by Tony Verna

Created on: December 08, 2009

When we left our story, there was a hint that Jancy would continue moving about like a gypsy, or perhaps even becoming one. 

* * * *

Down at the dock, the night was so misty that the Professor noted that most of the prostitutes had gone home and left the groaning to the ships moored at the wharf.

The pier was studded with vessels. As Tonio and the Professor worked their way toward Sir Richard's ship, they saw a wagonload of gypsies arrive with seven women stepping out, all dark-eyed save one, who had China-blue eyes. Jancy was the prettiest and the youngest. Her hair was now blue-black, long and braided. Her full dress was sewn with bright flowers, and her jewelry was stamped with shiny coins.

Breaking away from the Professor, Tonio hooked the wax bomb around his neck and dashed through the group of longshoremen who were loading Union supplies onto the next steamer.

Tonio swung by rope and jumped from the Union ship directly onto the bow of the Lucky Seven.

Inside the main cabin on Sir Richard's yacht, uniformed attendants were offering the ladies their choice of fresh flowers for their bouquets. The women were wearing crimson velvets, silk and satins, their bonnets and hoops having stayed at home.

In the back cabin, Jancy brushed her long black hair, waiting patiently, visualizing the women up front, much in vogue with their hair up in curls and dusted with gold powder.

While the women were giddy from their bubble of influence, their male escorts were making their selections from a vast display of wines and cigars.

Jancy waited for her moment to produce the shock that would deflate the fizz of these ostentatiously rich people, while in the galley, gypsy-helper Chester worked on the chicken dishes while the cooks competed to do something special with poached quail eggs, truffles vinaigrette, and smoked trout.

In the main cabin, Sir Richard was toasting his guests and signaling for the gypsy dancers to begin. He began his remarks as the bouncy ensemble of seven dancers gathered together and then separated in a whirlpool of energy. "We are on the eve of the do-or-die pressure of opening night. Let us celebrate the countless hours of rehearsals that end this evening, even as I speak."

The music turned gay, and the seven barefooted female gypsies began an exuberant dance, with the dark-skinned Jancy hoping that her perspiring would not ruin her make-up as she danced around Sir Richard, clicking her castanets under his nose, causing the small man to start up

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