Thursday, 2 June, 1870
(mid-day)

Well, the morning can only be called dreadful.

By the time I dressed, the fumes from Edward's experiment were getting horrible, and others were becoming alarmed. Even though it has been made clear that I have no particular authority regarding Edward's behaviour, I can hardly allow him to endanger the rest of us.

Mrs Cuthbert and I went to Edward's door, and discovered a note saying "please do not enter." (at least the child shows a modicum of manners). Knowing Edward's penchant for traps, we decided not to open the door.

I went instead to Miss Whitnell's door, hoping that she might recognise the chemicals by odour, and tell us if the fumes were dangerous or merely nasty.

After some pondering, she declared them not extremely dangerous, but suggested that we go out-of-doors to be safe. Mrs Cuthbert took on the task of evacuating the house.

Graves came upstairs and indicated that he had seen the child belowstairs. Graves continued farther up, toward the attics, as Miss Whitnell and I went down in search of Edward. (shortly after this meeting, I heard a motor and a sound of moving air--apparently Sir Cosmo had had occasion to install a large fan for just this sort of occurrence, and Graves had come upstairs to turn it on)

Miss Whitnell and I found Wilhelmina in the Servant's dining room, quite asleep. We were reluctant to disturb her, since she had one of those Hindu knives in her hand, no doubt ready to disembowel first and ask questions later.

Miss Whitnell hit upon the idea of waking her with the dinner gong--being thus out of striking range when Wilhelmina should wake.

This took several soundings, but Wilhelmina eventually woke--not before a flustered, indignant Mrs Murphy came bustling in to find out who was ringing the gong before breakfast was ready. She was gracious enough when we explained, but I was left in no doubt that we had trespassed in her domain.

Wilhelmina finally roused enough to explain her project to Miss Whitnell--some sort of etching, with acid. Miss Whitnell chastised her for doing a fuming project in the house. Wilhelmina became petulant, and complained that she would have opened a window, except that everyone was so adamant about securing our premises.

I was simply too furious to speak. Such an intelligent young person must know the probable outcome of this chemical reaction, and should know enough to ask for a suitable work area. She is obviously causing a disturbance to protest our efforts to protect her. I have rarely witnessed such vexing behaviour in a child of less than 14 years.

So, I was already dreadfully cross when, after all the household had come back in, we filed into the courtyard for Defence Lessons. We were to work with Emily today, as Salmalin is still recovering from the injuries he sustained in the fight at the Black Lion.

Imagine my shock when Salmalin leaped out at us, and began to attack Emily! With Knives!

She was plainly surprised, but she parried very quickly. Salmalin struck at each of us students in quick succession. He slashed my forearm. I could scarcely believe the cheek of it!

In this surprise test, we mostly gave a decent accounting, considering how much more skilled he is. Mrs Cuthbert made a fine leg-sweep and knocked his feet out, and Miss Whitnell was swift enough to get a practise-sword to parry with. I can describe these things now because we discussed our performance after the exercise. I do remember that I was able to grab and flip him on his second lunge toward me, though of course he landed on his feet.

He finally called a halt and asked us to analyse our actions, I'm afraid I contributed very little to the discussion--my comportment was less than composed.

We proceeded to practise a melee with improvised weapons found about the garden, with Emily taking on the rest of us, and Salmalin observing and judging.

When we finally went indoors again, the horrid fumes had largely dispersed. I had some tea and toast, and tidied myself, and felt better.

I excused myself from Hindi lessons today, being overtired and out-of-sorts. I heard the others discussing the occult practises of Kali-worshippers, which I have little interest in. I also heard them talking about me and my temperament, which was annoying, but perhaps understandable, since I have been less than gracious this morning.

The post brought confirmations of several afternoon guests. I don't know how we'll manage to meet them all and keep track of our business.

These expected persons include Mr Ramsay, and young Nigel Graham, both on the matter of Nigel's dreams. Also, we expect Inspector MacGregor to discuss the latest in the Clarendon case.

For now, though, I have a little quiet. Dr Wilson and Lt Wooster have already departed for the Rocketry laboratory. Miss Whitnell, Emily, and Miss Chigwidgeon have gone out to spend Miss Whitnell's clothing reimbursement.

Mrs Cuthbert and Mr Cuthbert are about the business of preparing their new home next door.

Edward and George have gone on errands with Sir Cosmo. The nature of these errands is not clear, so I imagine it is probably to do with some gift for Miss Chigwidgeon.

Given the rare quiet and the expectation of our typical noise this afternoon, I shall attempt to have a nap.

Thursday, 2 July, 1870
(continued--late)

It was a good thing I had that nap. The afternoon and evening brought many challenges to my composure.

I was attempting to locate Edward to try for a little Arithmetic, but I was thwarted by a significant influx of callers.

We also received word from both Mr Caine and from Dr Wilson that Lt Wooster had been arrested! The explanation was that, during our investigation of Sentenza, when the party met up with Rip Chigwidgeon, the latter was embroiled in a melee, and one of his several opponents was sneaking up behind him with a knife. Lt Wooster, with his sense of fair play, found that too unsporting and had carefully shot the knife out of the wielder's hand.

This man has now come forward to charge the Lieutenant with assault. We are left to wonder why this is coming up at this late date. One might suspect that this fellow has been put up to this by someone among the League's enemies, just to cause inconvenience to us.

In any case, Lt Wooster has been put in the wealthy man's version of gaol. He is perfectly comfortable there and has asked us not to trouble to get him out. I just hope we won't need his particular talents while he's unavailable.

Mr Ramsay arrived before tea, and had a conference with Miss Whitnell and Mrs Cuthbert.

Young Nigel Graham arrived and was delivered to the parlour, where Miss Whitnell, Mr Ramsay, and Mrs Cuthbert interviewed him about the dreams he'd been having. Miss Chigwidgeon was notably absent from that meeting.

I was pleased to receive Mr Frazer--I had invited him to come to tea, but with his work on the Clarendon case and the Moriarty Organisation, I hadn't thought he would be able to come.

We had a quiet chat in the Music room...I had to leave the door open, since all the other ladies of the house we elsewhere occupied. Mr Frazer brought me a lovely gift from his travels on the Continent--three illustrated volumes by a Frau Greibel: "Flora of Bavaria, Bohemia, and the Thuringer Forest." They are beautifully illustrated.

Mr Frazer seemed so surprised that I can't read German, I was rather embarrassed--as though I'd admitted that I didn't know something common and basic.

Fortunately, he has agreed to tutor me in German. It has never occurred to me that I might need to know German, but apparently I do. I hope Miss Whitnell will consent to join me. It would hardly be suitable to work privately for any length of time, Miss Whitnell likes languages, and her respectability and discretion can be relied upon.

I also took the opportunity to ask Mr Frazer about the Moriarty Organisation and the splinters thereof. He has been working on this for some time, and his orderly presentation of information did much to clarify the thoughts which had me so perplexed yesterday.

Inspector MacGregor arrived as expected. Once Mr Frazer and I finished our conference, I heard that he had arrived and asked Graves to bring him in. It was slightly embarrassing to think that Graves regarded my visit with Mr Frazer as private, and didn't bring the Inspector in immediately upon his arrival. I do not wish to dwell upon that issue at this time, however.

Our tea guests continued to appear. We received a visit from our new French associate--Henri du Batier, Marquis de Montmerial de Dragulan (I looked him up). He was hoping for a reference from Inspector MacGregor regarding his whereabouts last night.

Apparently, a rival of his was murdered last night, right in the area of the Criterion. A handkerchief featuring the Marquis' monogram was found by the body. Of course, we know where the Marquis was (with us) for much of the evening, but a hanky and a known rivalry is powerful evidence to the commoner sort of policeman.

The victim of this case was a prominent French diplomat (and known spy) named La Rothiere. Proximity to our activities and to our Tall Man suggest a possible connexion with our other case. We shall have to investigate anyhow, to clear the Marquis without revealing too much of our own activities.

After a time we were joined by Miss Whitnell, Mr Ramsay, and Mrs Cuthbert. Miss Chigwidgeon had joined young Mr Graham in the parlour, and was expected to give him the news of her engagement. Graves was discreetly nearby, but the rest had cleared out to try and make this sensitive discussion less painful.

A little later, Miss Chigwidgeon rejoined us, looking properly solemn and thoughtful. These matters are never easy (or if they are, the girl must be a vile sort of coquette, which Miss Chigwidgeon certainly is not). Mr Cuthbert volunteered to see young Graham home. All the rest of us sat down to supper.

Miss Whitnell had a class to attend at the St Jerome Chapterhouse, Alchemy, if you can believe it.

Sir Cosmo called the rest of us, including our guests, together after supper for a briefing. He and Edward and George had apparently spent the morning with Sir Sebastian and others, discussing the Moriarty Organisation (not Engagement business after all). I was glad that I had spent time going over the matter with Mr Frazer. How refreshing to not be wholly ignorant.

I will attempt to bring together the statements of all parties from their respective researches, starting with the summary of factions of the Moriarty Organisation, as described by Mr Frazer:

1) the Billingham family: a clannish group of lower-class criminals based in the East End. Absorbed by the "Old Cobb," and in turn by the Young Cobb, J Moriarty. Their leaders are presumably looking to control the profits of not only their original areas, but the rest of the network as well.

2) the Molloy family: another, newer, criminal clan. Originally Irish and now based in the Southwerk area. They have been rivals of the Billinghams for some time, and without Moriarty to force them to work together, their fighting is increasingly ferocious.

3) Smugglers: Moriarty apparently controlled an extensive network, smuggling opium, spirits, and tobacco into England. Also includes control of Hashish farms in the Near East. This group has the most obvious motive for murdering Lord Clarendon, as his office would be monitoring their movements and assets abroad.

4) the "Cobb Loyalists:" this includes Master Tandu, the "Accountant", and a large number of Thuggees, and a woman known as "the Widow" (Mr Frazer mentioned Miranda Derwent as a possible identity for this person). These believe strongly that Moriarty will come back from the dead (as he has allegedly done before), and they wish to maintain his organisation as he left it until he returns.

5) the "Katayani" (a Hindi word meaning "Widows"): This is a group of perhaps 12 sorceresses who consider themselves jointly the widows of the Young Cobb (what sort of arrangement that suggests is too revolting to contemplate). They believe that Moriarty is, in fact, dead, not to return, and that they are the rightful claimants to his authority. Their assets and abilities are unclear to me.

6) the "Left Hand of Kali": a group similar in leanings to the Katayani, but operating out of the East End and the India Docks. They are focused, at present, on looking for "the Heir," or perhaps on supporting a particular candidate as Heir.

There are the six factions identified by Mr Frazer so far. I admit that I still don't understand the Cult-type factions at all. What are they hoping to accomplish? I think that Master Tandu, at least, has a fanatic devotion to Moriarty and thinks service to Moriarty is essential to his soul's well being (which is a sort of self-interest, after all).

I have no idea what the other cult-faction leaders are about. Are they looking for personal power, or glory? Are they just cloaking worldly ambition for money and comforts in religious-sounding threats and promises in order to control weak-minded followers? I may never understand this whole nonsensical issue.

Meanwhile, we have also talked over the various leads that Inspector MacGregor and the other police are looking after.

1) Regarding witness descriptions of the Tall Man, and the corroborating evidence of his hand- and foot-prints on the drainpipe outside Lord Clarendon's office:

Inspector MacGregor has identified 3 known criminals who more-or-less suit the description. Two of them have been interviewed, but neither one seems a likely candidate. The third was transported to Australia for embezzling, so we will have to await more information.

Of course, the Mystics' description and our later sighting of Edward's purported father tell us exactly what he looks like, but that is not viable evidence.

I have the impression that our Tall Man has not been about London until just recently. Mr Frazer, whose knowledge of the criminal underworld appears to be encyclopaedic, did not recognise him, and Edward has apparently not seen him before. I will have to check this inference. It is possible that he is the transported embezzler, or that he has simply not been active in this area at all ere now.

2)Regarding the wagon and horses which witnesses reported the Tall Man using for his escape:

Inspector MacGregor's colleague, one Inspector Trump, traced a wagon and team meeting the description to a brewery and a particular driver. The driver in question is Charlie Billingham, a scion of the Billingham family. Other evidence against him includes:
-A stray paper apparently from Lord Clarendon's office found in the back or the wagon he had been driving that day;
-An unusually large savings account for a delivery driver;
-His delivery route on the day of the Clarendon Murder would put him very handy to the scene at the appropriate time.
Inspector Trump seems eager to convict him, but Inspector MacGregor disagrees.

Inspector MacGregor has learned a bit about him, in particular that he has been trying to break away from his family's criminal business, on account of falling in love with a Molloy girl. The two of them are apparently trying to live a decent upstanding life now, away from their feuding families. Hmm, very touching and sympathetic.

I don't know if it has occurred to the Inspector that those with loved ones to protect are the most vulnerable to extortion, and he might have been enlisted unwillingly to some family business, or to serve some other faction. The money, at least, can be accounted for innocently since the young couple are reportedly saving up their pennies in a most admirable fashion.

I also pointed out that it is possible that the Tall Man either planned his murder to coincide with Charlie Billingham's delivery route or took advantage of the nearest wagon to hide in, without the collusion of the driver.

3) Regarding the La Rothiere Murder:
-The cause of death was a blow to the head. The body was found at the corner of Pall Mall and Haymarket.

-We still have insufficient information to draw any meaningful conclusions about whether our Tall Man is involved. We only know that he was in the area, because we saw him.

-Charlie Billingham was also in the area on his delivery rounds, which might suggest involvement, intentional or not.

-It is apparent that someone is intentionally incriminating the Marquis (the handkerchief). The Marquis said that he had left his handkerchief in his coat after our adventure at the Black Lion, and discarded them, both items being irreparably soiled by his immersion in the Sewer.

I promised Miss Whitnell that I would tell her all about the evening's discussion, since she was out all evening. Now my information is fairly coherently recorded, I should be able to give her a useful report.

The final notes of the evening before I begin work on outlining the next paper:

Miss Chigwidgeon looked quite perturbed after our briefing, and she was folding and unfolding a piece of paper. I was fairly sure she was suffering over young Graham's broken heart, and thought to offer my practised ear for her to unburden herself to. She told me that Nigel seemed to take the news well, though offered unconvincingly bright congratulations (impressive restraint and civility for so young a man).

Alas, he also dropped a piece of paper as he left, and Miss Chigwidgeon picked it up. She showed it me, and it proved to be a draft of his journal of dreams which included some of his fervent feelings for Miss Chigwidgeon. It is hard to say if he dropped it completely by accident. I tried not to say any placating nonsense, but I know he'll get over it.

Apparently he will be undertaking studies with the St Jerome's crowd. Good thing, too, if the snatches of his dreams that I've read about prove to be prophetic (did I really just write that?). Some of them are extremely chilling.

Mrs Cuthbert has promised to try to meditate upon his future, hoping to reassure Miss Chigwidgeon. I'm sure I wouldn't want to know my future this way.

Thursday 2 June, 1870
(continued--very late)

I got a fair amount of work done on my outline and was just contemplating sleep when I heard an anxious rustling that sounded like Mrs Cuthbert.

Mr Cuthbert had just been dragged home by Mr Caine and Mr Salmalin. He reported blearily that he had taken young Graham out "to drown his sorrows." Mr Graham was no longer with Mr Cuthbert.

When I went down to investigate, Mrs Cuthbert was agitating to go looking for him. Her efforts at viewing the future had apparently produced a terrifying nightmare about a number of our League being horribly sacrificed in a ritual intended to bring a reincarnated Moriarty into the world.

She was sure that Nigel was in danger, so she, Miss Chigwidgeon, and Miss Whitnell all loaded into a carriage with Dr Wilson, Sir Cosmo, Caine and Salmalin to go find him. Since they would be using some magic viewing to find him, I was excused from the adventure.

When they returned, I learned that they had located him with Mrs Cuthbert's little mirror, and had seen him asleep, in a compromising situation with an apparent prostitute. The expedition was aborted, except that Caine was dispatched to retrieve him to safety with his usual discretion.

I shall have to watch out for Mr Cuthbert. I should have known he would be a dangerous influence, but he is asleep so much of the time, I have been lulled into thinking him harmless. I knew he must be what we politely call a "Man of the World,' but I hadn't thought he would have quite such Low Tastes. It is always the amiable ones who do the most damage.

Friday, 3 June, 1870

We have made some progress in our investigations today. Some of this was due to thorough investigation of evidence, and some was due to a very bold attack on our household by our prime suspect.

We completed our usual morning activities of breakfast, and lessons, then a pleasant dinner at midday. Mrs Cuthbert, Miss Chigwidgeon, Miss Whitnell, Emily and I set out with Mr Frazer and Inspector MacGregor to view the murder sites and examine evidence.

Our first stop was the corner of Pall Mall and Haymarket, where La Rothiere was found. It was useful to get a general look at the area, though of course any tracks or similar sort of tangible evidence was long since trampled.

Miss Whitnell and Mrs Cuthbert conjured a vision of the victim loitering there at night, seeking a to hire a companion. At some point, the Tall Man came up to him and struck him on the head with a cane, twice. He then wiped the cane with a handkerchief and dropped that atop the body. This information mostly told us that the Tall Man left no identifiable trace of himself as evidence, and that no witnesses were nearby. It also tells us that Charlie Billingham does not appear to be involved with this crime.

Our next site was the Brewery, where we examined the wagon and horses which had incriminated Charlie Billingham. I found no sign of anyone having hidden in the wagon, but it would be difficult to find such traces given the smell of the beer and spirits and the general scuffing of a delivery wagon.

My colleagues conjured another vision, which showed Charlie Billingham on his appointed rounds, no sign of the Tall Man all the day of Clarendon's murder or the night of La Rothiere's. The Tall Man did make an appearance later, however, coming into the warehouse after work hours and putting a piece of paper (presumably the incriminating Foreign Office document) into the wagon.

The only other point of note was that on the night of the Pall Mall murder, Mr Billingham offered a ride to a young boy named Howard, one of Edward's acquaintances. This boy was carrying a large load of books and papers. This story, which Billingham had included in his statement, has been further verified by the boy and by Edward, who received the load of papers from Howard.

Our final stop was to the Metropolitan Police Station, where we were ensconced in Inspector MacGregor's office. Mr Frazer brought the significant items of evidence for our perusal.

The Handkerchief found on La Rothiere had no trace of sewage on it, thus supporting the Marquis' innocence. He was seen by so many witnesses at the recital and the reception, then he was with us until the wee hours of the morning. If he had committed the murder after leaving us, I don't think he would have had time to return to his home to get a fresh handkerchief. The clothing and hanky he had with him would have been thoroughly saturated with sewage.

The other item we examined was the paper found in Charlie Billingham's delivery wagon. It looked official enough, except that the paper it was written on is not the same as that used by the Foreign Office. We deduced that it was a copy made expressly to be planted as misleading evidence.

I begin to see that our villain specialises misdirection of suspicion.

When our party arrived back in Charles Street, we were greeted by an horrific scene. A charred hulk of a wagon smouldered near the house, complete with the remains of its driver and one badly injured horse. Miss Chigwidgeon, in particular was beside herself, and rushed out of the carriage to throw her arms about Sir Cosmo, who appeared somewhat battered but standing. George was just coming 'round, out on the lawn, and Graves and Sir Cosmo were helping him up.

I'm happy to say that none of our cohorts was seriously injured, but sorry to say that the villain escaped.

Here is what I have been told:

Sir Cosmo and Edward were working in the carriage house on that infernal boat. Salmalin and George were on watch around the property. Graves and the regular footmen were about their duties in the house.

Apparently, the Tall Man managed to slip through Salmalin and George's vigilance. He appeared at the carriage house and called to Edward (as Edward, mind you, not as Wilhelmina).

He introduced himself as Claude Moriarty, Jerrold's son and Edward's father. He proposed an alliance with Sir Cosmo. He indicated that he wished to bring all the factions back to order and command them as his father had. He indicated that he would eliminate those with particular vendettas against the League (from this I suppose that he has not won any support from the "Cobb Loyalists").

Sir Cosmo and Edward report that they stalled somewhat before answering "no" to the offer. The ungentlemanly C Moriarty then attacked the two of them with no warning. Fortunately, during the stalling, Salmalin had managed to slip into the carriage house unnoticed while George made distracting noises.

Well, a fierce fight erupted. I can only be impressed that this villain was able to escape the combined efforts of Sir Cosmo, Edward, Salmalin, and George.

C Moriarty broke away toward the wagon (which is quite similar to Charlie Billingham's delivery wagon), and Edward fired his rocket gun at the wagon to prevent his escape. Unfortunately, the wagon's brewery markings were not entirely false, and a wagonload of spirits can make quite a conflagration.

Moriarty was able to retrieve the uninjured horse and ride away. So it was to such a scene we returned, and just as the police were arriving, too.

Miss Chigwidgeon looked horrified when Sir Cosmo mentioned that Miss Pinker was expected at any moment for tea. Oh, dear.

I tried to have a look at the wagon, but it was too burnt up to offer much evidence aside from the simple fact of its existence. I was delighted to find that Sir Cosmo had knocked the attacker's hat quite off his head (the hole in the hat tells me that the impudent blackguard nearly got his comeuppance). I was able to examine it, to get some idea of the fellow's smell, I made a point not to handle it myself, so as to preserve its utility for Miss Whitnell's sort of analysis later on.

Miss Pinker, bless her, scarcely turned a hair at the remnant of smoke and carnage still about when she arrived. She spoke at some length with Miss Chigwidgeon about plans for an Engagement dinner party (which will be relatively small, at Miss Chigwidgeon's request). Miss Pinker offered Miss Chigwidgeon the use of the late Lady Cowperthwaite's wedding dress, and also gave her a very sweet little teacup and saucer.

I could not help but be gratified by Miss Pinker's very convincing warmth in her welcoming gestures. The overtures were not at all lost on Miss Chigwidgeon either. I begin to have hope for the match.

I have a little time before supper, and I have gotten hold of Nigel Graham's account of his dreams, which I have heretofore read only sporadically. I hope reading them will shed some light on the ideas of my magical comrades.

Saturday, June 4, 1870
(very early morning)

Our party is settled for the night in an inn in the town of Gravesend near the mouth of the River. We seem destined to endure two or more incidents of uproar per diem.

No sooner had we begun to settle for supper than a fellow came panting up to the doorstep with urgent news of Dr Wilson and the Marquis. I should mention that the two of them had gone out very early this morning on an experimental project involving trying to photograph rockets in flight.

This fellow, an assistant to Dr Wilson, had gone out with them with the duty of firing the rocket at the appropriate moment, while the Marquis and Dr Wilson floated above in an hot-air balloon.

This fellow said that there had been some strange accident, and the balloon operator had fallen out of the balloon's basket to his death. The assistant reported that he had somehow been knocked out and did not know what had become of his employer.

Mrs Cuthbert used her little mirror and saw them in the basket, adrift. We set out to try to intercept them and bring them safely to ground.

Edward called on an acquaintance of his who operates a tugboat on the River, who agreed to convey us downriver to find them.

We located them, and Miss Whitnell was able to bring them to the ground by some astonishing magical procedure. I had to stand at the extreme end of the small boat to give her as little interference as possible, but that was all to the good, because one of the effects she produced was a sort of large whirling wave. She was soaked, but I remained mostly dry.

A final note for the evening: While we were all aboard the tugboat on the river, I overheard a quiet conversation between Salmalin and Miss Chigwidgeon (Miss Whitnell was within sight, of course).

She asked him boldly if he had any feelings for her (oh, dear). He answered (with amazing composure) that he had, but that he was not resentful of her match with Sir Cosmo, and that it was all a part of the path his goddess had set him on. Very interesting.

Proceed to A riotous night

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