Page 236 of Storm of Bells
My head jerked up. ‘It’s not?’
‘No. And it’s not their mothers, either. Seehere?’ Cautiously stepping forward, the young man pointed to astatistic on demographics. ‘For some reason, all the candy appearsto be purchased by young women between the ages of seventeen andtwenty-one.’
‘Young women?’
‘Yes, Sir. The news about the newconfectionary seems to have spread like wildfire among them. Forsome reason, the product appears to be extraordinarily popular intheir age group. I can’t imagine why.’
Slowly, my gaze swivelled to my secretary,who just happened to be the only female between seventeen andtwenty-one in this room. What a coincidence. ‘Oh, I have a feelingthere is an explanation.’
‘Err…Yes, Sir.’
‘Ellis?’
‘Yes, Sir?’
‘Leave.’
‘Yes, Sir! Immediately, Sir! Do you wish tobe kept updated on the sales of Cocaine Cough Drops? I couldassemble a few suggestions in regard to how to boost sales if—’
I stabbed a finger at the door. ‘Out! Outwith you, now!’
‘Yessirrightawaysir!’
He rushed towards the door, pulled itopen—then suddenly hesitated. That boy really had a death wish,didn’t he?
‘Um…I hate to bother you, Sir, but there’sone more thing that—’
‘What?’
‘It, err, is Mr Pearson, Sir. He appears tobe…dancing.’
‘What do I care how that man wastes his sparetime?’
‘Ehem…you don’t understand, Sir. Heisdancing. Right now.’
I blinked. It had been a long time since Ilast doubted my ears. But this…
‘He…’
‘Yes, Sir. On his desk.’
I once more turned my arctic eyes upon MissLilly Linton. The innocent smile on her face did not fool me for aninstant.
‘Ellis…how long has this been going on?’
‘A few minutes, Sir. I was told he startedacting, um…eccentrically shortly after Mr Linton arrived. When Ipassed him on my way upstairs, he was just greeting the vicepresident of the Bank of England with an impromptu tangoperformance.’
I cocked my head. ‘Was it a goodperformance?’
‘He was quite, um…energetic, Sir.’
‘I see. Then charge the vice president anadmittance fee and tell him to wait for me in conference roomthree. I shall be there directly. As for Pearson…let Karim know. Heshall take care of the situation.’
‘Yes, Sir! As you wish, Sir!’
The door closed behind the clerk with athud, and I heard his footsteps recede down the hallway withcommendable speed. Maybe, just maybe, he would not be sacked afterall.
And speaking of not sacking…
