„That’s fortunate.“ Nicholas coolly examined Bent-sen’s

face. „I sincerely hope so, Mr. Bentsen.“ Without waiting for

an answer he turned and crossed the stateroom toward the

washstand against the far wall. „Take Mr. Bentsen on deck,

will you, Valentin? I think I need some fresh air. I’ll join you

shortly.“

Marinov nodded lazily. „Delighted.“ He gestured to the

door leading to the deck. „Mr. Bentsen.“

Bentsen felt the need for air, too, and took several deep

breaths as soon as the door closed behind them. He felt as if

he’d been caged with a stalking lion. Strange, before the

prince had faced and spoken to him he’d felt contemptuous of

the man with his exhibitionism, his fine velvets, and his

exquisite manners. Then, before his eyes, Savron had changed,

deepened, taken on a gleaming cutting edge.

He walked to the rail and his hands closed tightly on the

ornate wooden barrier. „His highness is an unusual man.“

Marinov’s gaze was shrewd as he strolled over to stand

beside him. „You thought Nicky was a fool?“ He shook his

head. „Only when he wants to be. You might remember that

fact. He can be quite deadly with either a sword or a pistol.“

He looked out at the still and muddy river. „Nicky’s seldom

intense about anything anymore, but he was fond of Andre. I

think you’ll find him a trifle explosive regarding the boy’s

death. I hope you don’t disappoint him this time.“

„Are you threatening me?“ Bentsen asked, astounded.

Marinov shook his head. „Warning you.“ He smiled faintly.

„I have a distaste for your hot, muggy weather here in New

Orleans. It’s been an interesting trip, but I want to go home to

St. Petersburg. Tell Nicky what he needs to know and we can

get this business over with.“

„I agree.“ Savron’s voice behind them caused both men to

turn to face him. He was dressed now in polished black boots,

a fine white linen shirt of faultless purity, and pale gray

trousers whose sleek lines over his thighs and buttocks could

be the work of only a master tailor. „Tell me what I want to

know, Bentsen.“ He moved forward, his expression as grim as

his tone was soft. „Was Dominic Delaney responsible for my

cousin’s hanging?“

„He was definitely involved in his death.“

„That isn’t what I asked you.“

Bentsen drew a deep breath. „You don’t understand. In

towns like Hell’s Bluff, people don’t talk to strangers. Our

agents had great difficulty finding out even the simplest facts.“

„I’m interested in only one fact. Did Delaney goad that

crowd into hanging Andre as Durbin’s letter states?“

„Possibly. He was there at the hanging and he paid for the

funeral.“

„Guilt?“

„Dominic Delaney doesn’t have a reputation that would

lead one to believe he has a conscience,“ Bentsen said dryly.

„He was an outlaw for almost ten years before his family

managed to buy him a pardon.“

„A criminal,“ Savron said slowly. „Then Durbin’s letter

probably was true. What did you find out about Durbin?“

Bentsen looked surprised, then uncertain. „Why… nothing.

You didn’t ask us to investigate anything but the circumstances

surrounding Andre Mar-zonoff’s death.“

A flicker of impatience touched Savron’s features. „Merde!

Do I have to spell out everything for you? Durbin must have

had his reasons for writing that letter beyond being a ‘friend of

justice’ as he called himself.“ He smiled crookedly. „A man

seldom bestirs himself for the sake of justice. It was more

likely for Durbin’s sake. Is that all you know?“

„Dominic Delaney s wife-to-be and his fifteen-year-old

niece, Silver, were present at the lynching.“

„A cozy evening of family entertainment.“ Savron’s lips

curled with distaste. „Bloodthirsty bitches. I would have

thought watching a man die by hanging would be a little too

much even for the most hardened woman. I wonder what they

would think of the guillotine.“ He frowned. „You’re giving me

damn little solid evidence on which to make a decision.“

„Decision?“

„Whether or not to kill Dominic Delaney.“ The prince’s

reply was almost casual. „I suppose I’ll have to seek the

bastard out and make my own determination. Where can I find

him?“

Bentsen shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. „We’re not

sure.“

„What?“ Savron’s voice once again held a dangerous

softness. „What do you mean, you’re not sure? I told you that

locating Delaney was of primary importance.“

„We tried,“ Bentsen said hurriedly. „He and his wife,

Elspeth, were participating in an archeological dig-in Cahokia,

Illinois, up until a few months ago. Then the excavation was

completed and the members of the party scattered. No one

seems to know where the Delaneys went from there.“ Savron’s

face was darkening more with each word, and Bentsen rushed

on quickly. „We know he didn’t return to the home ranch,

Killara, in the Arizona Territory. No one there knows of his

whereabouts.“

„We seem to know where he isn’t,“ Savron said caustically.

„What a rare pleasure it would be to know where the man is.“

„There’s one person who might know: Silver Delaney,

Dominic’s niece. She’s enrolled in a school for young ladies in

St. Louis.“

„Ah, the sweet young maiden who enjoys attending

hangings,“ Savron murmured. „I can see how he might confide

in such a sympathetic relative.“

Bentsen nodded eagerly. „Delaney and his wife visited her

regularly, and the girl spent several vacations at the dig. If

anyone would know where Dominic Delaney went, it would

be Silver Delaney.“

„Then may I ask why you didn’t send an agent to the

school to ask the young lady?“

Bentsen s glance slid away. „We did.“

„And?“

„She told him to go to hell.“

Marinov burst out laughing. „Obviously a lady of exquisite

taste and delicacy of speech. Nicky, I believe I’d like to meet

this fair flower.“

Savron smiled grimly. „I’m beginning to think you may get

your wish. The Randall Agency’s men appear to be pitifully

ineffectual.“

„Now, see here.“ Bentsen bristled indignantly. „We’re not

entirely at fault. We did find out quite a bit about the girl.“

Nicholas leaned back against the rail and folded his arms

across his chest. „Indeed? I wait with baited breath.“ –

„She’s been at Mrs. Alford’s academy for two years and

has been expelled twice. Both times the fees were doubled to

get the school to accept her back.“

„I’m hardly interested in a schoolgirl’s pranks,“ Savron

said in a bored tone. „Tell me something that will lead me to

Dominic Delaney.“

„She has a lover,“ Bentsen said triumphantly. „Perhaps

several lovers. Luke Carey, our agent, has been watching her

day and night since she refused to tell him anything. He was

hoping she’d lead him to her uncle, but every night she sneaks

out and goes to the circus.“

„Maybe she has a fondness for menageries and sideshows,“

Marinov said lazily. „I enjoy the circus myself.“

„She has a hired carriage waiting for her two blocks from

the school shortly after dark. She doesn’t come back until

three or four o’clock in the morning.“ Bentsen paused. „Carey

has seen her with several men on the circus grounds, but he

thinks it is Sebastien, the knife thrower, she goes to see.“

„You think this is of interest to me?“ Nicholas asked coldly.

„Why are you telling me this drivel?“

„It’s not drivel,“ Bentsen protested. „It might be a way to

make her tell you where her uncle is now. No lady wants her