The Mysterious Deaths at the Painted Lady Inn
Player Accounts
Sherlock Holmes, Dr
Watson & Solicitor Mr Theo Russell
Mr Russell unlocked the
front door with his spare key. “I have in this bag the Tapestry Casket. It has
been valued as being worth around seventy pounds and so is a significant portion
of the shared family estate. To force it open would in all probability reduce
its value by ten pounds. So an important part of your task is to find the key
which must still be on the premises. So this is the Tap Room. To the left is the
dining room where the bodies of Mrs and Miss Brownlea were found. To the right
is the kitchen. Mr Brownlea’s body lay half in there and half in here with his
sister-in-law seated against the far window.”
We viewed the scene. “I do
not see any footprints or indeed any dust for them to show in!” I commented. “It
is after all eleven years since the event took place!”
Mr Russell shook his head,
“We have had cleaning women in here recently. With the place going up for sale
we would have been neglecting our duty if we did not.”
“Watson, take a note of all
the items in the rooms please.” So I duly took out my notebook. Holmes did not
usually ask me to do this, so he must be expecting this case to be more than
usually involved. I wrote: Coal fired cooking range, sink, table, three chairs
and a trapdoor to the cellar. Apparently Miss Geraldine Inville died sitting in
the chair between the window and the range. Mr Benjamin Brownlea lay face down
half in the taproom and half in the kitchen. On the table were five oil lamps, a
bottle of methylated spirits, a box of Lucifers, a bottle of ink, a pen, and a
box of sand.
Sherlock took one of the
lamps and lit it. “We may well need this to search in dark places!”
“Yes, there are no lights
in the cellars for instance. There is a gas works along the street so it will be
easy for the new owners to modernise adequately.” said Mr Russell.
The dresser held some basic
crockery, cutlery, cooking pots, two bottles of Paraffin, and two books. These
were Mrs Beeton’s Book of household management and an accounts ledger. They each
had a mauve ribbon to mark the place. Mrs Beeton’s marked a recipe for Celeriac
with white sauce. The other book had household accounts up to Thursday 24th
September 1881 marked in ink. Beside the opening to the taproom was a row of
keys labelled, Courtyard, Stable, East Salon and West Salon which Mr Russell
collected. Sherlock and he descended into the cellar and called out “Drinking
glasses, crockery, a hip bath, three warming pans and five galvanised water
jugs!”
I commented “Warming pans! This must be
a very old Inn for we have been using stoneware hot water bottles since before I
was born!”
We then went back into
the Tap room which had a counter and shelves around the walls instead of tables.
There were stairs upwards and the door into the courtyard, but we went into the
Dining Room first. This was where Mrs Brownlea and her daughter Charity died
seated at one of the two tables. In a sideboard were two wine decanters, wine
glasses, two cruets sets, a box of Lucifers and an accounts ledger. A pencil
marked the place, which was for four crates of brown ale and two of porter
received on the 19th September 1881. The account was written in
pencil with the earlier entries inked over. On the mantelpiece were two empty
flower pots and two brass candle sticks. The door to the wine cellar was locked
and Mr Russell told us that Mr Swithin Easy had the only known key. So we went
out into the courtyard. This had an ancient well and a heap of coal beside the
door. On the other side were the obviously long disused stables. A ladder led up
to a tack room and an ostler’s room with five beds. They had only straw
mattresses on them and the sole wardrobe was empty. In the tack room were a
ladder, some sacks of mouldy oats fit only to be thrown out and a cupboard. In
it were a harness repair kit, two whips and a coil of rope. Seeing a trapdoor in
the ceiling, Holmes used the ladder to inspect the attic above. He disturbed a
flock of squeaking bats but reported that there was only some rubbish up there.
We descended and went into the West
Salon. Mr Russell told us that this was where the cavalier lady had been shot.
There was table and chairs and a sideboard. In the sideboard were only one
decanter, a wine cooler, wine glasses and a candle snuffer. “The casket key is
not likely to be in any of these but we must be thorough.” muttered Holmes.
The East Salon was almost
identical even to the contents of the sideboard. Returning to the tap room we
ascended to the hall at the top of the stairs. This had two stools, a table with
a candlestick on it and a blanket chest. The latter just had blankets in it!
There was a trapdoor in the ceiling but no easy means of access. Holmes stared
up at it. “We will check that later, we had best see the bedrooms first. They
are where I expect the casket key to be secreted.”
There were two small
bedrooms beside the hall each having just a single bed and an empty wardrobe.
The next, a corner chamber had a four poster double, a single bed and an empty
wardrobe. “This was Mr Rupert Inville’s chamber and he himself emptied of his
personal contents the other day.” reported Mr Russell. “This next one was the
guest room, rarely used.” It had just a bed and an empty wardrobe in it.
“This was where Mr and Mrs
Brownlea slept.” another room with a four poster bed and an empty wardrobe.
Sherlock gave this one a thorough examination.
“And this is the daughter
Charity’s room.” In its wardrobe were some wooden toys and some school exercise
books.
“I doubt the key would be in this one,
more likely in Miss Geraldine’s I think.” muttered Sherlock. “Yes this is the
one in which the tapestry casket was discovered.” agreed Mr Russell. In it were
three single beds, an armchair, an empty wardrobe and a dressing table. “I have
heard that these dressing tables often have secret compartments in them Holmes.”
I said. Well we tapped and prodded and measured that dressing table and the
wardrobe and the armchair but all to no avail. “You are sure that key was not on
one of the bodies Mr Russell?”
“Absolutely sure Mr Holmes! It really
has to be in the house somewhere! There is the trapdoor up there in the
ceiling?”
“I do not expect it to be up there but
we will collect the ladder from the tack room in due course. First we will see
the chambers on the south side of the Inn, which again are unlikely to have it.
Or any clues as to the sequence of the deaths.”
So we trooped back to the
hall to see the five upstairs chambers on that side of the house. The first, a
small room with a bed and a wardrobe was piled with sheets and pillow cases. The
next, a corner room had a four-poster, a single and an empty wardrobe. The
following two had each a four-poster and wardrobe. The last, another corner room
had three single beds and one wardrobe and a trapdoor in the ceiling. I was sent
to collect the ladder whilst Holmes sat on a bed and ran matters over in his
head.
“You can go up this time Watson!” So up
I duly climbed knowing full well that Holmes thought there was no chance of the
key being there. As indeed it was not, there was nothing but dust! Didcot and
Spalding’s cleaning ladies had never been sent up there! I was likewise given
climbing duties in the hall. There again was a flock of bats but the interior
revealed only some pieces of broken furniture and another thick layer of dust.
We then went back to Miss Geraldine’s room. I expected Holmes to search this one
as being more promising but he said that I was getting expert at the task and so
up I went again. More dust and a few very dilapidated dolls. “Perhaps it will be
found hanging in the wine cellar that we have been unable to enter as yet?” I
suggested.
Mr Russell shook his head
despondently, “No we did not see it there when we searched the place back in
1881. That is not to say that it is not in some secret place of concealment
there or somewhere else!”
Sherlock said “The casket
was in Miss Geraldine’s room so she will have been the one to have its key. It
seems that Mr Brownlea had control of the Wine Cellar so she would not have put
it there. She did most of the cooking so it seems likely the key will be
secreted in some place in the kitchen!” So we trooped back down there to give it
another more comprehensive search. And sure enough Holmes had his Eureka moment.
The vital key was on the end of the mauve ribbon bookmark, tucked down the spine
of Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management! Eagerly Mr Russell opened the
Tapestry Casket. Inside were a small family bible, a garnet necklace and two
documents. These were the wills of Miss Geraldine and Mrs Millicent.
I, Geraldine Inville being of sound mind and body do hereby make my last will
and testament. To my sister Mrs Millicent Brownlea I leave my ivory rolling pin,
my garnet necklace and My Mrs Beeton’s book of Household Hints. I bequeath the
bulk of my estate which comprises my third share of the Painted Lady Inn, my
third share of the Willow Walk properties and my other personal possessions to
my niece Charity Brownlea. Failing her, I leave it to my nearest surviving
unattached female relative. (Currently
half cousin Hephzibah Rawlings.)
Signed this day 4th May 1877 Geraldine Inville
In front of Witnesses
Rachel Finkelstein (Mrs)
Ephraim Tallman
I, Mrs Millicent Brownlea nee Inville being of sound mind and body do hereby
make my last will and testament. To my sister Miss Geraldine Inville I leave my
green silk gown with the old lace trimmings. I bequeath all the rest of my
estate to my daughter Charity Brownlea.
Signed this day 4th May
1877 Millicent Brownlea nee Inville
In front of Witnesses
Rachel Finkelstein (Mrs)
Ephraim Tallman
“Finkelstein! Rueben
Finkelstein is a Jewish Notary who has been undercutting our fair emoluments for
customers. Likely that Rachel is a relative of his. The wills look to be well
enough drawn although since Mrs Brownlea was married at the time, her property
was her husbands to dispose of. The law was changed the next year.”
“Yes but it looks as though this
Hephzibah Rawlings may inherit Miss Geraldine’s share of the estate if she is
still alive.”
“But not if she obtained more of it by
foul means Holmes?” I said. “It does sound as though she poisoned the other
three with the berries! That may be why Mr Brownlea shot her?”
“Possibly Watson. I think we need to
talk to some of the witnesses that attended the Coroner’s Inquest. The members
of the police, Mrs Cavatina Holt and I suppose the Dairyman also.”
“The Dairyman Elias Jones is still
around.” said Mr Russell. “He is now the owner of the Buttercup Wholesale Dairy
along opposite the Gas Works. They put a police station on the other side of the
road from here about six years ago. They may help you with your other witnesses.
Hark, that sounds like another carriage arriving!”
“It will be the omnipresent Occult
Verification people no doubt. Come Watson it is time for us to go!” Mr Russell
restored the keys to their hooks on the wall and we went out.
There was a whole army of
the OVS, just descended from their substantial carriage. Naturally Russell and I
doffed our hats to the ladies but they got only a gruff ‘good day’ from Sherlock
who marched away across the road.
“Perhaps I must attend these prospective
clients whilst you go about your business?” said Mr Russell. So I nodded
agreement and hurried after Holmes, managing to dodge some pungent fresh horse
dung on the road. In the distance I heard the noise of a train passing by. In
the Police Station Holmes was questioning a Sergeant Singleton about the
witnesses. The now promoted to Sergeant Emmerson, would be coming on duty there
at six o’clock. Detective Sergeant Yates was currently serving as an Inspector
in the Singapore Police. Sergeant Humbrol was discharged for drunkenness seven
years ago and is thought to have moved to Whitechapel. Police Surgeon Makepeace
Whittaker died accidently, only two months ago. Having bad toothache he used
chloroform to try to get to sleep and overdid it. The barmaid Mrs Cavertina Holt
moved away to her husband Dilbert’s home in Poplar. However when her mother Mrs
Tidworth died they moved back here to Number 7 just along the road.
So thanking the sergeant we
proceeded along the pavement. A small overfriendly dog came prancing up to us
but Sherlock growled at it and it slunk away. Mrs Holt answered the door with a
young girl hanging on her skirt. When Holmes told her our business she invited
us in for a cup of tea. Her husband was away at his work in the Gas Works. She
remembered seeing the dead Miss Geraldine sitting staring and Mr Brownlea lying
on the floor, first through the window and then again when the constable broke
into the Inn. “Was there much blood?” asked Sherlock which I thought was a
little callous of him.
Mrs Holt thought for a moment, “Not
much. I only saw a little on Miss Geraldine’s stomacher, none from Mr Brownlea.
They reckons he shot her for there was always trouble between those two!”
I asked if she had seen the
other two bodies but she had not. So Sherlock told her she had been a great help
and we left.
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Emerging we heard the
pleasant sound of an organ grinder who stood across the way with his monkey. At
the junction of Balaklava and Fort Roads we met a woman wearing a boater hat who
accosted us. “Gentlemen halt please! Please sign my pledge for total abstinence?
Slay the demon drink! It robs women of their husbands, their sons and their
means of living!”
I replied “My good lady I afraid I am
rather partial to a glass of wine with my dinner. Whilst I admit that amongst
the lower classes drunkenness is far too prevalent, for me to sign your pledge
would be an act of dishonesty.”
She responded “Your idea that you can
pass on the other side needs correcting. I am sure that if you attended one of
our meetings you could be converted. We meet at seven o’clock in the Temperance
Hall there just down the road every Thursday.” And she gave me a pamphlet. So
Sherlock, who as usual was in a tearing hurry, said. “Let us pass good woman for
we have men’s work to do!” and he strode onwards. The lady declined to follow as
I feared she might, as we met a smell of beer from the Public House opposite.
There was a paper boy selling the Bayswater Chronicle outside it. “Should we
purchase the local paper Holmes?” I asked but he hurried on.
“No! I cannot think how it could aid us
on our mission!”
There were few people
about, two women on their separate business’s and a milk cart. This was probably
because the sky was getting darker and the heavens soon opened!
Before we reached the Buttercup Dairy office which was out destination,
we were soaked through!
Elias Jones our quarry was
inside with two of his employees. He asked how he could help us so Sherlock said
“We are making enquiries about those unnatural deaths at the Painted Lady and we
understand that you knew the people concerned?”
“That was a long time ago! That place
has been empty ever since.”
“You gave evidence at the Inquest I
believe.”
“That I did, for I was last to see the
daughter Charity the morning that they must have died. She came as she did every
morning for a quart of milk. She often came and sometimes helped the maid milk
the cows at the weekend. She played a lot on the estate.”
“Did she have any particular friends
amongst the milkmaids?”
“That would have been Edith I think sir.
I remember her mentioning her years ago.” said a milkmaid who was present.
“Probably, but I am afraid she got
married and left us four years ago sir.” sighed Mr Jones. “She was a punctual
worker!” and he gave the milkmaid a hard look.
“Were there any theories locally as to
what had happened?”
“Plenty!” said an old dairy man. “There
was always wars between Mr Brownlea and Miss Geraldine and they both had sharp
tongues. I reckon the business would have done better with pleasanter people in
the place. Mrs Brownlea was nice but she had much to bear and I reckon Charity
got out playing so much, to get away from the quarrels. That brother Mr Rupert
certainly did, for he went off to sea!”
“How unpleasant was Mr Brownlea, I mean
did he make enemies who would want him dead?”
“I do not know about any wanting to go
that far, but he was nasty to customers he did not like. It might have been that
Miss Geraldine would have been glad to have got rid of him, as that was one
theory that went around. It did sound as though he shot her from the
Inquest. He may have thought that
she did it. Another idea of course was that one of the lunatics from the
Longfield Asylum did for all of them with poison. Longfield House was made into
a lunatic asylum when old Lady Horatia died.”
“Yes well thank you for your assistance
sir, it has been most helpful!” said Holmes.
“Where now Holmes? I am soaked to the
skin and it is nearly lunch time!”
“They have pork pies and pickled eels at
the Queens Head sir!” advised the Dairyman. But then magic to my ears Holmes
said, “Thank you, but I think my colleague needs some dry clothes first!”
Outside it was still
raining of course. “I thought that there was little that we could do here until
Sergeant Emmerson comes on duty at six o’clock. We shall take our cab back to
Baker Street.”
So we plodded back to the Inn. We passed
a police constable on the way and shooed away another dog but within half an
hour we were back changing our clothes. Mrs Hudson had not been expecting us
back for lunch, so we went the cafeteria at the Wallace Collection. They do very
tolerable lunches there. Returning to Baker Street Holmes dispatched one of his
urchins with a message for Mr Russell. “I am asking him to check with his Jewish
Notary friend to make sure Mr Brownlea has not also left a will with him. He
would have to contact him concerning the two women’s will anyway.”
We returned to Balaklava Road at
quarter past six giving the Sergeant time to take over the station and send his
constables out.
“Sergeant Emmerson I believe that you
were one of the first on the scene when the bodies were found in the Painted
Lady?”
“That is true sir. Who are you?”
“My name is Sherlock Holmes and I am
commissioned to investigate those deaths.”
“Oh. So you are the detective in all the
newspapers? Well what do you want to know?”
“Can you remember what you found?” The
Sergeant shut his eyes and screwed up his face. “The young lady who spotted the
first two bodies met me in the street and hearing her tale I collected Sergeant
Humbrol from the old Station. On advice from the young woman, Tina her name was,
we broke in through the stable door into the property. The courtyard door into
the tap room was not bolted but it stank something horrible when we opened it.
We went to the kitchen and there was the two bodies like Tina said. She was in a
bit of a state because she had worked there and knew them, so we let her go
home.”
“So can you describe the positions of
the two bodies for me?”
“Mr Brownlea was laying half in and half
out of the kitchen, front down with the pistol by his hand.”
“Was there any blood around him?”
“No sir.”
“How was he dressed, how many
shots had been fire from the pistol?”
“He was dressed casually because the Inn
was not to open that day. One shot had been fired from the pistol because it was
an old single shot percussion type. Its partner was still under the counter
loaded. Miss Inville was sitting
leaning back against the wall with her eyes staring. She had been shot in the
chest.”
“Was there much blood?”
“No sir very little.”
“What colour were her feet?”
“She was wearing shoes so I could not
say.”
“So what was your view of what had
happened?”
“Me sir? I am a beat policeman,
surmising events is the work for detectives. But I think that she mighta been
dead before he shot her. If the bullet passed through her heart like the Police
surgeon said there oughta been lots of blood. Then of course we went and found
the other two bodies as we knew there should have been more than two in the
property.”
“And how were they situated please?”
“They was both seated at the table
leaning forward and the mother had her arms around the daughter Charity. Both
had their eyes open like Miss Inville had!”
“Thank you sergeant I think you have
helped me solve the case.”
As we left I asked him if
what he had said was true. “Yes I believe from what we have heard that the
verdict for all deaths should be by misadventure. The woman was dead when
Brownlea shot her which is not murder. They all died of poisoning caused by the
berries which they did not realise were toxic. That is what I shall report to
the Coroner.”
“So what about the wills?”
“Assuming Mr Brownlea did not leave a
will with Rueben Finkelstein or anyone else his, including his wife’s share
should go to Rupert Inville as the nearest surviving relative. Assuming that
Charity Brownlea died before Geraldine Inville, which I am sure was the case,
Hephzibah Rawlings will get her share assuming that she is still alive!”
And so it turned out. There
were no other wills, no crime had been committed to bar anyone from receiving
their bequest and Hephzibah Rawlings was alive and kicking. Of course the
lawyers made the usual meal of it, taking several weeks to process but in the
end everyone was happy. The OVS obtained their new home and Rupert Inville got
his money and went back to Hong Kong.
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OVS Accounts by Doamne
Leica Badamaru Friday 5th November 1892
We mustered Mr Ronald
Helping, Doktor Sigismund Nichtwissen, Professor Able Learning, Mrs Marjorie
Butterworth, Miss Wilhelmina Wandsworth, Domnisoara Ludmilla, Manko and myself.
We all squeezed into a large carriage and proceeded to the Painted Lady Inn in
Bermondsey. As Mr Swithin Easy led us along to the front door Mr Holmes Doctor
Watson and another man came out. The Doctor and the other man doffed their hats
but Holmes just grunted and ran across the road. The other man introduced
himself as Mr Theobald Russell of Didcot and Spalding, who were marketing the
property. Dr Watson hurried away after Mr Holmes who had gone into the nearby
Police Station. “It is rather noisy
here!” complained Wuw as we heard the noise of a railway train in the distance.
“In fact for this part of London there
is little noise madam.” said Mr Russell who had decided to attach himself to us.
“I am sure that you would soon hardly notice that of the distant trains.”
“I do not think much of the neighbours!”
muttered Wuw glaring at the row of yellow brick terraced houses on the other
side of the road.
Marjorie shook her head,
“Nonsense! Perfectly respectable servant class people can live in such abodes.
If we hire any from there it could be most convenient to have them so close. I
am afraid some of our people in Clonakilty would regard those as being palaces!”
With Mr Easy and Mr Russell
leading the way we trooped into the Inn. The first room with its counter will
have been the tap room. Indicating the hanging oil lamp Mr Russell said
“Lighting is by those or candles at present. There is a Gas works not far away
so it should be relatively cheap to have it piped in. As you can see this is the
kitchen. There is piped water to the sink. The range is coal fired and there are
six hundredweights of coal outside in the yard. Again a gas one could easily be
installed. The trap door has a ladder down to what was the food cellar. It is
empty now apart from some crockery, glassware and a hip bath.” He took and lit
one of several lamps standing on the table. “Does anyone wish to look in the
cellar?” The conscientious Doktor Nichtwissen went down and Wuw peered down from
the hatch. I noticed a copy of Mrs Beeton’s book of household management on the
sideboard. At Cheltenham Ladies College it had been recommended that we ensure
our Housekeepers had a copy of this in later life. Apart from its good advice it
had a vast section of cooking recipes.
We then went back through
the tap room to the dining room. It had two tables and a fire place and looked
comfortable enough and was not too far from the kitchen. “Is this where the four
people were murdered?” asked Marjorie and Wuw looked decidedly uneasy.
“The inquest never decided whether the
deaths were murder, accident or even suicide Madam. Two of the bodies were found
in this room and the other two in the kitchen.” answered Mr Russell. “This is
the wine cellar.” And he unlocked a door leading down some steps into a sizeable
cellar with empty bottle racks in it. The gentlemen immediately began to argue
about what wines they should purchase to stock it up. Mr Russell re-locked it
and we followed him back through the tap into the courtyard. As he had said
there was a heap of coal beside the door. Both ends were barred by double gates
large enough to admit carriages at need. There was an old well and straight
across was a long disused stable. In it a ladder led upwards which the gentlemen
went up. Up there was a tack room and a bed chamber for the stable hands. “Yes I
think we may well have a carriage and a groom or two here.” said Marjorie.
“There is another wooden
stable outside which belongs to the property although like this, it has not been
used for very many years.” Mr Russell informed us.
To the left of the stable
was the East Salon furnished with a table and a sideboard. “The West Salon is
almost identical, they were used for small functions.”
“We could be using one for a library and
the other for our meeting room?” suggested Doktor Nichtwissen. “The West salon
is where the Cavalier Lady was shot so that might do for the meeting room with
this for the library?” said Professor Learning.
This was agreed, so we returned to the tap room to mount the only stairs
to the upper floor. At the top was a hall with a blanket chest and a table.
Heading to the west side were two small bedrooms which we decided would do for a
butler and a cook. The Large corner bedroom contained both a four-poster bed and
a singleton. “This will do for me!” declared Marjorie, “Do not worry Wuw you
shall have your own room. I shall replace this bed with a dressing table.” In
fact we apportioned the next single bed room to Wuw whilst I was given the more
sizeable four-postered one next door. I would bring my own dressing table to put
in it with my book case. Ludmilla would have the next smaller one and the large
one at the end would be allocated to any maidservants that we hired. Wuw said
that we would need at least two plus the cook. The Butler would need to be a
retired soldier or some such, able to defend the building when we were absent.
We then went along to
what would be the gentlemen’s wing. This overlooked the pleasant scenery of the
Longfield Park and I was regretful that we had been so eager to pick our
original choices. Then there was considerable argument with Ronald wanting the
first large room which had a four-poster and a single bed in it. He thought that
Doktor Nichtwissen could have the far room which was equipped with three single
beds. Sigismund however, like everyone else wanted a four poster bed. So
eventually he was to share the first room with Manko, Ronald would have the
second whilst, when he eventually came, Professor learning would have the third.
The last room would be reserved for either guests or any man servants we might
hire. Beside the first room was a small bedroom which was being used as a Linen
store. We ladies resolved that all the curtains, linen and bed clothes would be
replaced. And possibly some of the carpets as well! It was now lunch time and Mr
Russell said that he could take us to the famous Tabard Inn on the Old Kent
Road. So there we went, resolved to return and try some ghost calling when it
was dark. During lunch we argued over the pros and cons of accepting the place.
We decided that providing that we got an early entry we would accept it. We
would install gas and improve the furnishings but after all we now had so much
money that if things did not stay satisfactory, we could easily buy a country
mansion as well!
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We retained the carriage
and after lunch had a sightseeing tour around Southwark. This is a rather
poverty stricken area with many slums in the lanes running off the main roads.
When we had been depressed enough we returned to the Tabard for an early dinner.
Afterwards around seven we returned to the Painted Lady. After some argument we
decided to have me try to call up the Cavalier Lady. Since she had died in the
West Salon we were to try there. It was already dark but we pulled the curtains
and doused all the lights. We left Swithin Easy, Wuw, Ludmilla, and Manko in the
dining room where we lit a fire. I decreed that it was best if I tried the spell
alone so the other four would listen outside the door. The floor was well
brushed and when the others had left I rattled the spirit purifying tambourine.
Then I sat clearing my head of extraneous thoughts. After having lost them I was
not sure that my magic powers were fully regained. A train rattled by in the
distance so I reset my mind again. Then I chanted ‘A
chema Lady Lysle Longfield!’ There was a long pause and then she appeared
wearing a green gown and pointing a sword at me. I said “Good evening madam.”
which obviously shocked her.
“You can fee me and perchance hear me? Prithee can you put me unto my final rest
magikal beings? I have been in the half liffe I know not how long. I fense that
there are tymes when I am in an ftate of oblivion yet then I am recalled to this
place to remember my terrible crime! Fometimes the people fee me and recoil in
horror yet at others they heed me not. Know you that I meant not to flay the
troopers with the Daphne berries. I methought me only to give them pain in their
bellies. They had been greatly offensive to me and to my people. One was the
sweetheart of Mabel Tipster so it was in truth fair that she denounce me.”
I answered “That would have
been an honest mistake and one that has been made again I think. To put you to
rest I am not sure but it may be that a silver bullet could do it. I am Leica
Badamaru ,a lady from the Ottoman Empire with some occult powers. Are you
willing for me to try?”
“Verily
so.” So I drew out my derringer and fired
at her. Nothing happened and she just looked reproachfully at me. So taking more
careful aim I fired the second barrel and she vanished. I opened the door and
the others crowded in. Both the Professor and the Doktor were sure that I had
sent the lady to her rest, so I can put it down as a magical success. I went to
the dining room to rest and get warm in front of the fire. Performing magic does
tire one. Manko joined the others in setting out the sextagram and candles in
the courtyard preparatory to trying for the duelling musicians. Marjorie rattled
the tambourine for them. Alas despite several attempts no ghosts could be
recalled.
“Perhaps they have been
already been sent to their rest.” suggested Doktor Nichtwissen. “Or perhaps
their appearance was faked?” said Ronald Helping who was always sceptical about
the happenings.
“Yes.” agreed Professor Learning, “There
was only a single account of their being seen whilst of the Lady at least four!”
So with it getting late we went to our
homes well satisfied and forming plans for what we would do when we could move
into our new residence.