Page 49 of The Affair of the Mysterious Letter
“Ah.” He looked up with an almost worryingly hopeful expression. “So you’re saying that you”—his voice was very slow and very clear—“entered the property because you believed that somebody within may have been in danger.”
I reflected on this. On the one hand, I’d had no inkling of Mr. Wangenheim’s existence before I found his bedroom. On the other, I had been searching for an entrance so I could go to the assistance of Ms. Haas, who, although very capable of defending herself, was technically in danger all the while she was there. “Yes,” I said carefully. “I did believe someone within was in danger.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wyndham. And, for the record, did you murder Mr. Wangenheim?”
“No, sir. I did not.”
“Do you have any idea who did?”
“While I was in the house, I encountered three gentlemen”—here I found myself blushing again, rather more deeply than before—“of wholly untrustworthy character. I believe it was they who were responsible.”
“And I’m sure,” continued the Second Augur, “that it goes without saying that they were also responsible for the necromantic ritual that had been performed upon the body.”
“Ah, well, no, actually—”
“As I said. I’m sure that goeswithout saying.”
This exchange presented me with a small ethical quandary.Second Augur Lawson’s assertion was faulty and it seemed improper of me not to correct it. However, I was sensible of the need to avoid falling into the hands of Augur Extraordinary Standfast, an eventuality which would surely preclude my leaving New Arcadia Yard in time to be of any help to Miss Viola or her fiancée. Further, while I would not normally want another to face the consequences of a crime they had not committed, the three vampiric gentlemen most certainly had murdered Mr. Wangenheim and had attempted to murder me. In the circumstances I, therefore, felt it defensible to allow the misconception to stand.
“I would not,” I offered, “wish to gainsay your professional judgement.”
“Very prudent, Mr. Wyndham.” Something in the Second Augur’s tone suggested that he was not, in fact, complimenting me on my prudence. He began tidying up his notes. “Well. As I see it, we don’t have enough evidence to keep you on a charge of murder. And, on the other charges, I believe the discovery of the body mitigates against them in”—and here he gave me a grim look—“this case only. But I sincerely hope that, in future, you will stay away from duels between sorcerers, parties to which you’re not invited, and houses full of corpses.”
“I certainly intend to.” But, even then, I was acutely aware of the distinction between intent and expectation.
“Thank you, Mr. Wyndham. Interview concluded at nine fifty-four p.m.” There was a click, as the Second Augur turned off the recorder.
“Does this mean,” I asked, “I am free to go?”
“As a dicky bird. Although”—he paused a moment, to fasten his eyes directly upon mine—“it might go some way towards showing your goodwill if you were to tell me what this extremely important life-or-death matter that’s taking you and Ms. Haas to Vedunia might be. I would also be interested to know what you were looking for at Mrs. Benamara’s party and in the house of the Contessa Ilona. Andhow the ——” His language, once again, became inappropriate. “... the two are connected.”
I presented my manacled hands in a none-too-subtle fashion. “I’m really not sure why you’re asking me about this.”
“Because,” he said, unlocking the handcuffs, the heat of his fingers lingering strangely against my wrists, “one: if you’re aware of a crime, you have a duty to report it. And two: I really don’t want to be investigating your murder six weeks from now.” He cleared his throat. “It’s a lot of paperwork.”
“I shall do my best not to increase your administrative workload.” This earned me a faint smile, which I also suspected was not entirely paperwork related. “As for duty; while I hold the Myrmidons in the highest regard, I also consider myself bound to respect the wishes of Ms. Haas’s client.”
“Of course you do.” The Second Augur gathered his notes and the recording and left the room.
As I collected my effects, before being escorted from the premises by uniformed officers, I reflected that my visit to New Arcadia Yard had, at least, gone far better than last time.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
TheClouded Skipper
Following my release,I returned with haste to 221b Martyrs Walk. There, I found Ms. Haas’s monocle embedded in the front door, transfixing upon its hidden awl a note that read:Hippocrene. TheClouded Skipper. Pack for travel. Come armed.I removed both items and went inside, hoping I would not have to explain to Mrs. Hive the damage that Ms. Haas had done to the paintwork. I was not so fortunate. To be reprimanded by one’s landlady is never pleasant, but when the censure in question is delivered in an atonal buzzing from within a partially skeletonised cadaver, within which a teeming mass of insects swarms and moves with ungodly purpose, it can be quite disheartening. I apologised as profusely as was seemly but, as I found so often to be the case with landlords, landladies, and landpersons of more esoteric character, her displeasure at this most recent infraction called to mind a litany of other transgressions including, but not limited to, the hatstand, the stain on the hall carpet, the bullet holes in the skirting board, the destruction of the watercolour painting that was apparently a great favourite, the bloodstains in the guest bedroom, the fire damage to the rear staircase, and the incident involving the neighbour’s cat, the sanctified kris blade, and the spirit of pestilential calamity.
Having, at last, extricated myself from the conversation, I changedfrom the cooler of my two coats into the warmer of my two coats, assembled an overnight bag, replenished my supplies of ammunition, and set out for the Hippocrene.
The Hippocrene, for those unfamiliar with the present geography or past history of Khelathra-Ven, began its life as a spring and attached stable whereat the erstwhile kings of Leonysse would house the winged horses whose service they would sometimes acquire by means of peculiar virtue, beauty, wit, or skill at arms. Over the years the structure was expanded upon and added to, providing as it did a convenient location for all those wanting to enter the city by air. Eyries and perches were built for the various winged beasts on which foreign dignitaries would arrive and, later, as the arts and sciences governing aerial travel became better understood, great hangars and landing sites were constructed in order to accommodate the enchanted edifices and aeronautical machines that fresh generations of sorcerers, engineers, and sorcerer-engineers would bring into use. So it evolved over time into its modern form, a sprawling expanse covering much of the heath to the northwest of Athra, where one might book passage on a commercial dirigible, charter a wyvern, or, as was the case on this occasion, make contact with an exiled member of the Steel Magi.
My feelings, on ascending a stone tower to a rooftop landing platform and finding Ms. Haas waiting for me, were, to put it indelicately, mixed.
“Hurry up, Wyndham,” she called out. “We’re almost late.”
“You left me to be arrested.”
She smiled radiantly. “And look how well it went.”
