The ladies of the Red House were used to unwarranted intrusions into the private rooms. It was inevitable, given the nature of the establishment. Drunken patrons stumbling blindly by mistake; young dandies thinking they were entitled to a private show; the watch when their payment was 'late'. However, Madame Arislan was somewhat taken aback when a beardless youth came running breathlessly through the leather curtain, a look of fear on his face.

"Rojan!" the matron demanded. She barred the passage, her hands upon her hips and a look of anger in her eyes. Rojan came to a sudden halt, his feet slipping out from under him and dropping his ragged behind onto the rush-strewn floor. "What are you doing in here?" Madame Arislan's stentorian tones drew the attentions of the ladies of the Red House, and they peeked out of the doors that lined the corridor.

"F-forgive me, lady," Rojan began. "But I am in a hurry. Would you please ... ?"

Madame Arislan bent down to offer the boy a hand and to pull him to his feet. "And who have you annoyed this time?" From the common room outside the curtain there came a loud hubbub and the sound of voices barking orders. The matron raised an eyebrow at Rojan. "It must be somebody important - or rich - for you to have attracted the watch's attention."

"Yes, lady." Rojan hung his head. "I was - ."

"Stop, boy." The noise from the common room grew louder. Madame Arislan was sure she could here the voice of Dargan, the halfbreed she employed to keep order in the Red House. "Running will do you no good." She waved over one of her ladies. "Maryam - take Rojan. Hide him. I am sure you can do something." Rojan started to babble - thanks or protests, Madame Arislan didn't care - as he was hustled away.

The leather curtain parted, and Serjeant Lash strode in, followed by a pair of watchmen and a man in a purple suit. "Where is he?" the serjeant demanded.

"Who are you talking about?"

"That urchin," the man in the suit replied haughtily. "He came in here. Find him."

Lash barked an order, and the watchmen began to go through the private rooms, turning the ladies out into the corridor. Soon the passage was filled with women in various states of dress. The man in the purple suit walked along the line of ladies. Halfway down, he paused at a slight, shivering figure. "This one," he said. "Search her. Thoroughly."

The guard ran his hands along the girlish form, searching her as the man in the suit demanded. He paused at the girl's crotch, then stood up. "Nothing here, sir," the watchman reported.

Madame Arislan glared at Lash. "Now, if you are satisfied - leave!"

Once the watchmen and the stranger had departed, Madame Arislan glared at the disguised Rojan. "I trust what you took was worth it. There is a watchman who has earned his bonus for today - and you owe me!"