The Doctor exhaled angrily and shut his eyes. He didn't like to think about Sabbath. Childish of him, but there it was. Sabbath had played him for a fool on Station One, and in Spain. Played him brilliantly too, which made it worse. Not to mention the effrontery of having saved his life. However he had done that. Add impromptu heart surgery to the man's accomplishments. The Doctor realised he was holding the side of his chest. Furiously, he dropped his hand.
'At least you're dressed properly for the period for once.'
The deep hollow voice rolled out of the fog. In a moment, its owner followed, massive and dark-coated, fog misting his top hat, a sardonic gleam in his eye. 'You look like one of Oscar's aesthetes.'
'Thank you for reminding me,' said the Doctor. 'I need to finalise my plans to walk down Piccadilly with a lily in my hand. Enjoy the performance?'
Sabbath smiled. 'I thought you did very well. First time on stage?'
The Doctor shrugged. 'I'm just a natural. How did you like Octave?'
'Intriguing.'
'So you're interested in conjuring?'
Sabbath's smile narrowed. 'Really, Doctor. We both know that wasn't what was happening tonight. Why do you suppose we're each of us here?'
'Coincidence? Bad luck? Maybe you're following me - do I owe you money?'
'I see you're as annoying as ever.'
'I have a reputation to keep up.'
'And you're doing very well.' Sabbath surveyed the empty street. 'I suggest we continue this conversation indoors, preferably somewhere with a bar.'
'I don't want to continue this conversation,' said the Doctor. 'Why don't we just take it as read, and I'll go off and do a lot of work and then you can come in at the end and tell me it was all your idea.'
'Bitter, Doctor. That's not like you.'
'I've had a change of heart.'
'Still brooding on that?' said Sabbath coolly. 'Do I need to remind you that it was killing you?'
'Oh, I know, I know. It was lovely of you to remove it. You're such an altruist, Sabbath. Aside from your generosity with surgical services, you're a selfless protector of Time. Time's Champion, you might call yourself. That's why you're here, I presume.'
'You noticed the problem.'
'Oh yes. The time sensors did everything except flash red and sound a siren.'
'Our magician tonight suggests the anomalies are taking human form.'
'Yes. That's why I wanted to talk to him.'
'I gather he refused.'
'Wouldn't you? I'll just have to try again.' The Doctor turned to Octave's poster, studying the schedule at the bottom. 'He closes here tonight, but Wednesday he's in Liverpool.'
'Tonight?' said Sabbath. 'Dear me.'
'Wanted to talk to him yourself, did you?' The Doctor cocked a sceptical eye. 'Not your usual style.'
Sabbath's smile returned. 'Perhaps I too have had a change of heart.'
