADV.ED :5 ,M>GU]ITE WOKE1
REFRE%$ 0H] L;G SLEEP4 ,L\ISE _H BR"\ H]
"S FRE% MILK &A DI% ( FRUIT1 & %E P>TOOK
( ? FRUGAL BR1KFA/ ) HE>TY APPETITE4
  ,?"\S CR[D$ ?ICK & FA/ 9 H] M9D Z %E
MUN*$ H] GRAPES2 MO/ ( !M W5T GALLOP+
AWAY AF ! TALL1 ERECT FIGURE ( H] HUSB&1
:OM %E _H WAT*$ RID+ \ ( SITE M ?AN FIVE
H\RS AGO4
  ,9 ANSW] 6H] EAG] 9QUIRIES1 ,L\ISE
BR"\ BACK ! NEWS T ! GROOM _H -E HOME )
,SULTAN1 HAV+ LEFT ,SIR ,P]CY 9 ,LONDON4
,! GROOM ?"\ T 8 MA/] 0 AB 6GET ON BO>D
8 S*OON]1 : 0 LY+ (F J 2L ,LONDON
,BRIDGE4 ,SIR ,P]CY _H RI45 ?US F>1 _H
!N MET ,BRI7S1 ! SKIPP] (! ,,"D ,,DR1M1
& _H S5T ! GROOM BACK 6,RI*MOND )
,SULTAN &! EMPTY SA4LE4
  ,? NEWS PUZZL$ ,M>GU]ITE M ?AN "E4 ,":
CD ,SIR ,P]CY 2 GO+ J N[ 9 ! ,,"D
,,DR1M8 ,ON ,>M&'S 2HALF1 HE _H SD4
,WELL6 ,SIR ,P]CY _H 9FLU5TIAL FRS
"EY":4 ,P]H HE 0 GO+ 6,GRE5WI*1 OR ''' B
,M>GU]ITE C1S$ 63JECTURE2 ALL WD 2
EXPLA9$ ANON3 HE SD T HE WD -E BACK1 & T
HE WD REMEMB]4
  ,A L;G1 IDLE "D LAY 2F ,M>GU]ITE4 ,%E
0 EXPECT+ A VISIT ( H] OLD S*OOL-FELL[1
LL ,SUZANNE DE ,T\RNAY4 ,) ALL ! M]RY
MIS*IEF AT H] -M&1 %E _H T5D]$ H] REQUE/
= ,SUZANNE'S -PANY 6! ,-TESSE 9 !
,PRES;E (! ,PR9CE ( ,WALES LA/ NI<T4 ,8
,ROYAL ,HI<;S _H L\DLY APPLAUD$ ! NO;N1
& DCLD T HE WD GIVE HMF ! PL1SURE (
CALL+ ON ! TWO LADIES 9 ! C\RSE (! AFN4
,! ,-TESSE _H N D>$ 6REFUSE1 & !N & "! 0
5TRAPP$ 96A PROMISE 6S5D LL ,SUZANNE
6SP5D A L;G & HAPPY "D AT ,RI*MOND ) H]
  FR4
  ,M>GU]ITE EXPECT$ H] EAG]LY2 %E L;G$ =
A *AT AB OLD S*OOL"DS )! *2 %E FELT T %E
WD PREF] ,SUZANNE'S -PANY 6T ( ANY"O
ELSE1 & TGR !Y WD ROAM "? ! F9E OLD G>D5
& RI* DE] P>K1 OR /ROLL AL;G ! RIV]4
  ,B ,SUZANNE _H N -E YET1 & ,M>GU]ITE
2+ DRESS$1 PREP>$ 6G D[N/AIRS4 ,%E LOOK$
Q A GIRL ? MORN+ 9 H] SIMPLE MUSL9
FROCK1 )A BROAD BLUE SA% R.D H] SLIM
WAI/1 &! DA9TY CROSS-OV] FI*U 96:1 AT H]
BOSOM1 %E _H FA/5$ A FEW LATE CRIMSON
ROSES4
  ,%E CROSS$ ! L&+ \TSIDE H] [N SUITE (
A"P;TS1 & /OOD / =A MO;T AT ! H1D (! F9E
OAK /AIRCASE1 : L$ 6! L[] FLOOR4 ,ON H]
LEFT 7 H] HUSB&'S A"P;TS1 A SUITE (
ROOMS : %E PRACTIC,Y N"E 5T]$4
  ,!Y 3SI/$ ( B$ROOM1 DRESS+ & RECEP;N
ROOM1 & AT ! EXTREME 5D (! L&+1 (A SMALL
/UDY1 :1 :5 ,SIR ,P]CY DID N USE X1 0
ALW KEPT LOCK$4 ,8 [N SPECIAL &
3FID5TIAL VALET1 ,FRANK1 _H *>GE ( ?
ROOM4 ,NO "O 0 "E ALL[$ 6G 9SIDE4 ,MY
LADY _H N"E C>$ 6D S1 &! O!R S]VANTS1
_H1 ( C\RSE1 N D>$ 6BR1K ? H>D-&-FA/
RULE4
  ,M>GU]ITE _H (T51 ) T GD-NATUR$ 3TEMPT
: %E _H REC5TLY ADOPT$ T[>DS H] HUSB&1
*A6$ HM AB ? SECRECY : SURR.D$ 8 PRIVATE
/UDY4 ,LAU<+LY %E _H ALW DCLD T HE
/RICTLY EXCLUD$ ALL PRY+ EYES F 8
SANCTUM = FE> !Y %D DETECT H[ V LL
8/UDY0 W5T ON )9 XS F\R WALLS3 A -=TA#
>M-*AIR = ,SIR ,P]CY'S SWEET SLUMB]S
WAS1 NO D\BT1 XS MO/ 3SPICU\S PIECE (
FURNITURE4
  ,M>GU]ITE ?"\ ( ALL ? ON ? B"R ,OCTOB]
MORN+ Z %E GL.ED AL;G ! CORRIDOR4 ,FRANK
0 EVID5TLY BUSY ) 8 MA/]'S ROOMS1 = MO/
(! DOORS /OOD OP51 T (! /UDY AM;G/ !
O!RS4
  ,A SU45 BURN+1 *ILDI% CURIOS;Y SEIZ$
H] 6H A PEEP AT ,SIR ,P]CY'S SANCTUM4 ,?
RE/RIC;N1 ( C\RSE1 DID N APPLY 6H]1 &
,FRANK WD1 ( C\RSE1 N D>E 6OPPOSE H]4
,/1 %E HOP$ T ! VALET WD 2 BUSY 9 "O (!
O!R ROOMS1 T %E MI<T H T "O QK PEEP 9
SECRET1 & UNMOLE/$4
  ,G5TLY1 ON TIP-TOE1 %E CROSS$ ! L&+ &1
L ,BLUE ,BE>D'S WIFE1 TREMBL+ HALF )
EXCITE;T & WOND]1 %E PAUS$ A MO;T ON !
?RE%OLD1 /RANGELY P]TURB$ & IRRESOLUTE4
  ,! DOOR 0 AJ>1 & %E CD N SEE ANY?+ )94
,%E PU%$ X OP5 T5TATIVELY3 "! 0 NO S.D3
,FRANK 0 EVID5TLY N "!1 & %E WALK$
BOLDLY IN4
  ,AT ONCE %E 0 /RUCK 0! SEV]E SIMPLIC;Y
( "EY?+ >.D H]3 ! D>K & H1VY HANG+S1 !
MASSIVE OAK FURNITURE1 ! "O OR TWO MAPS
ON ! WALL1 9 NO WAY RECALL$ 6H] M9D !
LAZY MAN AB T[N1 ! LOV] ( RACE-C\RSES1 !
D&IFI$ L1D] ( FA%ION1 T 0 ! \TW>D
REPRES5T,N ( ,SIR ,P]CY ,BLAK5EY4
  ,"! 0 NO SIGN "H1 AT ANY RATE1 (
HURRI$ DE"PURE4 ,"EY?+ 0 9 XS PLACE1 N A
SCRAP ( PAP] LITT]$ ! FLOOR1 N A CUPBO>D
OR DRAW] 0 LEFT OP54 ,! CURTA9S 7 DRAWN
ASIDE1 & "? ! OP5 W9D[ ! FRE% MORN+ AIR
0 /R1M+ IN4
  ,FAC+ ! W9D[1 & WELL 96! C5TRE (!
ROOM1 /OOD A POND]\S BUSI;S-L DESK1 :
LOOK$ Z IF X _H SE5 M* S]VICE4 ,ON !
WALL 6! LEFT (! DESK1 R1*+ ALM F FLOOR
6CEIL+1 0 A L>GE FULL-L5G? PORTRAIT (A
WOMAN1 MAGNIFIC5TLY FRAM$1 EXQUISITELY
PA9T$1 & SIGN$ )! "N ( ,B\*]4 ,X 0
,P]CY'S "M4
  ,M>GU]ITE KNEW V LL AB H]1 EXCEPT T %E
_H DI$ ABROAD1 AIL+ 9 BODY Z WELL Z 9
M9D1 : ,P]CY 0 / A LAD4 ,%E M/ H BE5 A V
B1UTI;L WOMAN ONCE1 :5 ,B\*] PA9T$ H]1 &
Z ,M>GU]ITE LOOK$ AT ! PORTRAIT1 %E CD N
B 2 /RUCK 0! EXTRAORD9>Y RESEMBL.E : M/
H EXI/$ 2T "M & SON4 ,"! 0 ! SAME L[1
SQU>E =EH1D1 CR[N$ ) ?ICK1 FAIR HAIR1
SMOO? & H1VY2 ! SAME DEEP-SET1 "S:AT
LAZY BLUE EYES 2N FIRMLY M>K$1 /RAI<T
BR[S2 & 9 ^? EYES "! 0 ! SAME 9T5S;Y 2H
T APP>5T LAZI;S1 ! SAME LAT5T PAS.N :
US$ 6LI<T UP ,P]CY'S FACE 9 ! OLD5 "DS
2F 8 M>RIAGE1 & : ,M>GU]ITE _H AG NOT$1
LA/ NI<T AT DAWN1 :5 %E _H -E Q CLOSE
6HM1 & _H ALL[$ A NOTE ( T5D];S 6CREEP
96H] VOICE4
  ,M>GU]ITE /UDI$ ! PORTRAIT1 = X 9T]E/$
H]3 AF T %E TURN$ & LOOK$ AG AT !
POND]\S DESK4 ,X 0 COV]$ )A MASS (
PAP]S1 ALL N1TLY TI$ & DOCKET$1 : LOOK$
L A3.TS & RECEIPTS >RAY$ ) P]FECT ME?OD4
,X _H N"E 2F /RUCK ,M>GU]ITE--NOR _H %E1
ALAS6 F.D X WOR? :ILE 69QUIRE--Z 6H[
,SIR ,P]CY1 :OM ALL ! _W _H CR$IT$ )A
TOTAL LACK ( BRA9S1 ADM9I/]$ ! VA/ =TUNE
: 8 "F _H LEFT HM4
  ,S9CE %E _H 5T]$ ? N1T1 ORD]LY ROOM1
%E _H BE5 TAK5 S M* 0SURPRISE1 T ?
OBVI\S PRO( ( H] HUSB&'S /R;G BUSI;S
CAPACITIES DID N CAUSE H] M ?AN A PASS+
?"\ ( WOND]4 ,B X AL /R5G!N$ H] 9 ! N[
C]TA9 K T1 ) 8 _WLY 9ANITIES1 8 FOPPI%
WAYS1 & FOOLI% TALK1 HE 0 N ONLY WE>+ A
MASK1 B 0 PLAY+ A DELIB]ATE & /UDI$ "P4
  ,M>GU]ITE WOND]$ AG4 ,:Y %D HE TAKE
ALL ? TR\#8 ,:Y %D HE--:O 0 OBVI\SLY A
S]I\S1 E>NE/ MAN--WI% 6APPE> 2F 8 FELL[-
M5 Z AN EMPTY-H1D$ N9COMPOOP8
  ,HE MAY H WI%$ 6HIDE 8 LOVE =A WIFE :O
HELD HM 9 3TEMPT ''' B SURELY S* AN
OBJECT CD H BE5 GA9$ AT LESS SACRIFICE1
&) F> LESS TR\# ?AN 3/ANT 9CESSANT ACT+
( AN UNNATURAL "P4
  ,%E LOOK$ R.D H] Q AIM.SLY N[3 %E 0
HORRIBLY PUZZL$1 &A "N.S DR1D1 2F ALL ?
/RANGE1 UNA3.TA# MY/]Y1 _H 2GUN 6SEIZE
^U H]4 ,%E FELT COLD & UNCOM=TA# SU45LY
9 ? SEV]E & D>K ROOM4 ,"! 7 NO PICTURES
ON ! WALL1 SAVE ! F9E ,B\*] PORTRAIT1
ONLY A C\PLE ( MAPS1 BO? ( "PS ( ,FR.E1
"O (! ,NOR? COA/ &! O!R (! 5VIRONS (
,P>IS4 ,:AT DID ,SIR ,P]CY WANT ) ^?1 %E
WOND]$4
  ,H] H1D 2GAN 6A*E1 %E TURN$ AWAY F ?
/RANGE ,BLUE ,BE>D'S *AMB]1 : %E _H
5T]$1 & : %E DID N "U/&4 ,%E DID N WI%
,FRANK 6F9D H] "H1 &)A FA/ LOOK R.D1 %E
ONCE M TURN$ 6! DOOR4 ,Z %E DID S1 H]
FOOT KNOCK$ AG/ A SMALL OBJECT1 : _H
APP>5TLY BE5 LY+ CLOSE 6! DESK1 ON !
C>PET1 & : N[ W5T ROLL+1 "R ACR ! ROOM4
  ,%E /OOP$ 6PICK X UP4 ,X 0 A SOLID
GOLD R+1 )A FLAT %IELD1 ON : 0 5GRAV$ A
SMALL DEVICE4
  ,M>GU]ITE TURN$ X OV] 9 H] F+]S1 & !N
/UDI$ ! 5GRAV+ ON ! %IELD4 ,X REPRES5T$
A SMALL />-%AP$ FL[]1 (A %APE %E _H SE5
S 4T9CTLY TWICE 2F3 ONCE AT ! OP]A1 &
ONCE AT ,"L ,GR5VILLE'S BALL4

