Come Midnight Read Online Free PDF Page A

raising the hairs on the back of Adam's neck. Yet the marquis was hard put to say why. Foxed, of a certainty.
    "I've many names," Appleby went on, "some of them ancient, others more recent. Came with the peoples who used 'em, d'you see. Now, Lucifer is the oldest, but it was quickly followed by Beelzebub. Then we have the in more folksy sort ... Old Nick ... Old Harry ... Old Scratch ... You take my meaning. The most universal, or well known perhaps, is Satan. I own, I'm rather fond of that one myself. Never did like being called the Anti-Christ, though. I mean, how'd He like being called the Antidevil , eh? But you get my drift, I'm sure."
    Appleby raised his brandy for a toast. "Cheers, old boy." He took a swallow, while the marquis stared at him as if he'd acquired two heads.
    "Your name is Appleby," Adam murmured warily, wondering if he were entertaining an escaped lunatic. "Lord Appleby!"
    "Well, that, too," his guest told him merrily. "Fact is, Appleby's my all-time favorite. Comes from an association with the fruit, d'you see. Of course, it wasn't really an apple. But the incident involved, my dear Ravenskeep"—he winked conspiratorially at his host— "represents my most successful transaction, ever!"
    Adam scowled. Definitely a refugee from Bedlam! Where the devil was Jepson? Wondering if he ought to chance ringing for the butler, he quickly thought better of the idea. Madmen could be dangerous; if he humored him, perhaps Appleby would leave on his own.
    Yet Adam was unable to hide his irritation. His son was dying, damn it! The last thing he wanted was to entertain this lunatic. It was all he could do to brace himself for what lay ahead: the plunge into an abyss of unbearable pain and loss. Blood and ashes, it hardly bore thinking on! "Why've you come?" he demanded.
    "Tut-tut, dear fellow! Thought I'd explained all that. I'm here at your summoning."
    "Summoning?"
    Appleby heaved a sigh, throwing him a look one might send an errant child. "Did you, or did you not, swear you'd barter your soul for your son's life?"
    "How the devil could you... ? I said that when I was alone with my—"
    "But you did say it.'' For some reason Appleby seemed intent on establishing the point. He propped his walking stick before him; one hand capped the other atop its head, and he leaned forward, spearing the marquis with his gaze.
    Back to humoring him, Adam shrugged. "I said it."
    Appleby relaxed. "Then, there was a summoning, Ravenskeep, and no mistake."
    "Summoning?" Adam questioned a second time.
    "Indeed," said Appleby, producing an apple from his pocket, polishing it on his sleeve. "When any mortal offers to barter his soul"—he smiled, and Adam felt a chill run down his spine, though he couldn't say why— "he summons me."
    "You're mad," Adam whispered, not sure he even believed any of this was happening. Perhaps he'd fallen asleep, and it was all a bad dream. Or the brandy he'd consumed. He'd heard of drunkards having tremors accompanied by hellish hallucinations. But there were no tremors, just.... "Madder than a March hare," he added emphatically.
    Appleby took a bite out of the apple and shook his head. Yet he smiled, not at all put out by the accusation. "Sane as a bishop, as the saying goes. I am who I've said I am, Ravenskeep. Make no mistake about it."
    Adam snorted. "My only mistake was to admit you." When Appleby didn't respond, he leaned forward, meeting his gaze with narrowed eyes. "Why should I believe you?"
    Appleby flicked a glance at the bed. "I should think that would be obvious. Because you can save your son's life by doing what you've already offered."
    "And that is ... ?"
    "Consigning your soul, old boy"—Appleby's fingers caressed the head of the walking stick, and Adam suddenly noted its shape: a serpent's head—"into my keeping."
    "Damn it, Appleby, what kind of a gudgeon d'you take me for? My son's dying! Dying, d'you hear? And—"
    "And I have the power to reverse it."
    The words were simply spoken. Not