Wednesday, 4 May, 1870
The League returned from their business in Liverpool last evening, and though everyone is quite exhausted, I have already heard several versions of the adventures they had while away. Salmalin has a good memory for detail, though his descriptions are not as colourful as Miss Chigwidgeon's or Edward's.
On Friday, 29 April, the League travelled without incident to Liverpool. They were met at the station by Dr. Deeming and the Hon. Mr. Robert Ditteridge who saw them to Haslingdon Manor. They settled in. The master assembled his Transcription Engine in a room given to him for the purpose.
On Saturday morning Mrs. Cuthbert, Miss Whitnell, and Miss Sinclair decided that a nice horse ride would be an invigorating way to start the day. Miss Chigwidgeon undertook to learn horseback riding. Salmalin tells me she acquitted herself quite well, managing to stay on the animal even when it was spooked and became quite agitated. Fortunately no one was hurt.
The League then journeyed to Scarisbrick Manor and began the grim business of cataloging the experimental animals. I was appalled to hear how the monkeys, in particular, were treated. But the most shocking discovery of the day was an enormous carnivorous plant–something called a ‘Monkey Killer' by natives of the Amazon, collected by the Baron's son and brought back to England by his grandson.
The master and the others had not yet worked out what to do with the dangerous plant or the animal subjects when they became aware that Mr. Mortimer Hammersly was attempting to murder the county registrar. Someone, most probably his cousin's husband, Mr. Marcus Perthwaite, had been feeding the poor man information which led him to believe that Mr. Berkowski, the registrar, was a Polish agent undertaking some fiendish plot against the unsuspecting citizens of Liverpool county.
Miss Whitnell and Salmalin were the first to learn of the trouble, and took off after him in one of the carriages. The rest of the company joined Mortimer's father, Prof. Hammersley, in two other carriages and followed close behind. As luck would have it, Mr. Ramsey, having received the notes from Miss Whitnell and the master, had left by train to join the League, and was waiting upon the platform, unaware his telegram sent the previous evening had not yet been delivered.
He saw the commotion and was able to follow the League to the registrar's office.
The League spread out, urging clerks to evacuate the building while they sought Mr. Hammersley. Salmalin found Mortimer in the basement affixing a bomb to one of the coal gas pipes. Fortunately, Mr. Hammersley listened to reason, abandoned his scheme, and eagerly offered to help the League trap the relative who had manipulated him into a confession.
The League had found young Mr. Cratchet at the registrar's office, conducting his investigation of the financial standing of the Scarisbrick estate. Mr. Cratchet had found most of the documents the League needed to make it's case: a certificate of marriage between Paolo and Miss Clara Birtwhistle, a copy of the letter of introduction from Rev. Teasdale, informing the Baron that Paolo was his legitimate grandson (which the Baron either chose to disregard or disbelieve, we will never know which), and clerk's notes indicating that Mr. Perthwaite had asked to see the marriage document recently. Unfortunately it was all very circumstantial.
Mrs. Cuthbert suggested that perhaps a seance could provoke a confession. The spirit of Paolo's father could be summoned and questioned about the legitimacy of his son's birth. Several other members of the League suggested that some phony spirits, properly scripted, might more likely provoke a confession. Mrs. Cuthbert was not pleased with the suggestion.
Prof. Hammersley suggested that they could pretend that Mortimer had partially succeeded. That he had died in his father's arms, gasping something about his uncle (Paolo's father). If need be, Mortimer made up as his own corpse, could enter the seance room and accuse his cousin-in-law.
The plan was thus adopted. With some costume alteration, make-up, and a great deal of acting, the party returned and convinced the family of Mortimer's death. Prof. Hammersley had barely gotten through his story before both his mother-in-law (the dowager baroness) and his older sister were begging Mrs. Cuthbert to conduct a seance. Mr. Perthwaite attempted to leave the house before the seance was underway, but Dr. Wilson intercepted him.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Cuthbert, Miss Whitnell, and Mr. Ramsey prepared the ritual. The entire family gathered in the room. Miss Sinclair was in the next room with Mortimer's "corpse" listening in.
The ritual seemed to be a success. Andrew's spirit materialized over the table and began conversing with those present. Caroline, Baroness Scarisbrick, was moved to tears when the spirit asked why his son was not at the table. Then the spirit, apparently able to perceive the thoughts of those present, accused Mr. Perthwaite of having murderous plans against his relatives.
Mr. Perthwaite tried to flee. Dr. Wilson restrained him. Miss Chigwidgeon jumped up to help, and there was a disastrous tumble of chairs. Mr. Perthwaite's leg was broke in the struggle.
The spirit seemed to get angrier as Mr. Perthwaite babbled his rationalizations. Miss Chigwidgeon stepped between the spirit and the accused. Then she appeared to be, for just a moment, possessed by the ghost of Paolo's long-dead mother, who pled with the other spirit.
Quite suddenly, with a dramatic outgust of wind which snuffed out the remaining candles, the spirits departed.
And then Mortimer walked into the room, glaring at Mr. Perthwaite. This proved too much, and Perthwaite passed out in a dead faint.
There was much explaining to do. I understand
that Mrs. Hammersley roundly chastised her husband and son for
deceiving her into thinking her son was dead. Other members of
the family were confused, but there were a number of witnesses
now who could swear before a magistrate that Mr. Perthwaite had
admitted his crimes.
The rest of the evening (and much of the next day) the League
was engaged in cataloging the Baron's journals and copying relevant
portions for later study.
On Sunday morning Salmalin began his daily lessons in self-defense to Miss Chigwidgeon, Miss Sinclair, Mrs. Cuthbert, and Miss Whitnell. I understand that Dr. Wilson expressed scepticism at the need for such training.
In the afternoon they undertook to destroy the carnivorous flower, though not without first preserving many. As Miss Sinclair and Miss Whitnell snipped blossoms and stems and leaves, the plant exuded larger quantities of its strange perfume. Lt. Wooster was over come by the fumes, and had to be physically restrained by Mr. Cuthbert. When Salmalin carried Wooster's unconscious body out into the fresh air, Miss Chigwidgeon followed to help.
Unfortunately, Miss Chigwidgeon stepped on a rake. The handle left a nasty bruise on her forehead. The rake also smashed some of the windows of the greenhouse. The destruction of the plant continued. Edward's discovery of a small number of the plants growing on the bank of a pond on the grounds prompted Miss Sinclair to instruct the gardeners to watch for and eradicate the insidious weeds if they find any other samples.
Sunday evening Inspector Lestrade arrived at Scarisbrick manor to take Mr. Perthwaite into custody. He brought along certain papers, including a letter from Rev. Teasdale concerning the marriage of Baron Scarisbrick's only son years ago in the Amazone, and the subsequent birth and baptism of his son, Paolo.
Paolo may very well go to the gallows for murdering the Baron and Mr. Jeremiah Bassett. I know his crimes were horrific, but one must remember that even as strong-willed a person as Miss Sinclair could not resist Iota's mysterious mental powers. We can never know if Paolo would have gone to such lengths without that unnatural influence.
Mr. Scuddamore and Mr. Digby, old acquaintances of the master and members in very good standing of the Naturalist Society, had agreed to take the monkeys, cavies, and plants into care. They arrived on Monday and began preparing the creatures for transfer. Miss Glossop will be taking over responsibility for the car of the Baron's dogs, with the exception of Owen and his mother, who have come to live with us.
And then yesterday the League packed up and returned to London, where they found an enormous amount of mail awaiting their return.
Edward brought home an amazing collection of wildflowers. He attempted to draw a picture of every plant on the grounds. I shall have to look for a proper binding to collect the pictures into.
Proceed to 5. A Confrontation with Mortality
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