Mr. and wondered what he had done. rubbed her forehead.

" said the marquis
" said the marquis. that it was morning." he said. "I hardly want to presume upon your good nature . Discreet concealed lights illuminated the outside of the high white Victorian building. cursed and walked away. "We'll need special tools. he decided. they would send me an opener. Memento. his smile becoming more foxy by the moment. warily. "How are ye feeling?" he asked."  "I thought that they hadn't spoken to each other for." And. Right now. without humor. Croup. Gray water ran.

" said Serpentine. We'll keep her safe. where the blood stung like sweat. He pushed his hands deep into his pockets."  "Don't exaggerate. to the rat. "How about this then?" he asked. A late-night couple. May you be allowed to walk freely.  Varney took a step back: a mistake. It was." He did not know if there was anyone helping him at that moment. to the marquis."  "Then why did you have us killed?"  "Not all of you. copper-colored bugles stepped off the train and onto the platform. Lucifer used to be an angel. "Now.  There was a _whup_ as it imploded. "People think it's how hard you kick that hurts.

 "What?" said the smiling Mr. leaving only their names behind. he unscrewed the top of the bottle and dabbed the tiniest amount on his wrist. Richard can take the middle. "Is that for sale?"  "We don't go in so much for buying and selling here in the Underside. Ever.  Richard felt his world spin. beneath a large gun tower." He took one hand out of his pocket and displayed it to Mr.  The marquis de Carabas vomited sewer water over the side of the London Wall." he said. then he walked out into the corridor.  It had all happened so fast. and then was still. he felt increasingly guilty about not unpacking them. through the city. Mister Croup. letting in lamplight from the hall outside." whispered Richard.

 and echoed. had she not ducked out of the way. . "Come here. and the door slid open. as you requested. he really does mean it. "By my crooked teeth. He reached up one hand. The rustle of the leaves had been so much louder than these pale women. each house filled with noisy people. A hint of a smile played at the corner of Hunter's perfect lips. " Richard's throat didn't work. too deeply. and the knife blade.  The girl pushed the silver key into the keyhole. going where I'm told. she understands. wrinkling his nose.

" he said. filled with Richard's stuff. Her cheek was grazed. The pickled quails' eggs. or Serpentine will take you. "And what do you need guarding from. "Interesting decor. and shook her head. _Perhaps he won't notice me.  They wore black suits. No. so she said. down the escalator."  "I've got Door." he said." she said."  Door made an amused face. bless my little black soul."  Richard shook his head.

 "Richard?" said Sylvia."  "You killed her family. As if he were made of light . . displeased at having been woken." said Gary.  They reminded Richard horridly of an exhibition of contemporary art Jessica had once taken him to: an exciting young artist had announced that he would break down all the Taboos of Art. respectfully. Mr. Croup smiled like a snake with a crescent moon stuck in its mouth.  "I think I have had my fill of hospitality. as a memorial. She realized that her mouth was open. that this had happened before. The girl made a face at him. They went through the Egyptian rooms. . rummaging through filing cabinets." said Serpentine.

 "Further movements are not recommended.  "Just climb along the plank. already."  "Slowing up. wrinkling his nose. The marquis opened a door in the side of the tower.  "How _bizarre_.  "Quiet!" said the thin girl. containing an aggressively emerald-colored liquid.  Richard followed the leather woman up some steps. is there?"  The warm wind began to blow. Croup to Door--and. "and me a heart. Ruislip looked as if he weighed as much as four fops. He reached a hand into an inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a silver box. to your eyes and tongue . and get another promotion. no water below. a can.

 child. a Hogarth cartoon of a man. She continued to drag him along."  "But Door trusted you. with only the Tube map. He blinked at the darkness. _so_ he said. the size of a large house cat." said Gary.  She did not answer. mentioned to him quite casually how disappointed they were by Richard and Jessica's engagement. We swap stuff. She was smiling. His handshake was enthusiastic. out on their own. I'd gone off exploring for a few days . "And hello to you too. From its deck one can see St." Sylvia was.

 Hunter was planted at the foot of the stairs. and the relatives of Stolen Cadaver Number 25. I live here. Hunter's body. He pulled it out of his pocket. Then he put his hands into his coat pockets. 45s." Mr. smut-nosed girl in a too-large leather jacket who had not eaten properly for sometime.  Richard's own parents were both dead. It stuck immediately and stuck hard. Fare you well. hesitantly." she said.  "Where's the next Floating Market?" asked Door. She smiled at him. His face was pushed into a slurry of coins. He walked through the square. The Angel Islington looked out at them.

 It felt not so much as if the lights were being turned down but as if the darkness were being turned up. by the third rail: a small splash of purple. It shook its head sadly. Even the mosquitoes were quiet. helpfully."  The marquis bowed." said Gary." said Door. No. beneath the grime and brown dried blood. and shattered swords. and then the door closed behind them." it said. The Angelus had opened. "Shoes. The oak doors swung open at his words. All you have to do is let it do what it wants. It was Door talking. her brother.

 two arms. in affluent Knightsbridge." she said. Croup twitched. and causing him to stumble." when he pressed her about it. helpfully. and told him." she told them. dripping onto the sawdust. . They watched him with hungry eyes." said Mr. He held it up. . that if you ever set foot in my domain I would . He tried to blink. "I hardly want to presume upon your good nature . and it scared her.

" he confided. "Just. Sorry. . Stocktons owned a little bit of everything: satellites. even he put his head down on his arm.  He gloried in its destruction. and Anaesthesia. yes?"  Door said. to spend her last two days in a small county hospital sitting beside her bed. which was worse. you see: a particularly refined sort of joke. where Lear had knocked his head. and he had been keeping it all inside. of course this felt familiar: it was how he had spent his weekends in the Jessica days. the only light spilling out from the secretive drinking clubs on the upper floors of buildings. but he could not touch it. She did not seem to be enjoying herself; but she crossed. So did the people gathered around them.

 edging alongside her. "Personally. And Richard said. and a dark shape larger than a mouse scurried out from the mess of videotapes beneath the television. Richard wondered if they were as embarrassed as he was.  "It's a bit small. "Turned out It'd been put into storage."  "Never miss a market. shush. whatever that meant. maybe. I can explain. the hunter and the hunted. He told Richard that if he. he decided. ." Their steps echoed off the high walls. and a well-hanged pair of dead. emptied it.

" he said." said the angel. He nodded; put his hand into his pocket. I need a little time to recover. She's the only one that can open the door. haggled. and he stepped out of frame. "There.  The security guards were directing the museum's guests to a hallway that seemed to be functioning as some kind of holding area. "I'm afraid we don't have any redeeming features. now that he thought about it. "Do you honestly think we can find a bodyguard who will be able to deal with Croup and Vandemar?"  The marquis flashed his white teeth at her. We have to go back. half-dressed. Mr. They were not quite loud enough to drown the noise coming from the hallway outside. The boy glared at her. And get me some papadums. "Sit down.

 as a training ground. pushing up into its side and letting it sink in. Of the dark shape there was no sign. "is for me to know and him to wonder. . Only you. and then."  "Craftsmanship. she began to haul herself to her feet. He he wiped it off. "Don't forget your key." she said. when those men came over . pleadingly. It was like walking through history. Croup." said Richard." said Richard. my ribs are cracking.

 The string quartet began to play once more. at the side of the curtain. WE KNOWS IT. Then he cleared the debris off a chair.  Mr."  "But I mean." she explained. empty sham. It was cold to the touch. Ruislip looked as if he weighed as much as four fops. you. triumphantly. and then he clambered down the side of the wall. "I liked doing that . He was simply fulfilling his obligation as a Londoner to grumble about taxis." he said." said Door."  Old Bailey shook his head. Its voice was quiet.

 The rat squeaked an order. being played a dozen different ways on a score of different instruments. or an ambulance; that it was dangerous to lift an injured person; that he had really. "In the stables of a friend." He stuck out his hand. then he returned his attention to the naughty teenage nymphets. blanking the screen.  "Not even close. look. puzzled.  It smelled musty. He stopped at the top of the spiral staircase and drew a deep breath. _must be the earl. And when they got too cold to walk they went into an all-night greasy spoon cafe. in the center of the City of London. Richard knocked again. I was wondering. It was the kind of magnificent. that was when the Sewer Folk came into their own.

 a sofa. then a shitload it certainly was--"and a dozen craftsmen have spent a great deal of time restoring it and fixing it up.  "That's good. I'm not cheap.  She giggled. widely. while her ice-cold spittle ran down the marquis's cheek. bloody girl. Like something you walk through to go places. with her arm neatly bandaged. Then. neither happy nor sad. to his disgust. just a rustle of dark velvet. Stalls had been set up all throughout the shop. "I thought my version would get you here a little faster."  Varney. I guess I'm not quite ready to just give up and die. it was gone forever.

 utterly hairless face. There was a pause." intoned Mr._ had sued both for a share of the proceeds and to change the name of the art piece to _Edgar Fospring. Mister Croup?" There was a dark shimmer where Mr. convinced herself that Richard's troll collection was a mark of endearing eccentricity. Old Bailey handed the statue back to the marquis. a sadist. "They say that nothing can stand against it. Had you thought of trying out for the task?" Mr. He was not sure that the same could be said for the rest of the City of London: he peered over the roof. "Yes. Vandemar pondered this for a moment. The rat repeated itself. he was unable to talk. They were in a large anteroom. Mr. and wondered what he had done. rubbed her forehead.