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Two
"What’sthedeal?Shesentyouheretonegotiate,youngman.I’mnotcheap,andInevergivefreebies."
Richardshrugged,aswellashecouldshrugfromasupineposition."Shesaidtotellyouthatshewantsyoutoaccompanyherhome—whereverthatis—andtofixherupwithabodyguard."
Evenwhenthemarquiswasatrest,hiseyesneverceasedmoving.Up,down,around,asifhewerelookingforsomething,thinkingaboutsomething.Adding,subtracting,evaluating.Richardwonderedwhetherthemanwasquitesane."Andshe’sofferingme?"
"Well.Nothing."
Themarquisblewonhisfingernailsandpolishedthemonthelapelofhisremarkablecoat.Thenheturnedaway."She’sofferingme.Nothing."Hesoundedoffended.
Richardscrambledbackuptohisfeet."Well,shedidn’tsayanythingaboutmoney.Shejustsaidshewasgoingtohavetooweyouafavor."
Theeyesflashed."Exactlywhatkindoffavor?"
"Areallybigone,"saidRichard."Shesaidshewasgoingtohavetooweyouareallybigfavor."
DeCarabasgrinnedtohimself,ahungrypanthersightingalostpeasantchild.ThenheturnedonRichard."Andyouleftheralone?"heasked."WithCroupandVandemaroutthere?Well,whatareyouwaitingfor?"Hekneltdownandtookfromhispocketasmallmetalobject,whichhepushedintoamanholecoverattheedgeofthealleyandtwisted.
