The Mousehunter Read Online Free Page A

wearily. “I found that Snorkel Mouse in the bath on the fourth floor, but the Sharpclaw’s vanished.”
    “What did you want to say to me?” asked the butler.
    “Who was that man? Was that Captain Drewshank?” quizzed Emiline.
    “It was. Why does it concern you?” he replied sternly.
    “Mr. Lovelock has a problem with Mousebeard, so he calls for the world-famous Captain Drewshank. It’s obvious! And, unlike you, any normal person would be very excited to have him in their home. He caught the first Yellow-nosed Fire Mouse and brought it back to Old Town!”
    The butler took Emiline by the arm forcefully and walked her down the stairs.
    “Watch the words that come from your mouth, Emiline. This is no place to be talking of Mr. Lovelock and that pirate in such a way. And as for Mr. Drewshank and his overblown tales of mousehunting derring-do, well, you’d do best to keep away from types like him.”
    “Mr. Spires, you’re so old and fusty. For anyone who knows anything about mice, he is as much of a legend as Mr. Lovelock. To sail and hunt mice with Captain Drewshank would be a dream come true,” she said.
    “Emiline, he’d never take a mousekeeper like you. You’re too young.”
    “Too young? At least I can see past the end of my nose!”
    The butler let her go and continued down the staircase alone.
    “Go to bed,” he said firmly, pushing his glasses up his nose.
    But going to bed was the last thing she meant to do. Drewshank looked around Lovelock’s office impatiently, his legs crossed and his fingers tapping at the chair. It had been several minutes since the butler had left him on his own, and he was finding it intensely boring and irritating. He had spent most of the time studying the map of mousetrading routes that covered the wall, wondering if he could learn any secrets about the great man’s latest investments around the Seventeen Seas. He’d learned nothing new, or at least nothing of any importance.
    Drewshank had had dealings with Lovelock before; many of them were quite dangerous tasks, such as transporting an expensive mouse around the world, or guarding a hideously large amount of money on its route to a fellow mouse collector.
    Sometimes their business relationship held benefits for both parties. It was upon Lovelock’s request that he’d taken part in the Green Island Mousehunting Expedition, where he accidentally discovered the Spiny Rock Mouse by sitting on it. (He never let on that he required surgery in order to remove the rodent.) For his contribution to mousing Drewshank had received a plaque at the Mousehunters’ Lodge — a fine honor indeed — and Lovelock became the first person to get the new breed of mouse in his collection.
    But this was the first time Isiah Lovelock had called him to his mansion; these sorts of undertaking were usually set in motion at dimly lit coffeehouses or in the genteel parlors of the Old Town Gentlemen’s Club at Isiah’s invitation.
    Eventually, Lovelock entered the room and shut the door. Drewshank sat a little straighter in his chair while Lovelock walked slowly around to his desk and sat down.
    “Ah! Captain Drewshank,” he said, a slight tiredness in his voice, “you must excuse me for calling you here at such an unseemly hour, but I need you to set sail at the first opportunity. There’s no time to waste.”
    Drewshank sat back and flicked a speck of mouse hair from his knee.
    “I don’t know if that’s possible at such short notice. And if it were, I’d need supplies and more crew, Mr. Lovelock,” said Drewshank.
    Lovelock’s face barely flickered: “I’ve already contacted the relevant people, and supplies to last three months will be at the harbor first thing tomorrow. I’ve taken the chance to hire more men for your voyage, and also ordered six of the most powerful cannons in Old Town — these are being taken to your ship as we speak.”
    “You’re not one to be underestimated, Mr. Lovelock.”
    Lovelock’s stare