04 April 1870
Dearest Bertram, beloved - I know I promised to keep my journal faithfully during our journey, yet I have been woefully remiss. My apologies, my love! I know you have been watching over us, for many portends have visited my dreams. As you have suggested many times in the past, I will attempt to better hold the memories by scribing them to you.
As you know, Uncle and I have returned from the tour ‘round the world which he so graciously provided for us. I have seen many wonderful and fantastic sights in the past months, too many to truly do them justice in a description to you. Wherever we went Uncle sought out the game hunting, and I the spiritual hunting. I do not mind his hunting, so much, as I do the gruesome trophies he returns with. I well understand that the display of such is of use to exhibit his status, yet I am not required to enjoy it. What pleasurable decorative use is an umbrella stand constructed from an elephant’s leg? I am quite positive the elephant would much rather be alive and using his leg, thank you. I will not have it in my house, and have told Uncle as such.
I had the occasion to witness with my own eyes the famous Indian rope escapade! We were in India, as you might imagine, on the streets of Bombay. There were many performers, and one of them was a fakir who threw a rope into the air where it remained erect! A small boy clambered up the rope and disappeared, then the fakir climbed up and disappeared as well. I examined the rope as closely as I could without disturbing it, looking upward at its length. The rope itself appeared to end at the point at which the fakir and the boy could no longer be seen. After a time, they suddenly appeared once more and climbed downward on the rope. With my extensive training in mysticism I feel I should have been able to divine how the feat was performed, but I must admit that it evades me.
Other times during our tour I received visions - sent by yourself, beloved? - regarding the recent tragedy perpetrated by the criminal Nemo, the sinking of the Abraham Lincoln, and some of her survivors. In addition - do you recall my speaking to you of the Singletons? No, I correct myself, rather it is the Singlefords. While on tour I received a most disturbing and violent vision and I knew most certainly that trouble was to be found in their family. Having wired Mrs. Singleton, I learned my sensing had been regrettably too late and their master had passed. I will be calling upon the family as soon as possible to extend my condolences in person.
It is late, beloved, and I am weary. The tour, while enjoyable, has been quite tiring and I feel the need to rest. I will scribe further to you very soon. In the meantime, I will see you in my dreams.
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