Today finds us all out of sorts, quarreling amongst ourselves, working at cross purposes, worried, tired, and variously injured.

I shared my idea-- about dissuading the lesser criminals hired by those Shadow people-- with Mrs Salmalin, and she agreed that it could be effective. She spoke to Lady Cowperthwaite, and asked if she could pass the word to her father. We also met with Mr O'Flaherty, who had come to Charles Street to request Mrs Cuthbert's particular assistance.

Mrs Salmalin is on her very last day frock—all the others having been severely or irreparably damaged in recent days—so we went to the dressmakers. Mrs Cuthbert came with us, and we dragooned Mr O'Flaherty into coming along as well so we could have an opportunity to speak to him about my plan.

During the course of our discussion, it came out that he had received a note telling him where "the fight" would be tonight. He was trying valiantly not to tell us about this, as he thought we shouldn't get involved. Indeed, he became positively surly on the matter when pressed, but ultimately we found it out. The note did not specify a threat against Mr O'Flaherty or anyone else, but neither did it give him recourse to not participate. He felt that he had no choice. The rest of us told him he most certainly did, we didn't beat Niall Malloy and free Mr Gates at great risk only to have some other party continue the extortion!

According to Mr O'Flaherty, the note had been sealed with a spider emblem, which he did not recognise, but which suggested a faction of the Young Cobb's organisation. When I looked at the note, the hand was similar to that I had seen in some of the books in the hideaway under the Black Lion pub last year. Once we got home, I showed it to Mr Frazer, who agreed that it was probably written by the Actuary, Jerrold Moriarty's principal accountant. Mrs Cuthbert and Mrs Salmalin will perform one of their scrying rituals on the note shortly, in hopes of learning more of the Actuary's plans.

We dispatched Mr Frazer to call on Mr Maws and find out if he had been pressed as well. When he returned, he reported that Mr Maws had received a kind note from the Kent Sporting Society, thanking him for agreeing to participate in an exhibition match for the furtherance of the Art of Pugilism. So, after some various discussions, Mr O'Flaherty seemed to decide that he would go through with the match. He spent quite a bit of time in the back garden doing some entirely bizarre exercises with Mr Salmalin and Emily. Mrs Salmalin explained, sotto voce, that they were intended to assist concentration and meditation. How anyone could concentrate with all the muffled sniggering from surrounding areas is beyond me.

I was certainly not interested in attending the match. I find it revolting, frankly. How can Mr O'Flaherty and Mr Maws work together to save one another's lives, and several others as well, on Friday, then beat one another to pieces on Saturday, all with perfect complacency? If I feel moved to attack someone with my fists, I will not be likely to shake hands afterward—I only beat people when I mean it. Mr Frazer has tried to explain the purpose and meaning of Pugilism to me, but it still eludes me. I must simply try to ignore the whole thing, or I shall surely quarrel with Mr O'Flaherty. I am staying behind this evening with Mother and the babies.

We had further uproar in the house today when Mrs Salmalin discovered that Edward had been playing with the Crown artifact. The artifact had been installed in Edward's safe (which he has nicknamed "the Unsafe") as it is the most secure (i.e. most thoroughly booby-trapped) location in our establishment. Unfortunately, it is not secure from Edward himself. Not learning from the fates of Sir Matthew and Davy Hawkins, he put the crown on his head. When Mrs Salmalin learned of this, she went to inform Lady Cowperthwaite, as Sir Cosmo is not yet really awake.

Mrs Cuthbert and I both got wind of Edward's little experiment and went to investigate. Mrs Cuthbert was very alarmed by the possibility of some kind of spiritual possession. Since Mrs Cuthbert is our resident expert in this field, I agreed that her recommended precautions would be wise. Lady Cowperthwaite did not share our concerns. I was swayed by Mrs Cuthbert's agitation and I attempted to persuade Lady Cowperthwaite of the danger, but I so forgot myself that I addressed her as "my Lady," which she hates. She was instantly crystallised against any advice. Considering her own impulsive experiment in accepting the "Oracle of Abydos" into her own brain, I should not have been surprised. Lady Cowperthwaite, like Edward, can be both stubborn and impulsive. It is unfortunate that Sir Cosmo is out of action-- He is the only person who can persuade both Lady Cowperthwaite and Edward. I wonder how he does it?

Ultimately, the spirit of experimentation won out, and the catastrophes that Mrs Cuthbert feared have not come to pass (as far as we know). The Crown artifact seems to be a recording device, carrying within it a history of a priesthood of the Egyptian god Wapawet. As near as I can understand Edward's description, the wearer hears and sees the experiences of past priests. According to Mrs Cuthbert, the device seems also to make a record of each person who puts in on--now including Edward. That will be a terrible shock for some future wearer!

Despite Mrs Cuthbert's fears, Lady Cowperthwaite and Edward decided to try having Edward, now with some of the knowledge of the past priesthood installed by the crown, ask questions of the Oracle residing in Lady Cowperthwaite's brain. I left the room, thinking that this was a mystical proceeding that my presence would disrupt. However, the artifacts of Abydos seem to operate on some other principle, which is unaffected by my presence. Still, Mrs Cuthbert kept a careful watch as Edward's questioning elicited information about the function of the other artifacts. I will have to see if I can persuade Wilhelmina to explain it to me later.

(later)
The Match has reportedly gone well. Mr O'Flaherty won, though I understand that he can barely move due to the injuries he sustained in some 91 rounds. I hate to think of poor Mr Maws' condition. What a waste of energy! What if we need Mr O'Flaherty in the next few days, only he has squandered his strength in this ridiculous "sport?"

Sunday, 6 August 1871

I am quite choking with fury.

The League has obtained information, both by Scrying and by Police information, that the Comte Montelimar may have gone to ground in Gravesend. Everyone was set on going to find him immediately. I was just summoning Violet to prepare the babies to go with us, since I can't leave them for more than an hour or two without awkward lactation incidents. Then the Inspector Forbade me to go! The presumption astounded me. It's not as though I would get into the thick of a fight, I'm not a fool. I should simply be on hand if my skills might be needed. But the Inspector was adamant, and no one, none of my trusted colleagues, not even my husband, would gainsay him. Lady Cowperthwaite gave me an acerbic comment combining sympathy and smugness.

It's not as though I will be safer here at the house--that nasty Marrut came after us right here already, what's to prevent another such attempt? And several of the strongest fighters will be off in Gravesend. George is here, but he is in no condition to fight (not that that would stop him if need arose!). Emily is here, and she is recovering well, but hardly up to her finest. If I have to shoot some attacker, I will never be able to explain it to my Mother.

I am left here to feed the babies, as though I am nothing but a milch cow. And converse idly with my Mother, while trying not to let on that I am angry and worried about my friends. Edward is staying behind in the carriage house to work on some diagrams. Perhaps we can get a bit of Greek in later, even though it is Sunday.

(later)
Lady Ffolkes has just stopped by, ostensibly on a social call, but also to convey orders from Sir Anthony. The Prussians are becoming insistent that the Swan Boat, which has been kept secure at the Shipyards, be released to them, since it is the property of a Prussian citizen (the late Heinrich von Sheckel) and should be returned to his heirs. If Edward is to complete his schematics of its systems, he must do so right now, this very afternoon.

So, I have requested a carriage to take us all to the shipyards, where I am supposedly showing my Mother around the schoolroom where I was teaching through the Spring. While I am doing that, Edward will be able to finish up the plans he has been devising. At least we should be fairly safe--none of the Shadow people will guess that we would go to the shipyard on a Sunday. Emily will be with us, to help keep Edward from going completely amok, or at any rate he will have someone to chase after him when he does.

I can't think of what else to do. I hear the carriage now.

Proceed to Hazardous and wearying work

Return to Miss Sinclair's Diary Index

Return to Main Menu

Contents this page copyright 2004 by Ieva Ohaks. All Rights Reserved.