Café de Nuit

Van Rijn chuckles, then coughes again. "Of course, Hazan," he rasps. "A pleasure, as always, to see you too. You look surprised...I'm afraid I've aggravated an old illness recently...So many guests! All here for me? I'm sure it will be a pleasure getting acquainted with them..."

From just outside the grand entry, those within can hear another person arriving--the wheels of the carriage sound loudly on the cobbled stone of the drive as it approaches, halts, and then continues to the carriage house. It is almost a full minute before the footman swings wide the door and announ...