"Sir?" A clerk poked his head into the Honorable Gilbert Radcliffe's discreet Whitehall office. From the outer office, Zachary Black watched, faintly amused by the clerk's excessive caution. Surely he didn't look that dangerous?
"Yes, Evans, what is it?" Radcliffe sounded preoccupied, busy.
"There's a man here asking to see you." The clerk lowered his voice. "Demanding to see you."
"And?"
"The thing is, sir, he's a gypsy."
"A gypsy?"
"Yes, sir. Dirty and disreputable-looking. I would have shown him the door, only the fellow asked for you by name, sir, insisted you'd want to see him, and wouldn't take no for an answer." He added doubtfully. "I could try to have him removed, if you insist, sir, only he's quite large and I fear it would be. . . difficult."
"An ugly customer, eh? Well then, send the fellow in. I'll deal with him."
The clerk turned to Zach, and stepped back to let him pass. "Watch yourself, gypsy. Mr Radcliffe might be a gentleman but he won't put up with any nonsense."
Zach winked at him, and sauntered into the the office, saying in a roughly accented voice, "Gen'leman give me a message for some toff called Mr Gilbert Radcliffe--that you, is it? Said I was to give it only to 'im. Said Mr Radcliffe would give me a gold guinea for it."
The Hon. Gilbert Radcliffe leaned back in his chair, regarding his visitor through narrowed eyes. His gaze took in the the darkly bristled jaw, the worn, faintly foreign clothing, the muddy boots, the shabby sheepskin coat with the faded but outlandish embroidery— and most damning of all, the small gold earring. "Gold, is it? For a scoundrel such yourself?"
"Gold, 'e promised me." Zach edged closer. "And gold is what I'll 'ave."
Gilbert Radcliffe wrinkled his nose. "Faugh, that smell. . . Have you been sleeping in a barn?"
Zach's mouth twitched, but he whined in an aggrieved voice, "I come a long way wiv this message, I 'ave."
"Shall I call someone and have the wretch removed, sir?" said Evans from the doorway.
"No, no." Radcliffe waved him away. "Bring a pot of tea and two cups."
The clerk gave him an incredulous look. "Tea sir?"
"And some biscuits?" Zach added hopefully. "Ginger ones?"
The clerk gave him a dirty look and glanced at Radcliffe, who nodded. "Yes, and biscuits—ginger if you have them. And shut the door behind you." When the clerk had gone, Radcliffe looked at Zach and shook his head. "He probably expects you to steal the spoons."
Zach gave him an indignant look. "I'll have you know, Gil, I haven't stolen any spoons for, oh, weeks."
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