|
Saturday 17th
June 1898 - Sunday 18th June 1898
Kidnapped in
Singapore by two of the Inspectors “boys” lured from his drug
dens by his friends cash transfers to the raffles hotel, Artie was
unceremoniously bundled aboard a steamer bound for home and it was
a sad and sorry Artie who was met on the quay by the reverend and
Mr Pitt Rivers.
 |
Proceeding
to Arties Cheltenham residence the company gathered around in
his time of need, celebrating his safe return with a grand dinner
of six courses exquisitely prepared by the new cook, mrs Postlethwaite
and kitchengirl.
Gastons
absence despite his promise to join the company led to
a frank discussion about the sinister influence of his muse
upon him and Athena. The ways and means of getting through to
the fey lands where it is believed the Baby is held were also
discussed at Major Petries insistence.
|
 
| Next
morning Mrs Petrie revealed she had dreamt of the lost baby again,
Buffy, it was suggested, might be able to hypnotise her into remembering
further details of its location.
After
a splendid breakfast the party embarked to Maisie and Berties
home Little Dean Hall, source of so much mystery to view the
root of the Pyrke/leRoux curse.
The
house was eerily cool in the blistering june heat and a number
of cats frolicked upon the lawns, the Reverend spotted a dark
lady, which noone else saw, walking across the lawns.
The
old ruined boasts the remains of a Roman temple was chosen as
the site of the hypnotism where a bundle of dried flowers had
been placed upon an alter.
|
As
Mrs Petrie talked in a dream like state she revealed she
was in fact a fey and that the child was the last link
between the feyrealm and the mortal one. |
|
|
 |
Back
in Cheltenham it was decided to abduct Gaston to Skipton rectory
and attempt to exorcise his muse and also to try to break through
to the fey lands at the summer solstice in a mere three days
time. Postitive action was clearly called for.
So
Miss Rosetti, Artie and the ladies went to the library to
research....
|
 |
 |
Much
transpired over the following months. The Vicar
excorcised Gaston, Athena suffered the wrath of a vengful
spirit and had a story published in The Strand, friends
rallied around, the Petries went to fairy Land and saw
Katherines baby, Mr. Pitt-Rivers and Proff. Van De Wass
corresponded, Gaston went to Egypt (despite the advice
of the others), Elaine bought a charming scarlet dress,
Buffy took on a very difficult case, some attended the
Lochnaw fortnight, Dr. Staunton continued
deep in study, the Reverend got a new job, Artie took
his servents to the opera and confused them no end, Miss
Emerald got a pleasent surprise as did her brother, Dr.
Wilson sent men looking for engineers in Cambridge, Crowley's
followers continued to sneer at the Proffessor, Fai Lhung
Ghee and Dixon went very quiet and Count von Zepplin built
his airship. |
|
|
Saturday
12th August 1898 - Sunday 13th August 1898
Lord
Buffington Celebrates
|
Saturday
dawned sunny and clear for the companys
punting expedition. All were in
a celebratory mood, as Buffy had won a
recent case, successfully annulling the
marriage between a dangerous mesmerising
con artist and an innocent lady. The Major
and Dr Staunton showed the way with stylish
manoevering of the boats down the Cam. |
|
|
Buffy
and Proffessor Petries assistant Mr Deacon took
charge of the third.
After
dressing for dinner We retired to the Tickell
Arms in Whittlesford for a truly delicious meal
in sumptuously decadant surroundings.
|
 |
The
Professor found a strange package of an ancient
manuscript at his place at table which on inspection
appeared to be a very old Petrie Family tree dating
from the Gunpowder plot. It appeared that during
those times the family had been systematically
eliminated by persons, and for reasons, unknown.
It had been given by a mysterious benefactor,
presumably, to warn the Petries that the same
fanatical attempt was being made again... |
|
On Sunday
morning we wandered through the college grounds,
|
Lord
Arthur "Artie" Brocket removes his hat in the hope
of Soaking in Wisdom & Learning From the Hallowed
Halls of Cambridge
|
drinking
in the atmosphere of wisdom and learning, hoping some
of the knowledge contained within the stones might inspire
us in our endeavours to solve the mysteries before us.
Members of The Company
at The Bridge of Sighs - Cambridge
At
lunchion, the Company Members voted Mr Deacon into
their circle. The first new member since the
writing of the constitution.
|
Dr
Staunton, Ms Le Roux, Miss Agnew & Miss Rosetti
|
|
The Major
recieved a strange letter, from a long lost relative?
Miss Elaine recieved a proposal! The Vicar discovered
a Holy Well in Sussex, visited a brother, dined with Kipling
and talked of Elves. Miss Forsythe lost a book.
Lord Buffington had correspondance with Mr. David De Vant, the
famous magician.
Tea & Cake; with
the Enemy?
|
The
Ladies, being Miss Agnew and Miss Vinca Massini, paid
a visit upon a gentleman visiting Nottingham. They
were to be seen engrosed in conversation in the tea shop
at Nottingham Castle.
Artie
wrote poetry, again.
|
| Surviving
members of "The Company" have been very
reticent with details of the events over the 20th-22nd
October 1898. We have managed to piece together
the following facts from a few existing letters,
the remains of "Miss" Agnew's notebook
and recorded interviews.
It
seems that Major Petrie was invited to visit
the Medium Mme Pavlovoski at her home of Abercriss.
According to their correspondence she had allegedly
been channeling on of the Majors ancestors,
Evelyn Petrie. Evidence of this Evelyn's actual
existence was discovered buried in the farms
grounds undisturbed for many years.
|
Lawful Actions
of Aristocratic Barrister Against Ladies?
|
|
Arthur (friend
to the poor) Brocket & "Lady"
Associate
|
A
telegram to Brigadier Flashman suggests the Major
took members of the company with him to expose
any possible fraud. However, due to an auspicious
alignment of the planets and the inadvertent reading
of a powerful incantation (unfortunately torn
from the Agnew notes) a gateway was opened between
the past history of Applecross and the companies
present day.
In
"An Interview with "Miss" Massini"
(1910) She states that they witnessed Ghosts
from all time period sand , were attacked by
large wolves and harassed by Chinese assassins
intent on destroying Hilda Petrie. While not
a totally reliable witness, her claims seem
to be borne out by a scribbled note of Mr Le
Rouxs. " Oh they were beautiful, how we
wanted to join their revelries, then they took
Hilda."
|
|
This
had always been assumed to refer to the Chinese
ladies but a letter from Hilda to her husband,
only recently discovered, suggests it in fact
refers to Hilda's disappearance into the fairy
realm.
Newspaper
clippings state that a group of Londoners were
slaughtered in the area , a topic members have
always shied away from discussing, although
a tortured poem on a postcard from Lord Brocket
Shows he fled for a time to Paris, in order
to forget some unspecified horror.
In
the annals of the institute for Psychical research,
it seems that Viscount Buffingtons serious study
and research into the control of psychic powers
dates from another disastrous hypnotic episode
with a young maid, in the service of Mme. P
and intent on his demise.
|
Faded Evidence
|
|
November
1898
With unswervingly optimistic that his wife
Hilda was in no danger and would reappear unscathed;
it seems Professor Petrie threw himself into
work. Joining that rapid climber of the ecclesiastic
orders Rev. Michaels at the estate of Sir Osbourne
Fitz in Sussex, here, it is believed, explorations
were made into a mysterious temple found in
the grounds. Once again, records are sketchy...
|
Petrie's Angels?
|
Sir
Reginald Cranberry's Discussion on The Company of Crimson
- May, 1923.
|
|
|
November
1898 (cont.)
Adorned
with mosaics of many animals unknown till recent times
the Prof. was suspicious of an elaborate hoax. Stealing
back late at night without their hosts, a secret passageway
was discovered leading to a rough altar containing
votive offerings and an upturned chalice. Realising
that the lord and lady would be sure to overturn the
chalice eventually, Rev Michaels heroically picked
it up releasing a demon and angel who proceeded to
fight, causing a cave in. Eventually they were rescued
by Jacob Deakin who "just happened to be in the
area…"
|
| Fleeing
the wrath of the Osbourne Fitzes' over the ruin of their
temple. Our gallant heroes went up to Walesby to search
further for clues to Hilda’s whereabouts and Athena's
missing Gem.
Viciously
attacked by Chinese Ladies crying "this for White
Lily Kitten" in the graveyard at Abercriss, Buffy
once more retaliated the only way he knew how, with
a pistol.
|
Later that
evening the Prof., Vicar and Buffy got Mr. Deakin commode
hugging drunk, whereupon he revealed he was in fact a Petrie!
Trying to keep his family safe from Crowley he had undertaken
to work for the Magician as a spy on the Professor. But he also
claimed to only have fed Crowley misinformation suggested by
his eldest daughter, Ada Alice. Returning to London the
Prof. was sure he saw a small white haired child on a train
coming the other way and heard a voice say "hello Professor",
as though from no where.
His Joy,
when he reached London and found Hilda waiting at home (returned
by a small girl), knew no bounds...
Alighting
at the platform in London, returning from Paris, Katherine and
Athena were surprised to be met by Buffy in his new car. They
were even more surprised to see Elaine boarding a train in the
company of a gentleman, recognised as Blake, labelled Gretna
express! An exciting cross country pursuit ensued, during which
Blake revealed himself as a cad and bounder holding Elaine in
hypnotic thrall and Buffys Man showed himself well able to make
tea whilst clinging to the running board at 30 miles per hour!
Fortunately
the ceremony over the anvil was interrupted at the eleventh
hour and Blake alias Smith alias Jones made his getaway in Buffys
ill-fated automobile….
|
Mrs. Florence &
Mr. Bram Stoker plus Mrs. Hilda Petri
|
1st
December 1898
The
theatre in Leeds, Gilbert & Sullivan.
Boxes
were taken for "The Yeoman of the Guard",
beautifully played by the Carl Rosa company, and the
company were joined by Bram and Florence Stoker (well
know acquaintances of Mr. Crowley) for the event,
who appeared quite charming. During the interval,
Miss emerald and Reverend Michaels announced their
engagement and plans to marry early in the new year.
Athena gave out invitations to her and Gaston's wedding
also.
|
In the middle of the month, the vicar went for tea with
Fai Lhung Ghee, they talked, a lot. The vicar emerged
from the House of a Thousand Blossoms with all his fingers.
|
|
