Ludlowe reached out and pressed the muzzle of the gun hard up against Marcus’s temple and cocked the trigger.
“Hardly a threat with teeth, seeing as I am to shuffle off this mortal coil regardless of whether I speak or not.”
The barrel struck him in the mouth, drawing a spurt of blood. “Oh, there are ways to make you talk, Dunham, and believe me, I shall enjoy every minute of it. Have you ever seen the thin scalpels the Chinese use to flay the flesh from troublesome peasants? In another hour, you will be begging me to put a bullet in your brain.”
Ludlowe picked up deadly-looking knife from a side table while keeping his pistol aimed as Marcus’s heart. “Now, I’ll give you one last chance to tell me what I want to know. If you do, I’ll promise to make your death a painless one.”
Marcus appeared to give the offer deep thought for several moments. A resigned sigh followed. “Oh, very well. I suppose it is pointless to fight the inevitable. You seem to have been smarter than all of us.”
Though the chances of escaping seemed to be slipping away, he sought to keep the man talking. Something might occur that would allow him to make use of what he learned. “There is one thing I should like to know. How do you manage to run such a deucedly clever operation without anyone discovering what you’re up to? Where do the children end up?”
Unable to resist the chance to gloat in his triumph, Ludlowe came to stand closer to the earl’s prostrate form. “Actually it was quite simple. …” He went on to explain in great detail how he chose where to strike, how he organized his henchmen and how he effected the transport of the kidnapped children north.
“You were getting quite close to the truth,” he finished. “The brats go into several mines where none but the smallest bodies can work. It makes, shall we say, for a profitable arrangement for everyone.”
“Save for the children,” muttered Marcus under his breath. In a louder voice he added, “Very clever indeed. Let me guess—the mines belong to Herter and Gollert?”
Ludlowe grinned. “Thurgood and Manning.”
“Ah.”
“And now the name of your informant in the country. And that miscreant Firebrand.”
Marcus shrugged. “As I told you, he could be anyone.”
Ludlowe lashed out a vicious kick, drawing an audible grunt. As he drew back his boot to deliver another blow, the distinct click of a pistol being cocked sounded from somewhere near the heavy damask drapes.
“That’s quite enough, Ludlowe.”
Caught off guard, with his own weapon dangling carelessly in one hand, the man staggered back a few steps.
“Goddamn spawn of Satan!” muttered Marcus.
“Really, sir! Given the circumstances, you might have been a tad friendlier with your greeting,” said Augusta, her eyes never wavering from Ludlowe’s shocked face as she stepped into the circle of candlelight.” Drop your weapon,” she barked at him.
Ludlowe hesitated.
“I am accorded to be a good shot, and in fact I should welcome the slightest excuse to pull the trigger, you miserable cur.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, but he let the pistol fall to the floor.
Augusta shot a quick glance at the earl. “Are you all right?”
“I suppose I shall live. What were you waiting for—the knives to come out?” he grumbled.
“I was tempted. Perhaps a little judicious bleeding would cure your nasty temper,” she shot back. “I any case, I assumed that you wouldn’t have wanted me to interrupt before you coaxed all the evidence out of Ludlowe?” She took a step closer to him. “By the by, that wasveryclever of you.”
“I’m delighted to hear you approve.”
“What the devil is going on here,” cried Ludlowe in some confusion.
Augusta smiled sweetly. “The harridan has come around once again to save Lord Dunham’s neck.”
“I would have thought of something myself,” he groused. “And as for you showing up here … didn’t I make it clear you weren’t to attempt any more of your impulsive, corkbrained, dangerous stunts?—”
“Well, you should be glad I did, seeing as you allowed them to pluck you from the streets so easily!” She paused for a fraction. “That was careless of you, Dunham.”
“I was in a damned hurry because I was rushing to saveyou.” He rubbed at the lump on his head and gave another wince.
