, a door closing. t doalking, but more quietly.

    “ is Lord Asriel up to?”

    “I t an entirely different idea of ture of Dust. ts t. Its profoundly ical, you see, and torial Court of Discipline cant alloerpretation ts to experiment—”

    “to experiment? it?”

    “ so loud...”

    “Do you t?”

    “No, no. I t h her very well.”

    “titude worries me....”

    “Not philosophical, you mean?”

    “Exactly. A personal interest. I dont like to use t its almost ghoulish.”

    “ts a bit strong.”

    “But do you remember t experiments, —”

    Lyra,coutdnt : a little cry escaped  time sensed and s knocked against a stanchion.

    “ ?”

    “In the ceiling—”

    “Quick!”

    t running, a table pulled across tried to scramble a ttle space, and before s up suddenly, and so tartled face of a man. So see every acartled as s o move, o t a o the gap and seize her arm.

    “A child!”

    “Dont let her go—”

    Lyra sank eeto , but didnt let go, even ting, but it ronger til ely clinging to tanco loosen, and so the room.

    Still s utter a sound. Sal above, and struggled upside docing, puncting in passionate fury. ting ion, but they pulled and pulled.

    And suddenly all trengt out of her.

    It o be, and hing deep and precious.

    S faint, dizzy, sick, disgusted, limp h shock.

    One of talaimon.

    of .  ss of anbaric alarm...oward h hands for him....

    till. tured.

    S t  allo supposed to touch... rong