14 July, 1870
Wednesday

Summoned to Sir Sebastian's office with Insp. MacGregor, 2:35pm. Ushered in immediately and received briefing concerning suspicious death of embassy employee Antwerp.

Richard Arkwright, Dep. Sec. Commercial affiars found dead, 6:00am this day on Antwerp/Cologne track (cf. 'Iron Rhine') just outside Antwerp. Last seen in embassy, Brussels, 50 miles away, 11:40pm previous evening. Reported arrival at embassy 11:06. Placed by reliable witness 50 miles distant, near Glassworks in Antwerp, six minutes previously. Known to have exited Brussels-Antwerp train at Antwerp station at 10:00pm.

Embassy staff discover papers and code books missing Arkwright's office this morning. Last two months Arkwright has been following leads he and I discussed during my transit from Cologne. Last coded telegram asked for all information on French agent going by name Gaspard du Nord. No files on such an alias.

MacGregor official laison from Metropolitan Police/Home Office to observe and assist Belgium authorities in investigation of death. I will go as his assistant. Miss Sinclair's League will be unofficially joining us later this week. Not yet briefed so departure will appear spontaneous. Caine being dispatched along with Wooster, Wilson, O'Flaherty on HMS Orion to show British flag. Will be briefed by embassy personnel in Arkwright situation.

Sent quick note informing Miss Sinclair of being sent for city on official business. Packed, arrived at train station with Turgenov at 5:50. Met MacGregor on platfrom. Barely had time to buy Evening Standard while boarding Dover train. Trip uneventful. Acquired more newspapers at Dover.

Ferry arrived Calais 9:06pm. Selected three French newspapers while awaiting train to Brussells.

Arrived Brussells 11:13. Had time to acquire two Belgian newspapers before train continued to Antwerp. Arrived 12:21. Met at station by the Commissary d' Gendarme, Monsieur Duveen. Briefed during carriage ride to hotel.

15 July, 1870
Thursday

Rose a bit late, at 5:45 am. Went on run with Turgenov. Located newstand with morning local papers. All London and Paris papers from yesterday evening, so found none not already read. Acquired one Prussian paper. Had interesting discussion with fishmonger. HMS Orion not yet arrived. Acquired temporary disguise, entered consulate back way, sent coded telegram to A. Consider same for S, decide MacGregor likely to want to take care of it himself. Catch up on latest news with consulate staff.

Returned to hotel 7:30, found MacGregor having breakfast in salon. Shared papers.

M .Duveen arrived at hotel 8:40. Took us to meet Juge d'Instruction, Monsieur Marchand at headquarters.

Arrived morgue 10:45. Body badly mangled. Terrible waste. Must send note to family. Signs of torture evident, mostly on fingers. Eight fingernails violent removed, inconsistent with train injury. Thumbnails still present at time of death. Found point of needle broken off inside third finger, left hand. Other fingers show signs consistent with needle-insertion. Burn mark on left cheek, right forearm, left forearm inconclusive. Could be result of train collision.

One shoe still intact. Made note of footprint. Started to take sample of soil, realised MacGregor had already done so.

Arrived scene of death 12:30. Turgenov took north semi-circle, I took south, while MacGregor asked train representative and Monsieur Duveen questions and began sketching seen. Met Turgenov at tracks. Compared findings. Turgenov proceeded south while I re-surveyed north. Both agree no footprints matching Arkwrighting within 100 yards of impact sight. No soil in same area matches that found in tread of shoe. MacGregor noticed same thing.

Most boot prints appear to be accounted for by police and railroad employees. Two sets inconclusive. Could easily be curious residents from nearby homes. Made note of footprints in case.

Quantity of blood consistent with supposition Arkwright still alive at moment of collision.

MacGregor agrees that Monsieur Duveen too eager to discard engineer's testimony that Arkwright appeared to leap in front of train. Probably thrown. No good candidates for location of assailant--no trees in correct zone appear to have been climbed recently by human.

Returned to city 3:30. Interviewed gendarme, train station employee. Returned to hotel 6:50. After meal, spent evening organizing notes and discussing clues with MacGregor.

16 July, 1870
Friday

Rose 5:00. Went on run with Turgenov. Acquired newspapers. Paris, London, Berlin papers of previous evening continue to bode ill. Had interesting conversation with sweeper, milk maid, charwoman, and gendarme.

Returned to hotel 7:30. MacGregor nearly finished with breakfast. Shared papers.

Met M. Duveen 10:00 for conference with M. Marchand. Marchand believes Arkwright wandering tracks while intoxicated, perhaps returning from assignation. Facts inconsistent with this theory regarded as inconsequential.

Unable to decline lunch invitation M. Marchand. Thus MacGregor and I prevented from leaving for Brussels until 2:00.

Arrived 3:20. Interviewed embassy personel. Time for only brief confidential talk with Adair while Monsieur Duveen not in sight. Learned the Miss Sinclair's League expected to be disembarking from ferry at that very time. Unfortunately, will be back in Antwerp when they arrive.

Arrived Antwerp 6:00. Learned that an American has been asking at all the hotels, hostels, and clubs for a Gaspard du Nord. Interviewed gendarme who had reported the incident. Referred to consierge of Hotel Firean. Said American identified self as Mr. Deveril, asked for note to be sent to him c/o Hotel Alfa de Keyser if Gaspard du Nord checked in.

Arrived Alfa de Keyser 7:50. Desk clerk pointed out said Mr. Deveril in dining room. Approached Mr. Deveril. MacGregor introduced us and began interview. Deveril's accent difficult to place. Could be American southwest, though southeast more likely; definite rounding of vowels which I tentatively attributed to a college education on eastern seaboard. Appears in mid-forties. Athletic. Used to working outdoors, and working with his hands.

Deveril claims to be an historical or anthropological researcher. While investigating medeival ruins in Wallachia, befriending monks at the Calui Monastery. While there, mysterious burglary and death occured. Young acolyte or iniate killed by blunt blow to head. Burglar entered library. No typical valuables taken. Only thing missing is a book, "Assyrian Book of the Dead" reputedly translated from Turkish text by monks during 14th or 15th century.

Deveril suspected a French Franciscan by the name of Gaspard du Nord involved. Decided to investigate himself. Followed du Nord to Vienna. From Vienna to Berlin. Found evidence that Franciscan habit a disguise in Berlin. Followed to Cologne. In Cologne encountered trouble.

Someone entered his hotel room and disturbed his belongs; took nothing. Hotel charwoman described a man seen leaving room, short, bald, thick spectacles, perhaps 50 years old, dark suit and overcoat. Charwoman had seen man in nearby cafe previously. Cafe staff remembered man in question. Said he met with another, younger man, described as taller, reddish hair, wore smoked glasses, even though it was late at night.

While making his way back to his hotel room, was jumped from behind. Woke up more than two weeks later in hospital. Told when he was found, believed dead. Morgue worker released heart was still faintly beating. When he regained his faculties, found that all pages with information about du Nord had been torn from personal journal. Was released from hospital six days later. Found some evidence that du Nord had proceeded to Antwerp. Which brought him here.

While interviewing Deveril, noticed O'Flaherty at far table in dining room. Wooster, Caine, Wilson, O'Flaherty pretended to walk to bar and notice us only at last minute. Greetings and introductions exchanged. While attempting to share information surripiteously, were approached by yet another American, a Dr. Fredrick van Zimo (though clearly a scion of the Bavarian von Zemo's, possesses an obsessive habit of pronouncing it as if of Dutch origin). van Zimo claimed to be attracted by sound of Wilson's New York accent. van Zimo's accent clearly downstate, with distinctive Cambridge, Massachusetts elongations, not inconsistent with claim of extensive medical education and subsequent teaching position at Columbia University. Further claims is travelling to Bavaria to settle inheritance.

During conversation, Gerhard Falkstein approached table to inform van Zimo that travel arrangements to Munchen have been complicated. Falkstein clearly recognized Caine. As we know each other only by reputation, not certain recognized me.

Took our leave of Deveril at 9:20. Joined others at table where finished dinners while we exchanged further information about investigation. Was attempting to get everyone out of hotel where less likely to be overheard so I could warn them about Agents Tot and Schmidt when unmistakable gunshot and south of a crashing wall or window heard above and outside.

All exited the building to see Deveril in struggle with Schmidt above street. Large hole in side of hotel at height of fifth floor probably made by Schmidt hurling self and Deveril through wall.

As Deveril fell, tried to locate something to break fall, while also looking for suitable pieces of ironmongery.

Deveril fired at Schmidt in midair, to no effect. Schmidt appeared to dissolve into evening mist. Deveril used bullwhip to catch cornice to avoid hitting ground, though collision with wall of hotel only slightly less damaging.

Commandeered carriage and maneuvered below precariously dangling Deveril. Climbed atop carriage and braced O'Flaherty as latter reached for Deveril's feet.

Schmidt chose this moment to reappear and slap horses. Coachman attempted to control horses, though we were dislodged and fighting for balance. Wilson chose to fire at Schmidt. Gunshot set horse into panic. Other horse joined in.

Dove from carriage. Wooster, Caine, Wilson exited safely as well.

O'Flaherty still had grip on Deveril, now both were hanging by bullwhip.

Schmidt reappeared in midair at cornice. Sent both falling. Schmidt pulled several of his knives.

As soon as O'Flaherty & Deveril landed, pushed them out of path of knives. Fortunately Caine caught third knife.

Schmidt recommended I return to file cabinets, then vanished.

After brief conference, agreed that Caine &co would take Deveril back to HMS Orion, where iron hull would provide protection from Schmidt, an British flag more mundane interference. MacGregor and I remained behind to tell gendarmes of lunatic burgler who damaged building, shot horse, and ran away into the night.

I think M. Duveen was less than convinced by story. Finally got away at 11:20. Slipped to consulate to have message sent to Miss Sinclair's associate, Miss Whitnell, that her particular talents were needed aboard HMS Orion.

17 July, 1870
Saturday

Rose late again, nearly 6:00. Turgenov irritated at tardiness. Behaved somewhat peevishly during run. While acquiring papers, noted with interest Hohnezollern candidature has been withdrawn. Editorials hopeful threat of war receding. Schmidt's presence, and likely involvement in Arkwright death places such hope in serious doubt. Many interesting conversations with downstairs staff at Deveril's hotel. Rumours quite imaginative.

After breakfast, proceeded with MacGregor to docks to search for possible witnesses to last evening of Arkwright's life. Primary purpose is to be in position to accidently meet Miss Sinclair's League. Eventually heard Edward's voice carrying down from mast of Orion.

Met with League at 10:00. Mrs. Cuthbert already tended to wounds of Deveril & O'Flaherty. Much sharing of information. Ramsay's order suspects Teutonic Knights, specifically the Comte d'Erlette may be an agent of both this heretical order and Prussia. Whitnell and Cuthbert have perternatural evidence implicating Schmidt. Miss Sinclair detailed unusual physical evidence left by Schmidt's actions in Arkwright's office.

League wanted to send telegrams to LeCoq and Templeton (also known as Mitzi). The former just to inform him of Schmidt's presence. The latter to ask for assistance.

Stopped at consulate at 10:45.

Then we all went to scene of Arkwright's death so that the mystics could attempt another information spell. Arrived 11:10. Had pleasant walk around perimeter with Miss Sinclair while she verified our earlier findings.

Seemed wisest to divide to investigate remaining leads simultaneously. Ramsay to consult with local order. Marquis de Montmarial du Dragulan to acquire possible weapons against Schmidt. Mystics along with Salmalin and Mr. Cuthbert would accompany MacGregor and self to morgue. Sir Cosmo would take all others to train factory of Mr. Charles van der Poole. All agreed to meet at factory for late luncheon at 1:30.

Arrived morgue 11:30. Miss Whitnell and Mrs. Cuthbert cast several of their rituals. Said Arkwright's soul imprisoned by necromancer. Said they could free him.

Next ritual did not seem as successful as previous one. Ladies consulted for several seconds, then decided that they must try again. After even more chanting, and a significantly more impressive light show, candles went up like incendiary charges. Salmalin threw himself on flames while MacGregor and I pulled ladies back.

After quickly tending Salmalin's wounds, ladies insisted on casting one more ritual, "to finish the job." As soon as complete, ladies informed us enemy sorcerer knew what they had done and likely send retribution. Urged hasty retreat.

Ran to carriages and started toward factory. Heard something land on carriage roof, followed by sound of neck being broken. Coachman's body thrown off carriage.

Salmalin swung through door and onto roof. Cuthbert and MacGregor confirmed Schmidt on roof, fighting Salmalin.

Searched carriage for iron weapons. Remembered Miss Whitnell's steel and silver blade with supposed improved efficacy against supernatural foes. Borrowed blade, accepted additional charm from Whitnell.

Meanwhile, Cuthbert and MacGregor attempting alternately to shoot Schmidt or take control of horses. Attempt to strike Schmidt with blade less than fully successful.

Cuthbert had been watching enough of fight to guess which moments Schmidt would make himself solid in order that fists with damage Salmalin. Managed to shoot at right moment. Schmidt wounded. Did not seem pleased.

Schmidt sunk through roof. Before I could get back inside, had grabbed Miss Whitnell and both sunk through back of carriage.

Suggested MacGregor stop carriage.

Whitnell and Schmidt looking definitely translucent. Salmalin leapt from carriage. Strange apparition seemed to appear behind them.

Schmidt seemed to solidify. Cuthbert fired. Decided carriage probably going slow enough that I would survive jump. Joined the fray.

Unclear on next several moments. Think one rib may have broken. Fairly certain sword bit rather satisfyingly into Schmidt's flesh before I lost consciousness.

Last thing recalled clearly was sound of galloping horses approaching and an exclamation that my have been Ramsey. Regained consciousness surrounded by mix of strangers and familiar faces.

All on our side seemed alive, if many of us a bit worse for the wear. Schmidt disappated. Ramsay accompanied by a group of Order personnel. Suggest we relocated to Chapterhouse before Schmidt's associates found us.

Sir Cosmo &co arrived in carriages at this moment. All moved to Chapterhouse.

Extremely unusual weather began. Clouds came in more swiftly than usual. Lightning flashes almost seemed to take unusual shapes.

Mystics of League joined St. Jerome mystics locked in battle with Schmidt's master.

Someone suggested we assault Teutonic Knight headquarters physically while mystics distracted. Though plan seems wildly irrational in hindsight, must say that prospect sounded quite inviting at time.

MacGregor, Cuthbert, Wooster, Wilson, the Marquis, O'Flaherty, Sir Cosmo, Salmalin, Deveril, Miss Chigwidgeon, Miss Sinclair, Edward, Miss Bertild, Caine, myself, and several members of the of the Order headed down the street to the suspect building.

Any doubt that remained in my mind was removed with the barrels of rifles were pointed out of the old building's windows and began firing at us.

Using the carriages for cover, those that had ranged weapons fired into the building. The Marquis, ignoring the bullets, forced one team of horses to back a carriage up against door. Wilson and Marquis leapt through second story window. O'Flaherty attempted to follow.

Someone, I suspect it was Edward, fired rockets into basement. Multiple explosions ensued with increasing frequency. Smoke and flames were billowing out of upper story windows.

Wilson and Marquis attempted to exit building. Got into tangle with O'Flaherty. All landed on carriage.

Now obvious to all that basement contained an armory. Bullets already going off. Likely containers of black powder would be next.

All began making hasty retreat.

Noticed Miss Sinclair expending more energy making sure others fleeing than doing so herself. Took action that seemed appropriate at the moment. Not certain she was pleased with my decision.

Building completely consumed by resulting explosions. Sir Cosmo had secured one prisoner–appears to be a young Prussian soldier. Eventually all regrouped at British Consolute, where Capt. Moriarty (new Naval Attache) began questioning all. Soon Earl of Maynooth arrived from Embassy to assist with interviews.

Ordered to remain in consulate. Lord Maynooth and Moriarty went to consult with Belgian government.

Pulled out watch to note the time, and surprised to see that it is only 8:00pm.

Hon. Thomas Adair just entered room. Handed Sir Cosmo a newspaper and pointed to a particular passage. Sir Cosmo announced that the following at been released to the press by Prussian embassies throughout the continent:

"After news of the renunciation of the Prince von Hohenzollern had been communicated to the Imperial French government by the Royal Spanish government, the French Ambassador in Ems made a further demand on His Majesty the King that he should authorized him to telegraph to Paris that His Majesty the King undertook for all time never again to give his assent should the Hohenzollerns once more take up their candidature. His Majesty the King thereupon refused to receive the Amassador again and had the latter informed by the adjutant of the day that His Majesty had no further communication to make to the Ambassador."

Suspect that is as unambiguous a break in diplomatic ties as possible.

Proceed to Bombers and Bandits in Belgium

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