“Ah, tais-toi, jean-foutre,” the maid said. “If he will not drink—”
The French agent handed his pistol to the maid, who looked quite comfortable with one in each hand, covering the room. He pulled a knife from his pocket, took two unhurried steps over, and stabbed Nico in the chest.
The noise in the room cut off on the instant. All Titus could hear was Nico’s shocked, hiccupy inhalation. All he could see was a red stain spreading on the white shirt as the agent withdrew the knife.
Nico jerked and spat red. He folded down to his knees and fell sideways.
“So end the La Mottes,” the French agent said dispassionately. “Cover him up, Marie.”
The maid, who still held both pistols, gave him a look. The agent added, “I will do it,” with great aplomb, strode out, and returned a moment later with a long coat, which he threw over Nico’s prone body. “So unsightly. Gentlemen, I have been obliged to ensure your silence in this affair. The drug will take effect in perhaps half an hour.”
“Wait!” Laxton cried. “I don’t know anything about this! It’s nothing to do with me!”
“Then you have kept unfortunate company,” the French agent said without sympathy. “If you sit quietly, without any movement at all, you will have longer before the pain starts. I regret your suffering, but it will be mercifully brief. I suggest you use the remaining time to make peace with your God. Your servants are unharmed, Mr. Pilcrow, merely restrained in the kitchen. Goodbye. Adieu.”
He turned on his heel and left. The maid followed, walking backwards to keep both guns levelled on the three men. She kicked the door shut behind her, and a moment later, Titus heard the front door open and close.
“What—?” Baynes said. “But what is happening?”
“We’ve been poisoned, you stupid old fool!” Laxton yelped. “Poisoned over some damned painting! Christ, my guts, I can feel it starting! What thedevil?”
“Not the devil,” Titus said. He felt an odd sense of calm now, an unfamiliar certainty that he knew exactly what to say and do. “The Bourbon secret police. The Comte de La Motte knew the truth about the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, and he was always afraid they would kill him for it. Did he not warn you of that, Mr. Baynes?”
“I would have kept it quiet!” Baynes almost screamed. “I would never have told!”
“And you won’t now. The Comte has been silenced for good, and so have you both.”
“And you!” Laxton said vindictively.
“No, I will be very well,” Titus said. “You see, I know the antidote.”
“What?”
The last time Titus had known this sense of wild power, he’d been between Nico’s thighs. “I know this poison. I know many poisons, as you have often observed, Mr. Laxton, and this is orpiment, a form of arsenic.” He indicated their stained napkins. “The colour is quite unmistakable.”
“Arsenic?” Laxton wailed.
“A very particular form of it, which has a little-known remedy. It is the matter of a moment to mix a draught that will counter the worst effects.”
“Yes! Yes!” Laxton shouted, starting to leap up and thinking better of it. “And you will give it to me. You will, won’t you?”
“Will I?” Titus said. “You drank three times as much of the poison as I did, so it will take you far faster than me. All I have to do is wait, and you will be out of my way for good.”
Laxton’s mouth opened, fishlike. Baynes, grasping the situation with surprising acuity, said, “Mr. Pilcrow, I beg your pardon. I never intended you harm. I only ever acted out of care for the Queen.”
“You had Evelyn Perreau beaten, and you tried to rob the Comte,” Titus said. “You came here with agun.”
“For the Queen!”
“Be quiet, you miserable bedlamite.” Laxton was sweating badly. “For God’s sake, Pilcrow, I was desperate!”
“You killed Miss Whitecross. You came here to rob me. Why shouldn’t I just let you die?”
“I don’t want to die!” Laxton wailed. “Please!”
“Then give me my vowels,” Titus said, and held out a hand.
Laxton fished out the paper with the IOU. Titus tore it across twice, tossed the scraps on the smouldering remnants of the painting, and made sure they caught. “Very well: I will mix the draught. Stay extremely still.”