23
Marquis de Monceau’s Townhouse, 4 Dec 1870
When Johann was shown into the drawing room, he expected to see the Marquis de Monceau and Madame Cinsault in some sort of state of déshabillé, but only the marquis met him, and thankfully the nobleman was fully clothed.
“No Madame?” Johann couldn’t resist saying.
The marquis poured himself a generous glass of brandy and held up the decanter, his eyebrows asking the question.
“Please,” Johann said. He set his violin case by the chaise and joined the marquis at the bar.
“To the emperor. May his bladder stone drag him to hell for getting us into this mess,” the marquis said.
Johann clinked his glass to his host’s. “And to your health.”
“And yours as well.”
The brandy slid with surprising smoothness down Johann’s throat. “You’ve gotten in
