Early the next morning, after checking his guests were still asleep, Nadir sent Darius to recognize the field in Erik's building. He fiddled a little in the sitting room, trying not to make any noise, most for Erik's than the girl's sake, and wished Darius would come back before any of his guests woke up. Half an hour later, his prayers were answered. Darius came back and they retreated to the kitchen to conference.

The description that Darius made of the interior of the porter's lodge, filthy and filled with empty bottles; the picture he drew of the man who accompanied the concierge, a bearded, menacing man, as well as the unconcerned attitude with which the woman had referred to the disappearance of her daughter, soon convinced Nadir of the course of action to be taken. Now, how would he ever accomplish to carry that course of action to a successful result that was another kettle of fish.

A muffled cough coming from the sitting room nearly made them both jump out of their skins. Nadir darted out of the kitchen to find Erik stiffly sitting down on the armchair.

"I would like to listen to the conclusions you've come to, my friend," he said, his voice slightly tinged with sarcasm. "That is, if you've finished your conclave with Darius."

Erik's words astounded Nadir. This was a surprising new version of Erik. The old one would have burst into the kitchen in a fit of rage as soon as he had noticed they were discussing him behind his back. Suddenly, the idea that Erik had, willingly, placed himself in Nadir's hands by coming to his apartment, struck Nadir. The man who'd always strived to hold absolute control of his life had decided to relinquish that control to other person. Erik had changed, indeed. Nadir sighed.

"I think you are right, Erik. You need a new apartment. Perhaps we can discuss it over breakfast?" He suggested.

With an enormous relief, he watched Erik's head bow in a single, curt nod.


"So, Daroga, have you come up with a plan already?" Erik asked when they were having their second cup of tea.

Nadir watched him gravely from under his furrowed eyebrows for such a long time that Erik wondered whether he was overstaying his welcome. Maybe it was time to take his destiny into his own hands again, and let Nadir be. Not that the Persian had ever let him be, but perhaps the Daroga had grown weary of being Erik's self-appointed conscience.

"I must ask you, my friend, whether you intend to keep the girl."

Nadir's words startled him. However, it took Erik but an eyewink to answer.

"Of course I intend to keep her. I didn't save her from her mother to throw her into the gutter."

"Then I would like to know under which conditions you intend to keep her."

Erik's heart sank. How could the Daroga, of all people, make such a question?

"Conditions? What do you mean by conditions? What are you implying, Daroga? Do you think so little of me?"

Nadir raised his hands, in an appeasing gesture. He had formulated the question in the wrong terms. Damn French language.

"What I mean is how you intend to provide for her needs. She will need to be tutored."

"I can teach her everything she needs to know," Erik snapped.

"She'll need dresses and toys and. . ."

"You know better the state of my funds than myself, Daroga. But I'm sure I'm still wealthy enough to provide for her."

"She'll have to be raised in the religion of her country."

"I can do without God. She can do without him as well," now, Erik's voice was sharp.

"And yet. . ."

Erik rubbed his face in exasperation. His fingers bumped against the mask, and then he fully understood. Of course the Daroga, like anyone else, would disapprove of his will to keep the girl. Nobody would ever believe him worthy of. . . He stood up. Suddenly, the dining room had turned into a narrow, menacing cage.

"Of course," he ranted. "I'm not even entitled to that. A monster must not be allowed to raise a little girl. God only knows in which ways I would. . . pervert her."

His voice was hoarse. He couldn't breathe. With trembling fingers, he undid the knot of his tie and loosened it. He heard the Daroga's voice. It was too far away to understand what he was saying. There was simply no air. . .

Erik strode towards the window and shoved the curtains to one side. The long draperies got entangled on his forearm and he tried to free himself with a violent move. A hand grasped his shoulder. Instinctively, Erik turned around and hit back.

Nadir tumbled backwards and fell to the floor, a hand shooting up to his cheek, where Erik had slapped him. They both froze for a second.

Nadir was the first one to react. He put his hand on the seat of the chair beside him and struggled to his feet. He turned around to face Erik, who was still standing, frozen, by the window.

"I pray your forgiveness, my friend. I was not trying to question your motives or your abilities to raise the child," Nadir's voice was steady but soothing.

Erik didn't react. The left side of his face was as white as the porcelain mask covering the right, and his eyes were wide.

"Please, Erik," repeated Nadir, for it was clear Erik had not understood his words. "Forgive me. I was not questioning your attachment to the child."

Still no answer. Nadir tried once again:

"Erik, I'm so sorry."

He stepped back, giving Erik some space, and waved towards the chair Erik had occupied.

"Please, be seated, so we can clear up this terrible misunderstanding."

He met Erik's eyes evenly, and he prayed Erik would see the honesty with which he offered his apologies. He had started this conversation with the wrong foot and every word he'd uttered since he started talking had just made things worse.

Erik appeared to weigh Nadir's words carefully, and then he stepped closer to the chair. With wary movements, he sat down. Nadir was dismayed to notice Erik had retreated behind the thick walls of mistrust that usually protected him from the outer world.

Nadir took a deep breath, trying to weigh his words carefully.

"I never tried to question the sincerity of your affects, my friend. Nor their honesty. I simply. . ."

Erik's head shot up in attention. A second later, he sprang to his feet and darted out of the room and into the guest chamber. The child had, evidently, woken up.

Nadir called Darius and asked him to go and find out what she would like to have for breakfast, and to serve it to her in the room. Now he would probably have some time to think about the best way to make his apologies, and ensure Erik he would help him. He would maybe have a little time to devise a plan to effectively remove him and the little girl from their former lodgings.