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Four
"Howareyou,Varney?"askedMr.Croup."Well,wetrust?Yes?Infineform,fetlockandfettleforthemarkettonight?Doyouknowwhoweare?"
Varneydidthenearestthinghecouldtoanodthatdidn’tactuallyinvolvemovinganymuscles.HeknewwhoCroupandVandemarwere.Hiseyesweresearchingthewalls.Yes,there:themorning-star:aspikedwoodenball,studdedwithnails,onachain,inthefarcorneroftheroom...
"Thereistalkthatacertainyoungladywillbeauditioningbodyguardsthisevening.Hadyouthoughtoftryingoutforthetask?"Mr.Crouppickedathistombstoneteeth."Enunciateclearly."Varneypickedupthemorning-starwithhismind.ItwashisKnack.Gentle,now...slowly...Heedgeditoffthehookandpulledituptowardthetopofthetunnelarch...Withhismouth,hesaid,"Varney’sthebestbravoandguardintheUnderside.TheysayI’mthebestsinceHunter’sday."
Varneymentallypositionedthemorning-starintheshadowsaboveandbehindMr.Croup’shead.HewouldcrushCroup’sskullfirst,thenhe’dtakeVandemar...
Themorning-starplungedtowardMr.Croup’shead:Varneyflunghimselfdown,awayfromtheknife-bladeathiseye.Mr.Croupdidnotlookup.Hedidnotturn.Hesimplymovedhishead,obscenelyfast,andthemorning-starcrashedpasthim,intothefloor,whereitthrewupchipsofbrickandconcrete.Mr.VandemarpickedVarneyupwithonehand."Hurthim?"heaskedhispartner.
Mr.Croupshookhishead:notyet.ToVarney,hesaid,"Notbad.So,‘bestbravoandguard,’wewantyoutogetyourselftothemarkettonight.
