The ususal wrenching was much diminished. Once through,"Period one sweep, 'hole in space'."Acknowledgements were made."Threat levels?" None on the boa...rd, Sir." Tactical, put Period on random as discussed." Period random programme locked in." Put the sweep up on the screens."At the extreme edge of the screen depicting the effective range of Period was an outline which was familiar to them from the old maps; the yards of Helena. The hour went forever."Configure impellers. Ahead one quarter.". She crossedher legs and her right foot was now only a few inches in front of mydowncast eyes."Put your hands behind you and then bathe my feet," she said ascasually as if she were asking for a cup of coffee. I was either stupidor totally confused."Bathe them with what, Miss Fiona?" With your tongue, of course, you stupid little slut," she snarled thisat me.I must have hesitated a fraction too long, because she leant forwardand slapped my face, not hard enough to mark, but badly enough to makemy. Lord Brownlow lived at Belton House, a place I knew well as it was in the grounds of Belton House that I had been caught poaching. As I entered the study and stood ready to give him my account of Quatre Bras, I wondered if His Lordship would recall the last time I had appeared before him. That appearance had been in his court room, when he had given me the option of transportation to Australia or a life in the army. I doubted he would be able to recall the faces, or even the names, of those. AFTER AN HOUR THERE WAS SOME NOISE AT OUTMOST GATE,I PEEPED OUT IT WAS JOHN.I SWITCHED OFF ALL LIGHTS AND RAN NAKED TO MY BEDROOM.I KEPT PILLOW ON MY FACE.I ACTED sleepING FACING MY HIPS TOWARDS THE DOOR.JOHN WAS IN AND WAS CALLING ME..BUT I DID'NT GOT UP.ALL LIGHTS WERE CLOSED SO HE FOUND IT DIFICULT TO SWITCH THEM ON.SOME HOW HE MANAGED TO REACH AT THE BEDROOM'S DOOR.HE OPENED IT AND HE SAW THE SWITCHBOARD HERE.HE SWITCJED ON THE LIGHTS.OHH..THE WORD I HEARED FROM HIS MOUTH.HE WENT OUT.