Caught morning ferry in Calais, removed disguise en route. Turgenov slept through voyage, despite choppy seas.

Arrived Dover 4pm. Sent coded wire to A while awaiting London train. Purchased three newspapers. Had informative conversation with porter.

Arrived London 7:30. Purchased latest newspapers. Arrived A's office at 8:05, learned of Lord Clarendon's death. Mr. Willoughby explains what is known, including message from Clarendon desiring to take my report personally immediately upon return. Delivers letter from Miss Sinclair, informs that she is in good health having returned from mission at sea, further informs that Mr. Ashbury mentioned hearing from Mr. Graves that she has a dress-fitting next day. No time to wonder why Willoughby thinks that is important at current juncture.

Joined investigation of possible crime scene. Obvious signs of covert egress via drain pipe near Clarendon's office. Proportion of fingers in handprint indicates probably male suspect. Distance between hand and foot marks indicate suspect at least 6' 5", and no more than 6' 9". Upon completing height calculation, re-examine hand print. Impossible to rule our Watusi origin of suspect.

Constables reluctant to fetch ladder as they had already done so for Inspector MacGregor. Conjecture that Simon MacGregor has been hired in my absence.

Met Inspector MacGregor while examining drainpipe. Is indeed Simon MacGregor. Consulted with MacGregor and shared findings. MacGregor pointed out freshly oiled hinges and locks on door between Clarendon's office, and door to small closet off meeting room. Also points out scrap of black silk caught on window sill nearest drain pipe. Must check on activities of thuggees.

Origami crane found in closet where suspect appears to have lain in wait. Unfolded paper proves to be scrap from newspaper. 18 letters from four lines of type visible. Must cross-check against newspapers. Refold crane for later reference.

Further search of building inconclusive. Two door locks show signs of possible tampering. Witnesses saw tall man run past ground floor offices at 7:15 and jump into unmarked delivery wagon. Three witnesses say man was unusually tall and unusually dark-skinned, possibly aftican. Two witnesses uncertain of suspect's height. One witness adamant suspect had red hair. Two witnesses say suspect was wearing a bowler, one witness said top hat. Two witnesses certain that one horse grey, the other bay. Two witnesses think at least one horse was chestnut. One witness adamant one horse dappled, black on grey, other horse roan. No witnesses remember seeing unusually tall suspect inside building.

Signs that papers on desk were moved after Clarendon's death. MacGregor says Dr. Giles thinks death by natural causes. Suggest that MacGregor follow up with Dr. Giles while I catalog contents of office.

Arrive A's office 10pm. Read Sinclair letter while awaiting A's return from meeting at No. 10 Downing. P loitering about in nervous fashion. Scan newspapers. A and S arrive together at 10:35. Make report and suggestions.

Proceed to Dective Dept. to write out catalog in long hand. MacGregor working on reports. Dr. Giles still believes natural death.

Answered Miss Sinclair's letter. Hour later than thought. Turgenov has been asleep for some time, and snoring is beginning to have mesmeric effect. Decide to get some rest before searching files for persons matching suspect's known features.

1 June, 1879
Wednesday

Went on run with Turgenov before sunrise. Spoke to a sweeper, two delivery boys, a milk maid, and a drover. As feared, open warfare has broken out among Cobb lieutenants.

Stopped at flat for change of clothes. Mrs. MacGreevy anxious to catch me up on local gossip. Discovered source of paper scrap while reading papers over breakfast. Advertisement placed by the Legion Fidele in the Times, Standard, and Gazette, for operatic performance at Criterion Theatre this evening, reception to honor Duc de Chambard to follow.

Stop at A's office on way to Dect. Dept. Ask Mr. Willoughby about reception. Learn that S and Lady F planned to attend. Lady F still attending. Willoughby mentions that Sir Cosmo's household will be attending concert and reception on Greyminster's behalf. Uncertain why this information deemed pertinent, but happy to know.

At office find little new information arriving. Finish reports on findings. Consult records. Find three possible matches for suspect, though all appear unlikely.

Meet with Clarendon's staff to go over catalog of items. At least five pages have been removed from reports on commercial activities in Northern German Confederation. Advise A that agents in Danzig and Konigsberg should be alerted. Willoughby's staff will attempt to reconstruct lost pages from other reports.

Went for long walk at lunch. Dibbler willing to hint, but more than usually nervous. Based on Dibbler's hints, went to Blackwall, disguised as occasional labourer. Made the rounds at several public houses. Approximately half are paying protection to the Billinghams, and half to something called "The Left Hand." Latter appears to be a group of thuggees. Must research further.

Removed disguise and went on run with Turgenov at 6pm. Had several conversations with boatmen, mudlarks, and drovers. Informative, but inconclusive.

Returned home to cleanup. Turgenov expressed displeasure with workload. Insisted not needed for evening's activities and was terser than usual in insisting on nap.

Went to Dect. Department to compile information gathered during the day. Message from A indicated report from Kronigsberg expected in the evening. Updated cross reference files while awaiting report. At A's office at 9pm. Report arrived via diplomatic courier, less up-to-date than my information. Reviewed staff's reconstruction of missing pages. Informative, but inconclusive.

Arrived at reception at 10:15. Located Miss Sinclair in crowd. Greeted and exchanged pleasantries. Agreeable conversation interrupted with annoying frequency. Introduced to Miss Berthilde--new addition to Sir Cosmo's staff, bodyguard for Edward; apparently she is the weapon's teacher from Lady Ottoline's school.

Sir Cosmo very recently engaged to Miss Chigwidgeon. Many wished to make congratulations, though several seemed morbidly curious. Miss Sinclair seems displeased with something about situation. Hope we can have uninterrupted conversation soon. Perhaps will find out then.

New Russion Ambassador in the company of Baron Blackhall. Disturbing development. Lady Miranda Derwent, daughter of Viscount Lennox, made unusual and suspicion conversational gambits. Noticed similar snake design on pendant worn by Lady Miranda and ring worn by Lord Blackhall. Must check for other commonalities.

Lt. Wooster was in attendance with an elderly widow, no doubt another attempt at matchmaking by his elder sister. Lady F in attendance with the Marquis de Montmerial de Dragagulan--both were watching crowd closely.

Mrs. Cuthbert and Miss Whitnell busy with social juggling. Dr. Wilson kept busy finding non-alcoholic refreshment until introduced to Marquis de Montmerial de Dragagulan, who seems to share his enthusiasm for rockets.

Behavior of Lord Blackhall and Lady Miranda proved unsettling for all concerned.

Mr. Ramsey received urgent message regarding something which the League had desposited at the St. Jerome chapterhouse. Everyone in party greatly upset. Sir Cosmo and Mrs. Cuthbert said good-byes and extricated the party.

As we were walking toward the coaches, I noticed man two blocks ahead of us walking rather rapidly. Though dressed in proper evening attire, the man was distinctive for his height --at least 6'6". He appeared to be caucasian, with light brown hair, round wire-rim eyeglasses, and a silhouette strikingly reminescent of the Cobb. We moved more quickly to see where man was going. Ascertained that Edward, in the company of Mr. Salmalin and Owen, were save, but were suspicious of the tall man. Found origami monkey on corner where tall man at paused to look toward us before hurrying away. Found origami horse at next street lamp. No sign of tall man.

I hurried ahead in the direction suspect at last been seen walking while Miss Sinclair climbed nearby building. Someone was sent back to round up Mr. Caine.

No further sign of tall man. Miss Sinclair has found a young man named George, apparently known to the League, dressed as a thuggee. George appears to be on the League's side; unsure of connection to Salmalin and others.

The Marquis de Montmerial de Dragagulan, sent by Caine, offered assistance. Miss Whitnell and Mr. Ramsay took M de M's offer of ride in his gig, while we distributed ourselves in the coaches. Hurried to the Chapterhouse, arriving several minutes behind M de M, Miss W, & Mr. R. Was told story of undead bounty hunter out to get Dr. Wilson, and his connection to recent murders on the way.

Assessed the situation at chapterhouse. Learned the guard had been found dead. Bounty hunter he was guarding in catacombs, missing. Investigation had revealed place where assailants had tunneled from a nearby basement into catacombs. Was told that agents had already been dispatched to check on the safety of ancient sword also connected with murders, and following other leads. Investigated basement. Guard strangled in manner consisted with thuggee methods. Trail led through many inte-connecting basements and cellars. Trail doubled-back at one point. Assailants, carrying bountyhunter's body, exited cellars near Brunswick Square and Foundling Hospital. Evidence of horse-drawn wagon (two horses, both geldings, left front wheel with distintive trianglur notch in rim, right rear wheel slightly warped) waiting for them. Wagon track pulled into St. Guilford street, far too busy for further tracking.

Returned to chapterhouse where Miss Whitnell, Mr. Ramsay, Mrs. Cuthbert, and Miss Chigwidgeon performed a ritual to locate body of bounty hunter. Signs pointed toward south Stepney. Boarded coaches and resumed chase. Located a Mr. Robson, another St. Jerome agent, who believed body was south of current location.

Continued following strange, spirit board-like method, eventually leading us to the Black Lion, a public house. Rip Chigwidgeon employed as bouncer, same. Confirmed earlier suspicion of connection to the League's Miss C.

Evidence indicated body our quarry might be in basement or sub-basement of pub, probable secret entrance in alley. At alley entrance got into a discussion about possibility this was a trap. Ignored most of argument while I assessed possible ways of egress. Noticed Mr. Salmalin doing same, or so I thought. Learned Salmalin had proceeded inside on scouting mission while League equivocated.

Rushed inside, armed members in the front, the rest of us following close behind. Had just made our way to second level below ground when chamber flooded with light of unknown origin. Found Mr. Salmalin engaged in combat with eight thuggees, all armed with katars. Miss Berthilde produced two sturdy fighting knives from somewhere and jumped into the fray. The M de M, George, Edward, and Dr. Wilson also rushed in.

The room contained a corpse which I assumed was the aforementioned bounty hunter. Corpse was nailed to wall and adorned with a ribbon tied in a bow. Even more incongrous was the raven which seemed to be trapped inside a circle drawn on the floor with colored powder. As several symbols were drawn around the circumference of the ciricle, I presumed the raven bound by some mystical ritual.

Fight was very bloody. Mr. Salmalin decapitated one opponent, but was implaed through the left collar by another. Dr. Wilson shot three of the thuggees. Mr. Cuthbert wounded the leader, fortuitously deflecting what probably would have been a fatal blow to Mr. Salmalin.

In mere moments seven of the opposition had been killed. The leader fled, breaking through a brick wall with astonishing ease.

Dr. Wilson and the M de M dove through the hole while we attended to the wounded. Mr. Cuthbert noticed that coal-gas pipes, and called down a warning to Dr. Wilson not to use his rocket gun. A few moments later we heard some loud splashes. Learned later Wilson and M de M had discovered an opening into the east sewers.

Searched room, discovered hidden doorway to room outfitted as an office, with expensive leather chairs, a large desk and a clerk's desk, an impressive library, and a table clearly intended for the torture and/or vivisection of human-sized creatures. Cabinet of surgical and vivisectionist tools discovered nearby. Indications are this room was one of the offices of the Cobb. Unfortunately, two shelves worth of books nearest the clerks desk, and most of the contents of the clerk's desk, had been removed recently. Located door to adjacent cellar. Surmise that owner of clerk's desk exited with records while the fight with the thugs raged in nearby chamber.

More St. Jerome agents arrived. Raven, identified as malevolent spirit formerly employed by bounty hunter, questioned and dispensed with. The mystically inclined reported that the malevolent spirit had gone to Baron Blackhall for assistance. Blackhall, apparently in collusion with a faction of Cobb's organization, sent the spirit with a group of thuggees and a sorceress, supposedly to liberate bounty hunter. Spirit learned too late that he and bounty hunter were to be bait, to lead the League and the Order of St. Jerome to this hideout and cause trouble to faction still using same as base.

P arrived with a gaggle of constables. Inspector MacGregor took charge of scene while I catalogued contents of suspected Cobb Office. Once police situation sorted out, League took their leave. Regretfully needed to stay behind to help MacGregor make sure contables didn't destroy evidence while bundling it up. Received invitation to tea with Miss Sinclair tomorrow.

Speculation: Salmalin called the leader who fled "Master Tandu." Recall name from earlier investigations. Tandu's faction may be group street contacts have referred to as "Cobb Loyalists." Spirit apparently referred to the sorceress as "the Widow." Blackhall's faction may be group street contacts have referred to as "Katayani," which is the hindi word for "widows." League mentioned some clues earlier which indicated that Lord Clarendon was taken by "the Left Hand of Death." Further mentioned that The Left Hand god is a manifestation of Kali related to vengence and justice. This may be a reference to "the Left Hand" which controls part of Blackwall. The tall man, if he is an agent of one of the factions, may be a member of this so-called "Left Hand."

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