Page 9

“You cannot trick a trickster.” the large man emphasized his point with a dig of the elbow. “Who is this wonder, eh? Part of your act?”

“You know how I feel about entanglements,” Adam said, rubbing his suddenly sore rib. Abruptly he changed the subject. “I have heard tell that your new master has arranged to contact Lord Pelton at midnight tonight.”

“So?” Philippe shrugged eloquently. “What of it?”

“Pelton has been dead these five years past,” Adam said, his tone turning to ice. “His widow is barely one foot out of Fleet.”

“Then the femme , she is a fool,” Philippe said quietly, opening a hidden catch and replacing a wilted concealed rose with a fresh one.

“So that much has not changed, I see. So, you still pursue it still, Adam, this hatred of those who say they speak to the dead? When I think of all the money we could have made! The grief you caused Roselli over that affair with the dead soldier and his pere . After Roselli taught you half your tricks! But no, you could not keep your nose out of it.”

“I gave Roselli fair warning not to cheat that old man; poor fool, he was so desperate to talk to his lost boy. The medium would have taken his last sou . A fraudster if ever there was one.”

“Are you not? Are not we all? Beguiling the eyes, lying to the senses? Pah!” He waved a hand in disgust.

“I never claimed to perform wonders,” Adam said.

“But did you ever go before an audience and say, Mesdames and Messieurs, I am a charlatan. What you will see, it is falsehood? ” Philippe asked, his voice shaking in anger.

“This dirty part of the business has never been to my liking, that you know, but still I think it does some good. How much is it worth to ease the soul, eh? A chance for a grieving old man to say what he left unsaid during his son’s lifetime; a few comforting words to help ease a widow’s pain; what harm does it do, Adam? I ask you.”

Adam sighed. “We have been round and round this argument before, my friend and it is far too complex a subject to reprise now. Suffice it to say that I have not changed my feelings. In fact, in the normal course of things, I would give Barone no warning before I strike.” Adam fanned the ordered deck, presenting the cards face up, shuffled, reshuffled and showed them again, the sequence unchanged.

“But since we are old comrades, I will allow you to alert your master. Tell Barone to leave Lady Pelton be and to keep his tricks confined to Astley’s.

It will go hard with him if I hear word of any séances. And be assured Philippe, I will know.”

“But if not Barone another, perhaps less kind, maybe more greedy fraudeur , would pluck your widow. Besides, what could you do to stop him, eh? Challenge him to the duel?” Philippe clucked and shook his head.

Adam smacked the cards to the table with a thud that caused the doves to coo in alarm.

“A duel? In a manner of speaking, I suppose one might call it that. If Barone plays his spirit games with Lady Pelton, I will reveal him for the charlatan that he is. I will not interfere, and he may fool the public with impunity on Astley’s stage in a legitimate fashion.

However, if he begins to ply the necromancer’s lay and claim to raise the dead, I will ruin him. ”

“Ah, you always were a great talker, mon ami . For that the audiences loved you. But you talk to Philippe Rubelle now, and so, I will warn you. Barone has much money. He has many friends, powerful friends who would make certain that an unknown magician like Adam Chapbrook would vanish. Poof!” He snapped his fingers.

“Any chains that will bind you this time will land you at the bottom of the Thames pour tojours ; forever! Comprends tu ? So stop with this nonsense.” Philippe said, clapping Adam on the shoulder with a friendly paw.

“Now, I will go and tell Barone that another act precedes him, yes? He will not be pleased that the Lady Enderby did not say so, but I tell him you will be an aperitif to whet the appetite of the audience. Who knows? Maybe Barone will like you and we will once again work together, eh? Bring your equipage and I will move our box back to give you room.”

Adam grasped Philippe’s arm. “I am quite serious, my friend. Tell Barone that the Marquess of Brand will hound him if he so much as crosses Lady Pelton’s threshold. Your snug job will disappear and you will be back on street corners fleecing the flats at Three Cards or Find the Lady.”

Philippe guffawed. “Ah, Adam, Adam! You are the noblest of liars. A carnival performer, a second-rate conjuror who never had more than the price of a baguette in his pocket. . . The Marquess of Brand! If you are Brand, then I am the King of France!”

“I was not second-rate!” Adam said, pulling a gold piece from behind Philippe’s turban and flipping it to him as the sound of footsteps began to herald the arrival of the audience. “Keep the guinea, you may soon have need of it.”

“ Stupide ! You did not bother to lock the door!” Hastily, the man covered the exposed part of the table.

“Relax, Philippe,” Adam said as he saw his uncle peering into the room. “There is no need to act as if your mistress’s husband is knocking at the bedchamber. My uncle knows more than he would wish to about the accoutrements of conjuring.”

“I thought this was where you had likely disappeared to, Adam,” Lawrence’s voice echoed in the ballroom.

Cautiously, he made his way through the maze of chairs.

“Lord Enderby wished to talk to you about your political views. I suspect you are about to be asked to take your seat in Parliament, Lord Brand.”

Philippe’s eyes bulged at the use of the title.

Adam chuckled softly. “Remember, Your Majesty, that comfortable employment for French monarchs is rather scarce these days.” As he went to secure a seat in the front row beside his uncle the Marquess whistled The Marseillaise .