 brought to you by penguin these old shades by jorget here red by alexander vlahos chapter one his grace of avon buys a soul a gentleman was strolling down a side street in paris on his way back from the house of one madame de vergerou he walked mincingly for the red heels of his shoes were very high a long purple cloak rose lined hung from his shoulders and was allowed to fall carelessly back from his dress revealing a full skirted coat of purple satin heavily laced with gold a waistcoat of floured silk faultless small clothes and a lavish sprinkling of jewels on his cravat and breast a three-cornered hat point edged was set upon his powdered wig and in his hand he carried a long berry-boned cane it was little enough protection against foot pads and although a light dress sword hung at the gentleman's side its hilt was lost in the folds of his cloak not quickly to be found at this late hour and in the deserted street it was the height of foolhardiness to walk unattended and flaunting jewels but the gentleman seemed unaware of his recklessness he proceeded languidly on his way glancing neither to the left nor to the right apparently heedless of possible danger but as he walked down the street idly twirling his cane a body hurled itself upon him shot like a cannonball from a dark alley that yawned to the right of the magnificent gentleman the figure clutched at the elegant cloak cried out in a startled voice and tries to regain his balance his grace of avon swirled about gripping his assailants wrists and bearing them downwards with a merciless strength belied by his foppish appearance his victim gave a whimper of pain and sank quivering to his knees monsieur ah let me go i did not mean i did not know i would not oh monsieur let me go his grace bent over the boy standing a little to one side so that the light of an adjacent street lamp fell on that white agonized countenance great violet blue eyes gazed wildly up at him terror in their depths surely you are a little young for this game drawled the duke or did you think to take me unawares the boy flushed and his eyes grew dark with indignation i did not seek to rob you indeed indeed i did not i was running away i oh monsieur let me go in good time my child from what were you running may i ask from another victim no oh please let me go you do not understand he will have started in pursuit oh please please malore the duke's curious heavy-litted eyes never wavered from the boy's face they had widened suddenly and become intent and who child is he my my brother oh please round the corner of the alley came a man full tilt at sight of avon he checked the boy shuddered and now clung to avon's arm ah exploded the newcomer now by god if the welp is sought to rob you may always shall pay for it you scoundrel ungrateful brat you should be sorry i promise you malore a thousand apologies this lad is my younger brother i was beating him for his laziness when he slipped from me the duke raised they sent a tank chief to his thin nostrils keep your distance fellow he said haughtily doubtless beating is good for the young the boy shrank closer to him he made no attempt to escape but his hands twitched convulsively once again the duke's strange eyes ran over him resting for a moment on the copper-red curls that were cut short and ruffled into wild disorder as i remarked beating is good for the young your brother you said he glanced now at the swarthy course featured young man yes noble sir my brother i've cared for him since our parents died and he repays me with ingratitude he's a curse noble sir a curse the duke seemed to reflect how old is he fellow he's 19 millel the duke surveyed the boy 19 sample complete ready to continue