The Golem's Eye

barely speak for choking. "Guards! Take this vicious youth away. I shall attend upon him presently."
    "You forget yourself, Henry." Mr. Devereaux spoke quietly, but the menace in his voice was clear. "I am judge and jury in this government; it is I who shall decide Mandrake's fate. I am by no means satisfied that he is the traitor you claim. John," he continued, "your demon has the girl, this Kitty Jones, in custody?"
    "Yes, sir." Nathaniel's face was taut with tension. He was not free yet; the dark shadow of the Well of Remorse still hovered before him. He had to go carefully. "I sent her to a quiet location, where I might carry out my plan. I hope this long delay has not ruined everything."
    "And you planned to restore the Staff to me?" Devereaux regarded him out of the corner of one eye.
    "Of course, sir! I hoped I would see it one day sitting next to the Amulet of Samarkand in the government vaults, sir." He chewed his lip, waited. That was his trump card, of course—by retrieving the Amulet he had saved Devereaux's life, and he did not want the Prime Minister to forget it now. "I can still do it, sir," he added. "If I take this Hyrnek to the girl, and promise their mutual safety, I believe she will give me the Staff within the hour."
    "And the girl? She will go free?"
    Nathaniel smirked. "Oh, no sir. Once I have the Staff, she and Hyrnek can be interrogated at leisure." His smile promptly vanished as Jakob Hyrnek kicked out and made contact with his shin.
    "The boy is a consummate liar." Mr. Duvall had regained a little of his composure. "Please, Rupert, you are surely not going to be taken in..."
    "I have made my decision." The Prime Minister leaned forward, steepling his fingers into an arch. "Mandrake has proved himself valuable and loyal in the past; we must give him the benefit of the doubt. We shall take him at his word. Let him get the Staff. If he does, his secretiveness in the matter is forgiven. If he does not, I shall accept Henry's version of events and consign him to the Tower. A happy compromise? Is everyone satisfied?" Smiling, he looked from Mr. Duvall's louring disappointment to Nathaniel's sickly green anxiety and back again. "Good. Mandrake can depart. Now, did someone mention food? A little Byzantine wine to begin!"
    A warm breeze spun around the room. Invisible slaves stepped forward, bearing crystal glasses and decanters filled with apricot-colored wines. Jane Farrar ducked as a plate of venison sausages swept past her head. "But sir, surely we aren't going to let Mandrake do this alone!"
    "Yes—we must send a battalion of troops!" Duvall impatiently swatted a proffered glass aside. "It would be foolish to trust him."
    Nathaniel was already halfway to the door. He hurried back. "Sir, this is a situation of great delicacy. A bunch of wolfheads will ruin everything."
    Mr. Devereaux was sampling a glass. "Delightful. The essence of Marmara... Well, we shall compromise again. Mandrake will be assigned several vigilance spheres, so we can check up on his movements. Now, can someone pass me that delicious-looking couscous?"
     
     
    Nathaniel bound Jakob Hyrnek in an invisible bond and, leading him by the arm, departed the hall. He felt no elation. He had stymied Duvall for the moment, but if he did not secure the Staff, and soon, the outlook was bleak. He knew that he had used up all the goodwill the Prime Minister felt for him, and the dislike of all the other ministers was palpable. His career, and his life, hung by a thread.
    As they crossed the lobby of the hall, Ms. Whitwell stepped out to intercept them. Nathaniel gazed at her implacably, but did not speak. Her hawk eyes bored into his.
    "You may or may not have convinced our dear Prime Minister," she said in a harsh whisper, "and you may or may not acquire the Staff, but I know that you have been acting behind my back, seeking advancement at my expense, and I will not forgive you for it. Our association is at an end, and I wish you no success. You are welcome to rot in Duvall's Tower for all I care.
    She hurried away, her clothes rustling like dead leaves. Nathaniel stared after her for a time; then, noticing Hyrnek watching him with grim amusement in his eyes, he gathered himself and signaled across the lobby to the knot of waiting chauffeurs.
    As the car drove north, four red vigilance spheres materialized above the entrance to the hall and drifted silently in pursuit.

44
     
    Bartimaeus
     
    I saw the way it was the moment they came