“ No. 7,” said the Russian, “has his own ways of working.”

“So you always say.”

“I will say more,” said Mosgorovsky. “I pity the man⁠—or woman⁠—who comes up against him.”

There was an awkward silence.

“We must get on with our business,” said Mosgorovsky quietly. “ No. 3, you have the plans of Wyvern Abbey?”

Bundle strained her ears. So far she had neither caught a glimpse of No. 3, nor had she heard his voice. She heard it now and recognised it as unmistakable. Low, pleasant, indistinct⁠—the voice of a well-bred Englishman.

“I’ve got them here, sir.”