The creature across the threshold was the same size as a normal human maid, but its face was a single, rounded sheet of steel with two circular black holes where eyes should be, and a rectangular slit instead of a mouth. It wore a long black dress, with a white apron and a lace-frill of a hat to match. One of its crude, skeletal, three-fingered metal hands held the door, while the other gripped a feather duster. It stared soullessly at them on the doorstep, appearing to look at each one of them in turn. A soft metal click sounded, and then from inside the stone-still empty face a muffled and metallic-sounding male voice said something in French. Jonas responded in French instantly, his voice calm though his face clearly showed amazement. His eyes were uncovered as he stared at the metal maid. The maid asked the same question again, after another soft clicking sound, in exactly the same tone. Jonas began to respond, turning to gesture to Myra. The maid gave another click, and then cut him off, now saying something different. Jonas listened with a frown until the maid began to close the door.
