(Two chapters in one. Please vote with your monthly tickets.)
The next morning, Raphael yawned as he entered the dining room.
He had chatted with Miss Sharron late into the previous night-though, in truth, Raphael had done most of the talking. Sometimes Sharron would go a long while without responding at all.
A servant asked, "Would you like a cup of strong tea, or perhaps some strong coffee?"
"No." Raphael sat at the dining table and stared into space for a while before starting his meal. He felt as though he had used up an entire month's worth of conversation last night.
He had already asked during the night: Miss Sharron did not need breakfast, so there was no need to prepare any for her.
After breakfast, Raphael went to the study to read the newspaper while waiting for the leader of the Temperance Faction to come knocking.
Raphael felt that the man probably had little patience and would come to abduct him within the next day or two.
He thought so because he considered the man rather shortsighted. Something as important as the Demon Source Scripture ought to be acquired through the safest possible means.
If Raphael were in his position, he would certainly try to get what he wanted through a trade.
At that thought, Raphael suddenly realized that most of what he knew about Erlin, the leader of the Temperance Faction, came from his own conjecture.
Sharron was the sort of person who would say nothing unless asked.
And last night, Raphael really had not asked about Erlin.
Just as Raphael was about to question Miss Sharron, the butler knocked and announced that Mr. Wagner had arrived.
Raphael had no choice but to have Wagner come in first.
It turned out that one of Wagner's informants had