5 April 1870
<Later>
There is to be no rest. I had just finished the above entry when Sir Cosmo summoned me to a meeting in the Library. It had occurred to him that this night might be best spent searching Madame Zephyrine's shop. I made arrangements to have Tattvik take over Miss Sinclair's packing– I confess to a double motive in that– I felt Tattvik would be much safer at Miss Sinclair's former employer's house than with me, and considering that Sir Cosmo arranged for Lady Ottline to escort her there and back I feel as assured of her safety as I can in London, also Miss Sinclair is the only one of us to have been in Madame's shop and her assistance was most needed.
Our party assembled we boarded the barouche, and with Edward driving, set off to the shop. As we pulled up in front of the deserted store, Miss Sinclair heard a carriage go by, turn a corner and stop. I asked Edward to stop picking the lock and then was distracted by a hedge of thorns that appeared to be encircling the shop. I'm afraid I spoke rather more sharply than was necessary to get Edward away from the building. I am nearly certain that none of the others could see the hedge but it seemed to me that it must be removed before we entered the building. I concentrated, imagining the really robust hedge clippers Stewart uses in landscaping our grounds at home as well as some sturdy gloves– suddenly, the hedge was gone and I was exhausted. I felt as if I had just climbed a very steep hill or returned from an entire day of hiking. I went to lean against the barouche when a woman who got her Uncle to introduce her as Mrs. Elethea Cuthbert came up to me asking if I was all right.
Thank goodness I was wearing my corset– with it I was able to pretend more health than I actually felt. The Uncle was Mr. Spencer Cuthbert, Wooster recognized him as a well know big-game hunter. Sir Cosmo gave me his arm and escorted me into the shop. Edward, Miss Namaste, and Miss Sinclair were already inside– Miss Sinclair had her work cut out for her trying to keep Edward from picking up and making off with every trifle in sight.
I suggested to Sir Cosmo that an invitation to tea might give us time to talk to the Cuthbert's in a less hectic setting and while he went outside to take care of that I searched for a chair to rest upon for a moment. I was distracted by Miss Namaste calling out from the back that everything was all right and rushed to find her standing in front of a beautify reliquary, Indian in origin I believe, but with none of the proper household gods enshrined in it. Miss Namaste found a secret compartment with a book of magic in it. Edward scooped it up and we continued our search. I looked to see if there were living quarters on the premises and just as I found some stairs behind a tapestry who should come bursting in but Mrs. Cuthbert! She was calling for "Vic" and saying she'd been asked to help "Vic". Miss Sinclair blocked her from entering into the back of the shop and asked Miss Namaste to accompany me up the stairs. Up we went and no sooner had I reached the top I heard a loud crash and found Miss Namaste in a pile of skirts with a cupboard open beside her and a secret compartment behind that!
We called down the stairs to say we were all right but that did not stop Miss Sinclair or Mrs Cuthbert from charging up the stairs to our rescue. I was just about to load the books into a petticoat tied into a sack for that purpose when Miss Sinclair signalled for silence. Threats were being made against Wilson, Wooster, and Caine (who were outside keeping watch). I noticed the lights dim on the street and remembered that William had taught me always to turn off lights in a house if there were gunmen outside– I asked Miss Namaste to help me shut off the gas-lights and we all went to the window. While we were all trying to listen we heard a sound in the next room like someone sliding down a rope! Mrs. Cuthbert confessed that she had a small gun with her but was not an accurate shot in such close quarters. Miss Namaste surprised me by admitting she knew how to use a gun. Mrs. Cuthbert handed over the two-shot and Miss Sinclair and I took up positions out of the direct line of fire but near the door so we could grab them if Miss Namaste missed.
She didn't miss but the felon managed to duck back into the other room. I fear I warned him by yelling ‘stop' or some such nonsense but it didn't seem quite fair just to shoot at him with no warning. I did hear him say something to Miss Namaste about being careful or someone might get hurt– Imagine my surprise to realize he was speaking in Hindi!
All four of us made it through the door, skirts and all, and the thief got tangled in Miss Namaste's skirts and went down. Having no more shots in the gun and no other real weapons we sat on him while tearing up some petticoats to secure him with (I was loathe to use his own rope because I have seen many tricks that can be done with rope and feared he might escape).
Miss Sinclair and Mrs Cuthbert hauled our prisoner downstairs I carried the books and Miss Namaste kept and eye on the prisoner.
We found the men out in the street. Wooster and Wilson had both been shot– Wilson was hurt quite badly but still alive. Wooster had taken a bullet to the upper arm both had already been seen to by the time we made it out onto the street.
Sir Cosmo and Edward had a Captain Hartley prisoner. He was apparently the ringleader of the gang of thugs that attack the men of our party and the only one left alive. It appears that Mr. Wilson and Mr. Cuthbert are extremely good shots– there were blood and bodies and thanks to Mr. Wilson's rocket gun– parts of bodies all over the street.
With the addition of our two prisoners there were too many to fit in the barouche. Also, Sir Cosmo felt it imperative that someone report in to Our Employer at once. Mr. Cuthbert offered to escort Miss Sinclair to the Offices and we finally sorted ourselves out– on party to go in the Cuthbert carriage and stop on the way at the Office and the rest of us (including the prisoners) to head straight for Sir Cosmo's house.
Once there and reunited Miss Sinclair, Mrs Cuthbert, and I began work on the stack of books we had taken from the Residence of Madam Zephyrine. Miss Sinclair found the primary code book for decrypting incoming messages as well as the notebook Madam Zephyrine was using to record her decrypted messages– unfortunately her notes were cryptic in themselves being more in the nature of notes to herself rather than word by word transcriptions. Miss Sinclair began to take the undated entries and try to tie them to known events so we could more accurately interpret MZ's notes. Mrs. Cuthbert began work on the three mystical texts we had acquired. They turned out to be fairly straightforward publically available books.
Mrs. Cuthbert seems to be a spiritualist and confessed that she had come to Madam Zephyrine's as a result of two visions– one that showed her at the centre of dark magic and one that showed the death of Lord Singleton– a member of parliament who did pass away recently. Mrs. Cuthbert claims it was murder and some of the details she relates make his death sound like that of Mr. A. Milford. It occurred to me that we could ask Our Employer to confirm is Singleton was a known agent of one of the factions involved in this matter.
There is so much we do not know and so little time to find the answers.
Tattvik and Lady Ottoline returned around midnight. Lady Ottoline breezed in and out again stopping just long enough to greet Sir Cosmo and Graves before returning to her school. Tattvik shared a cup of tea with me before heading to bed and confided that Lady Ottoline and her school were nice enough but a bit strange. Miss Sinclair requested that Tattvik leave the unpacking for her so of all of us Tattvik probably got the most sleep.
An now to the part that I am not very proud of– at one point during our researches I found I had a questions for our prisoners (being held in the cellar under close watch by Caine and Graves) and came upon Sir Cosmo just about to torture Captain Hartley with electricity. I attempted to intervene as did Miss Sinclair but I am afraid we were harder on the fellow than Sir Cosmo ever would have been. Now admittedly, he did threaten to kill Wooster and his men did shoot at ours with the intent to harm but it is my distinct feeling that torture does not yield true answers– just answers that the victim thinks you want to hear.
Miss Sinclair put Captain Hartley in the corner after a good talking too (and mouthwash with soap with my assistance). He was already possessed of a wounded arm and shoulder and a swollen nose. Hartley did indicate that he was more afraid of his master than of us and that his master had ways of killing him painfully and making him rise again to be forever tortured. A few days ago I would have considered him mad. But given what I have seen recently who knows what might be possible in this world... I did try a theological argument to see if I could persuade Hartley to at least attempt confession and redemption of his soul for if Hartley is going to die it would be better to die absolved and cleansed of his sin– then it might not be possible for his master to reclaim him from death.
God is a powerful ally.
I was then distracted by our Thuggee prisoner, whose name I learned was Salmalin, and who said he was the hand of Kali, who confirmed that he and Hartley were working for the same master but were not on the same errand. Salmalin was after the books Miss Namaste found. We had a very interesting conversation in Hindi. He was born in London but is a Native Speaker none the less. We had a very interesting conversation about Kali, fate, and reincarnation and I was able to get him to divulge a few bits of information (unfortunately not what he had said to upset Miss Namaste– I must make time to talk with her she seems quite distressed). He confirmed that there are at least four factions searching for Madame Zephyrine's information. The British, the French, the Prussians, and his master who is apparently unaffiliated. He also mentioned that their may be factions within factions– something I had not considered.
During this time Edward had escaped Miss Sinclair's attention and started ticking Captain Hartley with a feather duster. I am afraid I did not notice until Hartley cried out that "he hoped that the Cobb would get Edward and make him pay." At this point Sir Cosmo hustled us all out of the basement on the pretext of tea. He felt this was a significant revelation as it tied several pieces of information together.
The Young Cobb (who is only called that because he was younger than the Old Cobb about forty years ago) died recently only to have his body stolen right out the Graham and Son's Mortuary– Young Graham told Miss Namaste the story just last night! Apparently it was confirmed by Our Employer and they had speculated that Young Cobb had been raised from the dead by some nefarious means! I know this reads like one of the penny dreadfuls that Miss Namaste reads but Sir Cosmo does not seem to be prone to exaggeration. Perhaps Young Cobb is master of both Salmalin and Hartley.
After our impromptu meeting in the kitchen Edward was firmly sent to bed. Only to have to have Graves go out to the shed and remind Edward that working (read pounding) on his ‘sinkable boat' in the middle of the night was not likely to endear him to the neighbours. Mr. Cuthbert was already asleep in the drawing room so Sir Cosmo gave rooms to Mr. and Mrs. Cuthbert. Miss Sinclair headed for her own room. I stayed up, keeping Miss Namaste with me for assistance while I tired to convoke by arguments and persuasion, Salmalin to see the error in serving his master. During the conversation I did learn that he had been pulled off another assignment to search for a missing girl– the daughter of a woman of questionable reputation– who had run away from home. He had not found Miss Wilhelmina before being reassigned to steal the books we now had in our keeping.
It is now past three in the morning and I must get some sleep. I have made no headway on Madame Zephyrine's personal code and journals and must face that task with a clear head.
06 April 1870
I got a few hours of sleep and awoke only a little later than usual. Tattvik was already up dressed and had had breakfast but the time I made it downstairs.
I dreamt of my Aunt again last night. I tired to thank her for her help with the thorn thicket but she brushed aside my thanks saying that it was mostly my own doing. She then said that the amulet alone was not enough and that I must get some training. Since until two days ago I considered all spiritualists and magicians to be charlatans catering to a credulous public I have no idea who I could go to in this world for help. I asked Auntie for some suggestions but she said being dead made it hard to make useful recommendations since people change and die– or did she say die and change? Regardless, she finally remembered that there was some help she could give– there was a book she left with the intention that I have it. When I asked her for it she seemed surprised that I did not have it. I told her about father's solicitor giving me the amulet and a key with no lock. Aunt Hethelyn then remembered that she had left the book in the cottage but then couldn't remember where the cottage was. She did remember that it was on some family property. As the dream was fading I asked her what discipline I should study. She said every sorceress finds her own way. That brought me up short. Me a sorceress?
When I awoke not to long past my usual time I sent a letter off to father's solicitor's office in London asking for an urgent appointment.
Over breakfast, I learned from Sir Cosmo that a report had come in from Our Employer that he was engaged in some delicate and strategic work but that a team had been sent to my father's house and that my mother and the household appeared to be well. Sir Cosmo also mentioned that he had briefed the prisoners that Our Employer had done some research and felt that there was a high probability that our sorcerers could make certain that, once dead, Captain Hartley would remain dead. This has not had any noticeable effect on Hartley's demeanor.
Upon hearing the word ‘sorcerer' from the lips of such a learned man as Sir Cosmo my heart skipped in my chest. I confessed my dream conversation with my Aunt and asked him if he knew anyone trustworthy that might be able to assist me. I remember now as I write this that one of my Aunt's warnings was that I could exhaust myself unknowing and perish. This lends even more urgency to my research.
Sir Cosmo suggested I talk to Mrs. Cuthbert.
She and I did spend all morning working side by side in the library but I found it very difficult to bring up the subject with her– even though– or perhaps because– she seems to be the real thing. She went off to her room to ‘ search' for the red-haired Wilhelmina. Her search for Wilhelmina gave her only a vision of the girls mother searching an area of London Mrs. Cuthbert was not familiar with.
On the principle of leaving no stone unturned I asked Edward if he knew of the girl Salmalin spoke of Edward is about her age and according to Graves has spent much time out on the streets. The way he shinnied up Miss Sinclair' s drainpipe the other night give credence to this– as does his quick work with Madame Zephyrine's locks last night– was it only last night?
To my utter surprise, he indicated that he did know a girl of that name and description. Edward's method of conversation is somewhat disorienting– leaving many details to be guessed at, and who knows how many red-headed Wilhelmina's there are in London, but I did ask him to invite her to come meet us. I tried not to pressure Edward too much and as Mrs. Cuthbert pointed out, she has been eluding the Thuggee hand of Kali and any other minions of the Master he serves for some time and she may be safer wherever she is.
To distract Edward from his unhealthy interest in Captain Hartley I allowed him to help me while I worked on deciphering Madam's journal. To my surprise and consternation, Edward presented me with a gaudy ring I identified as having belonged to Madame Zephyrine. I put it in a dish and warned Edward about touching the personal belongings of a woman known to use poisons. I made him was his hands and loaned him a pair of my gloves to wear while working with me on her books. I do not envy Miss Sinclair her newfound employment though I do confess that I am enjoying Edward's company. I believe part of the reason the William left me– in addition to being an adulterer– was that we never had children together– of course the fact that he was seldom home makes me doubt that it was entirely my fault.
I'm afraid I was quite unable to make progress on the journal and I spent the morning alternating between researching my own books on cryptography, and talking to Salmalin trying to get him to see his way clear to assisting us. It is difficult, as I do not know as much about Kali and her followers as I would wish. Miss Namaste was some help but even she confessed bafflement at some of his arguments.
It was a frustrating morning Miss Sinclair finally arose, and took charge of Edward but then Miss Namaste broke one of the salamander terrariums. I had tea with her while Edward recaptured the salamanders and cleaned up the laboratory. Graves was finding a dictionary of old french words for me and it seemed a good time for a break. I tried to get her to tell me what Salmalin had said that upset her so last night (and I am afraid she is still upset given the number of near misses and outright accidents she has been the cause of this morning). She gave me a very vague answer and skillfully diverted my attention so that it is only as I write this that I realize she did not answer at all. I hope she knows she can come to me– knowing so little of her background I can only speculate how she came to be living in London. I am glad she has found a patron in Sir Cosmo. He seems to value and esteem her in an entirely appropriate way.
After tea Mrs. Cuthbert came to me and asked if her visioning powers could be of any use in helping me break the code in the journal. Willing to give anything a try at this point, I asked her to try to focus on Madame when she was creating the code and see if she could discern any clues from that. I continued my work and about an hour latter– and still no progress– she returned saying she was unable to see Madame creating the code but that she had had a clear vision of Madame writing back and forth on the paper. With that she mimed someone writing the boustrophedon technique– the one thing I had forgotten to check for! With that information and a little more time Madam's code was revealed and I was able to make the key. Then Mrs. Cuthbert and I began the tedious work of transcribing the journal into comprehensible English.
At lunch we all sat down and shared our mornings progress. We fell to discussing the journals and their contents. Unfortunately, I had little to report about Madam's personal journal as it is very personal and I am sorry to say, rather sordid. I am hoping more information of use will be revealed as I work my way through the book. At some point the conversation returned to Madam's decoded messages– especially the entry referring to the escape of ‘NL' from the French and the instructions Madam– and possibly every French agent had to Eliminate him rather than have him fall into the hands of another agency. Someone at the table, I don't remember who, made the very sensible connection that NL might be Ned Land, late of the ship Abraham Lincoln and, if the papers are to be believed, former captive of the now infamous Nemo!
We all returned to our labours. Graves very kindly taking a tray up to Wooster and Wilson who are resting and, we hope, will make a full recovery. It occurred to me then that Wilson, being from the Americas might know Mr. Land or know where someone of his background would reside while in London. Unfortunately Wilson has only be in the country a few days himself and he gave me the strangest look when I asked him if he had ever met Land while in America.
Mrs. Cuthbert retired to her room (I passed her on the stairs as I went down to the library). I talked for a few minutes with Salmalin– increasing my vocabulary but not really learning anything new. A few pages of the journal later, Mrs. Cuthbert returned in a fluster claiming to have seen Land in an area of London she recognized and stating that the vision was happening now– she heard Big Ben strike both in her vision and in her room. Graves helped us find a map– Sir Cosmo has some wonderfully detailed maps of London and the train system in his study– a room I had not been until now. Mrs. Cuthbert's descriptions of various landmarks made it quite easy to mark out a relatively small area in which to search.
She and I reported this to Sir Cosmo. We were all unsure of what to do next. The area of London that Land is in is not one that I we could travel in unnoticed and we did not want to reveal Land to his enemies before we could reach him. I so wanted to go with them– I feel restless after all the hours spent on Madame's journal. Unfortunately it was not to be. In the end they accepted my suggestion that Lady Ottoline might be of assistance since she seems to go wherever she pleases and is therefore remarkably unremarkable. Sir Cosmo supported this idea– as he has known ‘Otto' as he calls her, to go to that district in the past to rescue girls from a life of exploitation. With that it was decided– Mrs. Cuthbert, Mr. Cuthbert, Sir Cosmo, and Miss Namaste will go with Lady Ottline and try to contact Lane.
Wooster and Wilson will continue their rest and healing– the doctor came this morning and did a more professional bandaging job on the two of them. Miss Sinclair and Edward will continue his schooling– Miss Sinclair picked out a room that is to be the classroom once the equipment she requires arrives also, Edward has chores to finish around the house and grounds– and I hope we have made it clear to him that he is not to leave the grounds unescorted since he was the target of the awful and messy events of last night. I will continue my work on the journals.
It occurs to me that if I am to stay here for any length of time, it would be wise to get a tour of the house and it's defences– based on my experience with the umbrella concealed rocket there may be many things around the house that are not what they seem. I will ask Sir Cosmo before he leaves this afternoon if Graves may give Tattvik and me a tour. I have hardly seen anything of her today...
Proceed to '3. Trouble on the Thames'
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