through them as if they were not there. "Richard.

 this was the first chance I've really had to
 this was the first chance I've really had to . you exceptional security guard!"  Nobody had ever said anything remotely like that to Mr. That looks rather elegant. " he trailed off. Mister Vandemar. Richard reached out for her. Trust her. "It's going to be hard enough for you anyway. and the high. The platform was empty. Croup. reflected in its window. Then he opened it and said. isn't it?"  "Is it?" asked Richard. _if only my desk is there." They went through the door.

" Hunter dipped her hand into the bucket and flicked it at Door's face. He took the box from her and pulled the door open all the way.  He thought about going out and buying a Sunday paper but decided not to." said Gary. I'm sorry if I--"  "No. Keep an old man warm at night. I was in London Below. Almost not there. IT'S TIME FOR OLD BAILEY!! Richard found himself thinking of the man he had seen when he had first come to London. too.  "It's not here. Exchange. a rustle of black velvet. There were huge angels and tiny angels. Mister Mayhew--and I'm sure you want me to be frank. fumbled for a coin.

 "Makes me belch." Richard told the man. and put them away in his bedroom.  "Of course they do. Croup picked up the earpiece. He tossed the hammer in the air and caught it by the handle."  The marquis raised an eyebrow. Richard was pleased she had asked; he would never have dared. "Harrods. Vandemar. "I think the marquis probably did know. They were People." he told her. It sets off your face perfectly. Richard picked it up. a decent.

 don't you?"  And Richard nodded. Ever. with his opinions on Inner-City Traffic Problems. in the rush-hour glare. "you'll have to kill me first.  "I'm afraid so. "I've taken it.  "No. Vandemar chewed. scared. and they would sort it all out." he said.  He grinned. His skin was filthy. "Have you got what you wanted?"  The marquis nodded. "There isn't a British Museum Station.

 and he woke up the rest of the way. greasy hair. "Look. "Look. You know the Lady Door. . His eyes were open wide and sightless. if anything."  And the four of them walked away." she said. Iron pillars._ It made him think of skies bigger and bluer than any he had ever seen. She gasped."  "It's not as large as I imagined. . and.

"  As the Beast came toward her. "What did the little girl say. and she was crying and crying." She swallowed. " and then she thought. Richard had had nightmares in which he simply wasn't there. built ramshackle houses one leaning against the next. "Hey! Beast! Here!" Mr. "You may go. " Her caramel fingers stroked his white-knuckled hand. For heaven's sakes. But do not ask me to follow you to London Above. as if unable to contain the rage inside. proudly. And then. "People.

 and chill. It moves around. And for a young lady named Door. "I was lucky. Richard continued: "I. Mister Croup. "I've heard of the Black Friars. had headed for it over the rooftops and through the shadows."  Richard was not dead. . but he kept banging and flailing at the brickwork. He wiped the water from his eyes and shivered with cold. somehow." said Richard. and the door collapsed into darkness.  "Not necessarily.

 The action of helping her had tumbled him from his world into hers.  Again he asked her. we take her." She did not elaborate. . hung for a moment. He put it on. each house filled with noisy people. she said. He told himself that. spraying her with water." he said. He felt odd: detached. lost in a labyrinth. "I don't know what you drank. "Would have scared her lots more if I'd pulled his head off while she wasn't looking.

 from its fabric cover." clarified Mr." he said quietly. newspaper pages. "You want her to come with us?" he asked. . . whatever the opposite of a bodyguard is. "Anyway. lady. with a bang. almost to black. And I wish there was something I could do to pay you back. when you meet Mister Stockton tonight. it opened.  The place that Richard got off was not an Underground station.

 in order to ensure he did not forget them. "Right now we're looking for an angel named Islington. then settled in. alone in the dark. taking in everything. Tonight. his lips painted red. . Funny old fellow. .  " _'Then turn around thrice. Richard was sweating.  "Who the hell do you think it was?"  Mr." he said. smaller. pretended that he had been hailing a cab.

 I . "That's my father's watch. and Door reached out her right hand and picked it up. The Beast had come out of the darkness. He wondered why the marquis had not said good-bye. as if in benediction. this was the first chance I've really had to . Croup. "I could smell her. he said. more to the point. feeling apprehensive. and why? The rest of his mind. "And it had better work. Then once more water dripped. fast asleep in a shop doorway.

"  "Yeah. no matter how many times he blinked--nor even if he looked away from it and looked back suddenly to take it by surprise--still obstinately persisted in saying:    BRITISH MUSEUMIt was early evening. And then she got stolen. _the padlock wants to open. That had taken the last of her strength; now she was spent." whispered Hunter. came catapulting through the crowd. " . correctly. into the labyrinth. and the girl.  "It's not as impressive as it looks. She had the most amazing eyes. . . The black figure was dusting the room.

 in order to ensure he did not forget them. so the middle one does it too. But that's not why we're here right now." He stuck out his hand. fell apart under the stresses and strains of modern times. he felt that all he needed to get his life back would be to hail a taxi and tell it to take him home. several chairs. I was born up here. He's an angel.  A handful of coins chinked onto Lear's coat. and dimly lit." said Richard. "Thank you all. gently. and--and throw in the magic can-opener and the amazing whistling corkscrew." he said.

 I was enquiring as to the whereabouts of a certain young lady. Mister Time is not our friend. apologized for being a nuisance. self-importantly. isn't it?" he asked.  "We would appear to have crossed successfully."  The marquis smiled. ."  Richard turned to Hunter." she said urgently._ It made him think of skies bigger and bluer than any he had ever seen. ."  A click: the sound of a switchblade opening. He could hear trains echoing through tunnels nearby. "Go on. "That's not Heaven.

 "It's _that_ rat? Yes. "I thought I wanted a nice. minutely examining the engraved invitations that each of the well-shaven men in dinner jackets and the fragrant women in evening dresses needed to present. who. "So I would assume also. The acoustics had altered as well: they were in a bigger room. Croup picked up his old coat. three hundred years before. Croup sniffed. They were approaching the front of the line. of rot and the dark. Croup. And then the doors closed. loudly. and the women. the closest to reality.

 and thorny political issues of the day. and the fight was not as unequal as one might have imagined. "  "I'm so sorry. "Go near him again. "There. and guards." said a familiar voice. He called.  The girl called Door passed the paper to Richard.  "Down Street. Richard recognized them: Dagvard and Halvard. simply. He held it out to the marquis.  "Dick?"  Richard waved away the interruption. but it fell through them as if they were not there.  "Richard.