“Not yet. Lord Asriel  be dining  o break out in t s . But later?” “Shh! Someones coming.”

    S up and put o t ler, coming to trim ter o. t by anbar-ic po ter napiring Room. t c in ters lifetime.

    tler trimmed t anotened carefully at to a and. urned, making ried not to laugler ily stuffed to  and turned to face the incomer.

    “Lord Asriel!”  see ried to smoto move and look.

    “Good evening, ren,” said Lord Asriel. Lyra ale to dine. Ill  in here.”

    tler looked uncomfortable. Guests entered tiring Room at ters invitation only, and Lord Asriel kne; but tler also saedly at t, and decided not to protest.

    “S ter know youve arrived, my lord?”

    “No . You might bring me some coffee.”

    “Very good, my lord.”

    tler bo, rotting submissively at o tretcraveling clotened ion no unnoticed: so sit tight and hope.

    Lord Asriels daemon, a snoood behind him.

    “Are you going to sions in ly.

    “Yes. Itll create less fuss to ture ter. t to see too; Ill send for ter in a minute. time, Stelmaria.”

    “You s.”

    retc in one of t Lyra could no longer see his face.

    “Yes, yes. I s etiquette t alloo fine me a dozen bottles for coming in  remains t—”

    tler came in ray bearing a coffeepot and a cup.

    “t tokay I can see on table?”

    “ter ordered it decanted especially for you, my I lord,” said tler.

    “ttles left I of the98.”

    “All good tray er to send up t in the Lodge, would you?”

    “here, my lord?”

    “Yes, ing lantern, also here, also now.”

    tler could   managed to suppress tion, or test.

    “ren, youre forgetting your place,” said Lord Asriel. “Dont question me; just do as I tell you.”

    “Very good, my lord,” said tler. “If I may suggest it, I s Mr. Caaken aback, if you see w I mean.”

    “Yes. tell hen.”

    Mr. Caeablise tler unities to ingratiate ed to e  iring Room.

    . Lyra c at once, and poured anoting lantern?  did o s  and important?

    tood up and turned a trast ler, tooped and languid Scall man  seemed to flaster er. It o be dominated by, or to figo patronize or pity. All s ly balanced, like too small for it.

    At t ant and preoccupied. , and  urning ao table. Lyra suddenly felt omacaken topper from ter of tokay, and was pouring a glass.

    “No!”

    t cry came before s back. Lord Asriel urned at once.

    “here?”

    S umbled out of to snatc, splasable and t, and t and ted hard.

    “Lyra!  the hell are you doing?”

    “Let go of me and Ill tell you!”

    “Ill break your arm first. how dare you come in here?”

    “Ive just saved your life!”

    till for a moment, ted in pain but grimacing to prevent  louder, t over hunder.

    “ did you say?” ly.

    “t ered beter put some po.”

    go. So talaimon fluttered anxiously to rained fury, and s dare meet his eyes.

    “I came in just to see   I o go out before anyone came in, except t I er coming and got ^ trapped. to  t…”

    the door.

    “tll be ter,” said Lord Asriel. “Back in test noise, Ill make you wish you were dead.”

    Sed back t once, and no sooner  than Lord Asriel called, “Come in.”

    As  er.

    “In here, my lord?”

    Lyra saanding doubtfully in the corner of a large wooden box.

    “ts riger,” said Lord Asriel. “Bring t table.”

    Lyra relaxed a little, and allo. It migo make  of girl ed eetly until it felt looser.

    the glug of spilled liquid.

    “Damn you, Ser, you careless old fool! Look w youve done!”

    Lyra could see, just. o knock ter of tokay off table, and made it look as if ter .

    t to apologize.

    “Im truly sorry, my lord—I must —”

    “Get someto clear t soaks into t!”

    ter . Lord Asriel moved closer to tone.

    “Since youre in tcer closely eresting about ting furto trouble youre already in. Understand?”

    “Yes, Uncle.”

    “Make a noise in t help you. Youre on your own.”

    ood o ter came back pan for th.

    “I can only say once again, my lord, I do most earnestly beg your pardon; I dont know w—”

    “Just clear up the mess.”

    As ter began to mop t, tler knocked and came in , a man called t ter opped dead.

    “Yes, it okay,” said Lord Asriel. “too bad. Is t tern? Set it up by t ther end.”

    Lyra realized t so see tever  t like t for t made unrolling tiff linen and setting it up on its frame, she whispered:

    “See? It  it?”

    “It migalaimon said austerely, in iny mot mig.”

    Lord Asriel stood by t of tcing lantern and uncapped tank.

    “ty of oil, my lord,” eco operate it?”

    “No. Ill do it myself. t, ren?”

    “Very nearly, I tler. “If I understand Mr. Ca be disposed to linger once take tray?”

    “take it and go.”

    “Very good, my lord.”

    it boler took tray and left, and t h him.

    As soon as tly at t t as if it  ly to his dasmon.

    So sit calmly at  and elegant and dangerous, aurning, like o turned. Lyra couldnt see t sake of breat man came in.