The Mandarin of Mayfair by Patricia Veryan Page B

well over the oar, that he had no choice but to call you out!"
    "There is no justice," sighed Falcon. "You say nought of how gallantly I rescued poor dear Reggie Smythe."
    "I know damned well you'd not lift a finger to rescue him! You loathe the reptile."
    "An apt description." Laughing, Falcon threw up one hand. "No, Gideon. Do not rant. I gave you my word not to fight Morris; at least, till our struggle with the League is won."
    "I'd not realized," said Rossiter bitterly, "that gave you
carte blanche
to annihilate the rest of the human race."
    "But my dear fellow, Rafe Green is not of the human race."
    "Damn you, August! You know how much we need you! This is no time to be calling out everyone who annoys you."
    Inspecting his fingernails, Falcon murmured, "I presume your informant was Morris. Did he also tell you what Green said?"
    "I've not seen Morris today. Kadenworthy told me that Green insulted your sister, but—"
    Falcon's dark head jerked up. He snapped, "Had he done so, I'd have had his heart out there and then! Green uttered a crude remark about—" His eyes widened. He said in a half-whisper, "
Sacrebleu!
I never thought—"
    Watching him uneasily, Rossiter saw one long hand clench hard. "My apologies that I misunderstood."
    "You did." Falcon took a steadying breath, but he had paled. "And I shall have a talk with Kadenworthy. He should know better than to bandy Katrina's name about!"
    "Oh, burn it! Kade meant no harm. He was trying to explain your crazy antics at The Madrigal. Nothing more, I promise you!" Falcon turned his head and looked straight at him and Rossiter was shocked by the glare in those deep eyes. "Good God, August! Green is a boor but—he was drunk, man! If you kill him you'll have to leave the country for six months, and—"
    "But I have your permission to kill him at a more—ah, opportune time. Is that it?"
    "No, blast you!"
    "And I suppose had some great filthy oaf made a disparaging remark about Miss Gwendolyn in a gentlemen's club, you'd smile and kiss his foot? Hah! I wish I may see it!"
    Rossiter frowned. "In that event, of course— But perchance Kade misinterpreted—"
    "No. I think I am the one to have done so. Which will be dealt with." Falcon laughed suddenly. "Now, do stop behaving as if I were a lowly private and you a major-general! I'll honour my word about that blockhead, Morris. More I'll not—and never have—promised." He reached back and took up a grubby and wrinkled sheet of paper. "I'm glad you came, even though so dictatorially. See what you make of this."
    Struggling with the crude printing, Rossiter read slowly: "Sum one follered Mr. Fowls lars nite. No one follered Mr. Falkon. Jos. L. (reporting As paid fer.)" Puzzled, he asked, "This Jos. L. is one of Tummet's people?"
    "No." Falcon went back to his chair and the business of cleaning his pistol. "It seems that a shabby fellow gave it to the gardener's boy and claimed to have been hired by Bowers-Malden to keep an eye on 'Some Gents,' and report anything interesting. Sounds a bit havey-cavey, don't you think? Why not report to you?"
    "Perhaps he was given several names and simply came to whomever chanced to be nearest. Certainly, my father and the earl have their spies out. Though they are concentrating on the shipping end of this ugly business."
    "I doubt this report is of any significance." Falcon tilted the graceful pistol to the light and inspected the barrel. "Gil Fowles is a nasty insect and a member of the League, certainly. But I'd be surprised if he's one of the six leaders."
    Rossiter muttered, "So should I, but I wonder…"
    After a brief pause, Falcon glanced at him and prompted, "Well? Well? Wonder—what?"
    "Cast your mind back a few weeks," said Rossiter, "to when you and Cranford and Morris were in Yerville Hall and had spoiled the scheme of Lady Julia Yerville and—"
    "And that dragon of Society, my erstwhile devoted admirer, Lady Clara Buttershaw."
    "Erstwhile?" enquired Rossiter.
    Falcon grinned.