The Women of Nell Gwynne's by Kage Baker Page A

unknown."
    >"But—but—" said Pilkins.
    "Good God!" cried Sir George. "A confidence trickster! I knew it! I told him to his face he was a damned un-English bounder—"
    "Do you mean to say you quarreled with his lordship, sir?" inquired Lady Beatrice quietly.
    "Er," said Sir George. "No! Not exactly. I implied it. I mean to say, I was going to tell him that. In the morning. Because I was, er, suspicious, yes, damned suspicious of his proposal. Yes. I know a liar when I see one!"
    "So do I," said Ludbridge, giving him a stern look, at which he wilted somewhat. "And I take it his lordship has died as the result of misadventure?"
    "We are waiting for your constabulary to arrive, but it would appear Lord Basmond fell down the stairs and broke his neck," said Ali Pasha, with a glance at Sir George.
    "Shame," said Ludbridge. "Still, Providence has a way of administering its own justice. None of you were defrauded, I hope?"
    "We had as yet not even bid," said Prince Nakhimov.
    "Capital! You've had a narrow escape, then. I suspect that my work is done," said Ludbridge. "Much as I would have liked to bring the miscreant into a court of law, he is presently facing a far sterner tribunal."
    "If you please, sir," said Pilkins, in a trembling voice. "My lordship wasn't no fraud—"
    Ludbridge held up his hand in an imperious gesture. "To be sure; your loyalty to an old family fallen on evil times is commendable, but it won't do, my good man. We have proof that his lordship was heavily in debt. Do you deny it?"
    "No, sir." Pilkins's shoulders sagged. The sound of wheels and hoof beats came from the courtyard. "Oh; that'll be our Ralph bringing the constable, I reckon."
    "Very good." Ludbridge surveyed them all. "Gentlemen, in view of the tragic circumstances of this evening, and considering the Rawdons' noble history—to say nothing of your own reputations as shrewd men of the world—I do think nothing is to be gained by bruiting this scandal abroad. Perhaps I ought to quietly withdraw."
    "If you only would, sir—" said Pilkins, weeping afresh.
    "The kitchens are down here, sir," said Lady Beatrice, leading the way. As they descended, they heard the constable's knock and Ali Pasha saying, "Should someone not go waken the count?"

    "A SPLENDID FARRAGO OF lies, sir," said Lady Beatrice, as they descended.
    "Thank you. Perhaps we ought to quicken our pace," said Ludbridge. "I should like to be well clear of the house before anyone goes in search of the Frenchman."
    "Where did you put him, sir, if I may ask?"
    "In his bed, where else? And a nice job someone did on his partner, I must say. Let the Austrians clean that up!"
    "Thank you, sir."
    "Did anyone hear us?" asked Dora, as they entered the kitchen. "I had to get Jane to help me lift it—not heavy, you know, but awkward."
    "They didn't hear a thing," said Lady Beatrice, kneeling beside the chest. "Jumbey? Jumbey, dear, is poor Hindley all right?"
    "He's frightened," said the eerie voice. "He can tell there are strangers about."
    "Tell him he needn't worry. No one will disturb him, and soon he'll have a bigger and better laboratory to play in."
    "Maude, just you go catch your Ralph before he puts the horses away," said Mrs. Corvey, and Maude went running out crying:
    "Ralph, my love, would you oblige us ever so much? We just need a ride to the village."

    T HE TRAGEDY OF Lord Basmond's death set tongues wagging in Little Basmond, but what really scandalized the village was the death of the French count at the hands of his Austrian valet; a crime of passion, apparently, though no one could quite determine how the valet had managed to break all the count's bones. The local magistrate was secretly grateful when an emissary of the Austrian government showed up with a writ of extradition and took the valet away in chains. More: in a handsome gesture, the Austrians paid to have the count's corpse shipped back to France.
    Ali Pasha and Prince Nakhimov returned alive to their respective