When we left our story, Jancy Hall had been milling within the mansion of Colonel Raithburn, readying to perform her "gift of seeing." On the floor above, her lover, the magician Tonio de Aldo, was also readying his performance -an accompanying act of revenge. Now as we rejoin our story, we find Jancy's childhood friend and protectorate, Chester Cronklin, along with his boss, Professor Jordan, slipping into the back kitchen door to check out Colonel Raithburn's Christmas festivities...and more.
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The kitchen was in a stew. The area was clogged with dozens of kitchen blacks, turbaned in white, working feverishly-cooking, boiling, simmering. Everyone was so busy preparing dinner that the two men who had just tumbled in went unnoticed. As he moved past the pots and pans, Chester's eye roamed over the two entrees, the canvas-backed ducks and the live lobsters. The ducks were having their bottoms stuffed with wild celery while the lobsters were having theirs dumped into boiling water. But it was the trays of seafood appetizers that fixed the Professor's attention. Next to the assortment of fish treats was a single blue-stemmed wine glass, sitting on a separate tray. Next to it was a small jar of spiny sea urchins.
"A species that does not appeal to me," noted the Professor.
Chester could hardly hear the Professor's remarks over the whistling of the gas jets, the clicking of china, and the rattle of silver. Moving to a quieter spot, Jancy's would-be hero was fortunate to find a black boy cracking a large block of ice. The young servant offered Chester a wet rag to wipe the white quicklime from his boots. While Chester was removing his "war wounds," the Professor was sneaking a peek through a serving door into the immense main room with its great high windows and glass turned violet with age.
Some of the partiers had stopped dancing and were now busy looking at a trophy Major Raithburn had put on display. The items which once belonged to a Confederate soldier were being passed from guest to guest, fingers running over the gold braid of the man's jacket, his hat with its great feather passing from head to head as the Major proudly produced the man's saber. "Virginia cavalry, A casualty from the Battle of Fredericksburg, two weeks ago. Killed while protecting the right flank of Stonewall Jackson against our Union forces."
Then Jancy refocused the group's attention by planting herself in the middle of the guests, causing a shudder of awe to run through the room. As the crowd quieted, she raised her arms and spoke softly. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I do see...that both the North and the South have once again entered their troops onto the battlefield. But for now, all we can do is wait." Jancy dropped her arms as if her supernatural energy had left her. She departed with a curtsy, leaving everyone with a look of disappointment.
As the guests milled away, the Professor thought it a good time for Chester and him to sneak into the main room. Only once they left the kitchen, they found the long face of Major Raithburn staring down at them. "This is not how I receive my guests, Professor Jordan. But then again, I am aware that you do have a habit of showing up unannounced."
There was an odd moment as the Major walked off, leaving them standing there, the Professor with his hat revolving in his hands and Chester nervously pulling at his gloves. Then, as the Major turned as if to refuse them entry, a gesture came from the corner of the room that reversed that apparent order. From the shadows, the large head of Commodore Whitehead gave an almost imperceptible nod of approval, and the house servants scurried past the Major to take the new guests' hats and coats.
Ignoring the bitter glance from Raithburn, the Commodore lumbered off into the throng of guests, bobbing his immense forehead to return obsequious greetings as he continued toward the outer edge of the room. The light from the match he applied to his cigar lit up his large eyes as they glided over the sea of guests, squinting at the small group of wealthy people going about their lives imitating the British gentry and behaving like members of a secret society gathered together to celebrate a specially blessed Christmas.
Upon seeing Jancy, the Commodore grinned, his broad mouth holding its smile as if, perhaps, he expected her to redden under his gaze. She did not! Instead, she looked calmly down her slender nose at him, magnifying the chilling defiance in her china blue eyes. Head lowered and eyes raised, she swayed across the room, trusting that the accuracy of her past visions would bring her some looks of admiration. They did not! Undaunted, Jancy moved to draw her arm through the Professor's, giving the appearance that they were old friends.
Strolling along the room, she spoke as if at random. "I am glad that you have attended my showing. But it is also my hope that I can count on more than your curiosity. Tonio and I will require your assistance." The Professor was quick to respond. "My dear lady, I am aware that you are in the midst of some adventure that has your lover toiling busily above us. I do not know the reasons for your actions, but as for my assistance, I think it quite presumptuous of you to assume that I will not, on the contrary, impede your progress."
From the distance, Commodore Whitehead shot a suspicious glance at Jancy, causing her to lower her voice. "Professor, I believe I have something that will change your mind. But first let me explain that tonight's activities are only the first of Tonio's retaliations. There are seven sinners who must fall. We will need your assistance in devising a master plan to achieve their downfall."
The Professor pulled his arm from hers. "I am most sorry, my dear lady. I know how much Chester Cronklin admires your, shall we say, artistry. But I can offer you no assistance. None! I do not know the seven people of whom you speak, and I do not care to continue this conversation. I see no other recourse than, as noted, to turn you in to the authorities."
Jancy smiled at him softly and replaced her arm in his. "Professor, you will not do that, if for no other reason than the fact that we have obtained papers showing that some of your past investigations have not always exposed the chicanery that had been taking place. It is clear that you have, shall we say, profited by your actions. Now Tonio and I are simply offering you an opportunity to further your profits."
The Professor turned and stared into Jancy's innocent blue eyes. His own right eye seemed almost to wink. "On second thought, my dear lady, it would be such a tragedy not to fulfill Chester Cronklin's expectations. At seven o'clock sharp you will find me in the other room by the Christmas tree. If you can detail the nature of these potential profits, I see no reason why I cannot become the feather to your dart."
Jancy strolled the Professor toward a room divider, knowing that the partition would screen the remainder of her remarks from any possible eavesdropper. A large table of fish hors d'oeuvres was wheeled into the room, followed by a group of guests led by Major Raithburn, who approached Jancy with a fish treat in his hand. "You must try the fruit de mare, an age-old favorite of Roman-Italian men."
Jancy looked puzzled until the Professor came to the rescue with an explanation. "Marine invertebrate served before the main meal so that the perivisceral fluid of the sea urchins can help with one's digestion." The Major nodded to the Professor, then turned back to Jancy. "Yes, it is the ovaries of the female that are fried. Their reproductive organs are quite edible."
As Jancy took the fish delicacy, the Major took her aside. "Do not forget to do as you are told," he whispered. "Remember that females at the bottom of the social pond are always at risk."
As the Major turned to rejoin his guests, the Professor guided Jancy to another corner of the room. As they walked, Jancy carefully fished out the flimsy yellow tissue from her bosom and slipped it to the Professor, who recognized it immediately. "This appears to be a carbon copy of a telegram dispatch sent from the battlefield to the War Department, but this message is not coded. It is a fake."
Jancy agreed. "Yes. By tapping the lines, the Major learned that there has been no action on the battlefields, but he wants me to use these fake sheets and tell everyone there has been a big Union victory, so he can make another profit."
The Professor picked up on her thought. "By investing the other way. Yes, if there's a Union victory this time, the Union money will strengthen, and gold will weaken. Then he will buy the cheap gold. We have suspected for some time that this might be Commodore Whitehead's pattern. Until now we were not aware of Major Raithburn's involvement." The Professor looked around before continuing, " My dear girl, you are in great danger. Once you have done what is desired, I fear you will be silenced forever so as not to implicate these men."
The Professor arched an eyebrow as if inquiring whether he was making himself clear. Jancy gave a polite nod and curtsied before leaving the room.