y about the place。 The day had bee overcast； clouds hanging low and dark over the Surrey hills； so that now the redness of Neath's stonework had bee subdued； the floridity deepening to a tone that was like 。 。 。 the notion disturbed him 。 。 。 like dull； dried blood。 The house looked silent； as though it could never contain voices； footsteps； life itself。 It might resemble a monastery； but it was hard to imagine invocations inside those walls。
He and Cora were on one of the slopes overlooking Kline's home； Halloran's brief reconnoitre of the estate confirming his doubts about its security。 The two thousand acres were enclosed well enough to keep stray ramblers out； but there was no way any interloper of serious intent could be deterred。 Kline's confidence in his own safety within the bounds of the estate was surprising； to say the least。
Immediately below them was what once must have been a splendid topiary garden。 Now its bushes and hedges had bee disarrayed； their sculptured shapes no longer maintained； where once there had been carved animals； cones and spheres； there were protrusions and distortions； the vegetation neither natural nor engineered； but tortured and bizarre。 At present these green deformities served only to provide random screening for anyone approaching the house。
'Can we sit for a while？' Halloran turned to Cora again； the fragile anxiety behind her gaze puzzled him。 She had changed iota jacket and jeans for their tour of the grounds； the transformation from city lady into country girl both easy and pleasing。 Even so； that slight darkness beneath her eyes seemed more pronounced； tainting some of her freshness。
'We've covered quite a distance in a short space of time；' he said。 'I'm a little breathless myself。'
'It's not that。 It's 。 。 。 just peaceful up here。' He caught the hesitation and wondered at it。 He also caught her glance towards the house as she'd spoken。 She sank to her knees and he followed suit； lounging back on one elbow while his search roved the grounds below。 The lake had bee leaden and grey； no breeze stirring its surface； no sunlight dappling its currents。
'Tell me about him； Cora。' She looked startled。 'About Felix？' He nodded。 'Is he as mysterious as he pretends？ Is he as crass as he pretends？ I'll accept that he can do these wonderful things for Magma…why else would they insure his life for so much？ but what is his power exactly； where does it e from？' Her laugh was brittle。 'Perhaps even he doesn't know the answer to that last question。'
'Why are you afraid of him？' Her look was sharp； angry。 Nevertheless she replied。 'Felix mands respect。'
'Fear and respect aren't the same thing。 You don't have to tell me； but is he much more than an employer to you？'
'As you say； I don't have to tell you。' There was something moving from the trees on a slope at the far side of the house。 Halloran watched without alerting the girl。
She mistook his silence for something else。 'I'm sorry；' she said。 'I understand you're only doing your job。 I suppose it's important that you know as much as possible about Felix。' The shape had slunk back into the trees。 Too small； too low to the ground to be a deer。 Too big and dark to be a fox。 Why hadn't it been mentioned that there was a dog on the estate？ Maybe it was a stray。
'It isn't quite that important； Cora；' he said。 'I think the reason I ask is that I want to know more about you； not Kline。' A subtle flaring of her pupils； the movement noticed by Halloran。 His words had roused emotions in her。 Those dark spots within the blue quickly retreated。 'I suppose that's part of your job too。 You obviously think I could endanger Felix in some way。'
'It's possible； but it isn't why I'm interested。' She gave a small shake of her head； her expression confused。 'Then why 。 。 。 ？' He shrugged。 'It's bothering me too。 Let's say I don't feel we're strangers。' Cora stared at him。 He wasn't smiling； but there was humour in his eyes。 At first she thought he was mocking her； but then he did smile and its warmth was enveloping。 That warmth spread through her； seeping into her body as if to purge the coldness there。 Yet paradoxically she sensed a chilling danger in this man and she was afraid of how much he would discover about her； about Kline…about Neath itself…before this affair was through。 She had sensed Kline's fascination with his newfound protector at their first meeting and it frightened her； for there might be unguarded moments they would all regret。 There was a perceptiveness about Halloran； a knowingness； that was intimidating as it was reassuring。 There was the dichotomy of the man and perhaps that was part of his allure。
'I 。 。 。 I think we should return to the house；' was all she could think of to say。
He caught her wrist as she began to rise and the touching startled her。 'I'm here to see that no harm es to you；' he said。
'To Felix you mean；' she replied； staying there on the ground when he took his hand away。
'You're part of it。 Your safety is just as important。'
'Not as far as Magma is concerned。' She managed to smile。
'You're part of it；' he repeated； and Cora was unsure of his meaning。 'You still haven't answered any of my questions；' he persisted。
'I'm not sure that I can。 I'm not sure that I know。' He watched her confusion and realised he had delved too soon。 Cora could never accept him so quickly： an instinct told him she held secrets that bound her to Kline in some way。
'All right；' he said。 'For now。' He stood； then reached down to pull her to her feet。
At first Cora thought he was angry； so forceful was his grip； but he held her to his chest for a moment longer than necessary； looking down into her face； a quiet intensity to his gaze。
'Liam 。 。 。' she said； but he had already released her and turned away。 She watched him for a few moments before following； an unsteadiness to her movement that threatened to make her slip。 She caught up with him and Halloran noticed her awkwardness； this time he reached for her arm and held it gently； lending just enough support to help her walk more steadily。 Cora's breathing was shallow； nervous； and she felt something had drained from her； not her strength； and not her resolution…Felix Kline had subjugated those a long time ago…but perhaps her fear of Halloran himself。
'Who are you？' she could only whisper。 'Nothing more than you can see；' he replied。 But she felt that was not quite true。
14 ROOMS AND CORRIDORS
There were dark places in Neath； corners； niches； which sunlight could never touch； rooms Bloomed in permanent dusk。； corridors where dust motes seemed to clog the air； halls where footsteps echoed in emptiness。 Yet there were also areas of dazzling light； the sun bursting through leaded windows with a force intensified by thick glass； these were cleansing places； where Neath's dank chill could be scoured from the body； although only briefly as other rooms； other corridors； were entered； brightness left behind like some sealed core。
Halloran explored and found many locked doors。
Tapestries adorned hallways。 Fine portraits hung in main rooms and on stairways； meaningless to anyone other than direct descendants of the subjects themselves。 Curved giltwood furniture displayed itself in arrangements that precluded fortable use。 Ornaments and sculptures were set around the house like museum pieces； there for admiration but perhaps not out of love…or so it seemed to Halloran。 The house was a showcase only； full of history； but oddly devoid of spirit； Kline's attempt （presumably） at presenting an aesthetic side to his nature revealing nothing more than an indifference to such things （or at the most； pretensions towards them）。 The giveaway was the separateness of each item； the lack of relationship to those nearby； every piece of furniture； every sculpture or painting； an isolated entity in itself； set…pieces among other set…pieces。 Fine for a museum； but not for a home。
Yet spread among them； as if at random。 were curios from a vastly different and more ancient culture： an encased necklace with thinly beaten gold pendants shaped like beech or willow leaves； stone statuettes of a