Adele started to say something but Cobb held his hand up to quieten her.
‘And that is all I’m going to say on the subject,’ he told Columbine.
Columbine started to well up with tears. She looked to Adele for support, one woman to another but all she could do was shrug.
Columbine disappeared.
***
Cobb went off to see Captain James, the limping man. He caught a Hansom cab to take him to Cross Street. His mind was full of Columbine and he wasn’t paying any attention to where they were going, until he saw the cab crossing the River Isis. Wait a minute, he thought, Cross Street isn’t south of the river. Where are we going?
He banged on the roof and told the cabbie to stop. When it pulled to a halt on the Embankment, he got out and looked up at the cabbie.
‘I’m not a tourist you know,’ he told him. ‘You can’t fool me by taking the long way round and then charging me more.’
‘Lost are we? Not where we should be?’ replied the cabbie. ‘Well … perhaps you should be more concerned about other people who are not where they want to be. Now you know how Harlequin feels, eh? When are you going to help him?’ With that the cabbie whipped up the horse and the cab clattered away over the cobbles, leaving Cobb dumbfounded at the side of the road.
Well, that was one of the things about the agents of the Gods, as Harlequin had described himself and his kind. They could change their appearance to look and sound like anyone they wanted to. So he guessed this was Columbine’s new tactic. Appealing to his better nature hadn’t worked so she was probably going to try and wear him down with constant appearances and interruptions. Damn them, were they all as irritating as Harlequin? he wondered.
Putting it out of his mind, he hailed another cab and took it to Cross Street. He found number forty-seven and knocked at the door. A little, wizened, old man came to the door.
‘Morning, do you have a Captain James living here?’ he asked.
‘What?’
‘Captain James, does he live here?’
‘Who?’
‘Captain James.’
‘Lasting fame? What are you talking about?’ He cupped his hand to his ear.
‘He’s got a wooden leg, walks with a limp.’
‘Walks with a lisp? Are you mad, young man?’
Cobb pointed at his own leg and mimed limping backwards and forwards in front of the door.
‘Oh a man with a limp, that’ll be Captain James. Why didn’t you say that’s who you were looking for instead of wasting my time? Come on in. Room five, up the stairs.’
‘Thank you,’ said Cobb with relief, entering the house.
He went up the stairs, found room five and knocked on the door. There was a cry of, ‘Just a minute,’ and then some movement. Finally he heard something clumping to the door and it opened on him. An old man stood there with grey hair and a shaggy beard. Cobb looked down and could see both legs but he noticed that the right shoe looked too shiny, it was painted. A painted, wooden shoe, on a wooden leg.
‘Captain James?’
‘Yes, what of it?’
‘My name is Rufus Cobb, may I come in? I’m a private detective and I’d like a word with you.’
James looked up and down the hall to see if anyone else was there then waved Cobb in and shut the door.
Cobb looked around the room. It wasn’t much, just a bed and some bedroom furniture, Cobb guessed that they ate at a communal table so there was no need for cooking facilities. James offered Cobb a chair and sat down on the bed.
‘So a Captain eh?’ said Cobb. ‘Mind if I ask of what?’
‘I used to be captain of a transport ship, sailing the regular run from Harwich to The Nederlands and back, for the Havencrest Shipping company.’
‘Harwich, so what brings you to Londum?’
‘When I retired I came up to Londum to be with my brother but he’s dead now. Havencrest Shipping have got offices here, so I can still collect my pension.’
‘Oh, sorry about your brother.’
‘What can I do for you Mr. Cobb?’
‘Last week, on Tuesday, there was an accident outside Spitalfields Market between a Hansom cab and a private carriage. The carriage had a man and a woman in it. The woman was injured in the accident. They say that there was a witness to the incident. A man with a bad limp, who they saw limping off into the market. I’ve been hired to find that man so he can testify to what he saw.’
‘Last Tuesday, you say? Wasn’t me, I wasn’t there.’
‘Could you just take a moment to think about it? I’m sure if you cast your mind back-’
‘It wasn’t me, I saw no accident.’
‘Yes but, there might be something in it for you,’ Cobb said, hoping to jog his memory.
‘Now then, if I testified because I was paid for it then it wouldn’t be legal, would it?’
‘Well, no, there is that, I wasn’t actually suggesting that, though; I was talking about a reward not a bribe. But we do have a witness that saw you there, so I was hoping that you could see that it’s the right thing to do, money or not.’
‘It wasn’t me Mr. Cobb. I wasn’t there.’
‘Really? Well I guess I’ll have to go and ask one of the other men who hobble around Spitalfields on a wooden leg if they were there that day then, won’t I?’
‘Guess you’ll have to.’
‘Why won’t you help?’
‘None of your business.’
They sat there looking at each other, for a moment.
‘I don’t want to be involved in this, will you be telling them that you found me?’ asked James.
‘Not if you don’t want me to, you have my word.’
‘Well that’s that then.’ James got up and clumped over to the door. He held it open for Cobb.
Cobb stopped in the doorway. ‘And you won’t change your mind?’
‘Good day Mr. Cobb.’
As Cobb walked down the street, he puzzled over the conversation he just had. Why wouldn’t James help? All he had to say was what he saw. It was only a road accident they were talking about, it wasn’t as if he were being asked to testify at a murder trial and he feared retribution.
Anyway, he’d given James his word that he wouldn’t reveal his location to Sewem, Grabbit and Runne, so he’d have to go and give them their money back.
***
It was around lunchtime when Cobb arrived home. Adele had asked Cobb to pick up a chicken for dinner, on his way home. He had stopped at the butchers and bought a big, fat, juicy cockerel. They had rung its neck for him it but it still had all its feathers on.
When he got home he walked into the drawing room with the cockerel under his arm. Once again Adele was sat at the dining table, surrounded by books and papers, engrossed in her scientific paper and she didn’t notice him at first. She looked up startled as he cleared his throat. Won Lungh was there too, clearing up the tea service.
Adele crossed the room and kissed Cobb, then she looked down at him holding the bird. ‘That’s a big, cockerel you’ve got there,’ she said.
‘Yes and it needs a good plucking,’ replied Cobb.
There was a mighty crash from behind Adele as Won Lungh dropped the tea service in shock. He came around to stand protectively in front of Adele, with an outraged expression on his face, glaring at Cobb.
He looked down and saw the chicken under Cobb’s arm. Cobb suppressed the urge to laugh and offered it to him wordlessly. Won Lungh took it and picking up the tea service, left the room quietly, embarrassed.
‘I never took him for a prude,’ said Cobb.
‘He can be quite old fashioned at times, especially where I’m concerned,’ replied Adele.
‘How’s it going?’ he asked her, indicating the table.
‘Very well, thank you. Look, let me clear this lot away,’ she said indicating her workspace, ‘and I’ll make you some lunch.’
‘No that’s okay, I don’t want to disturb you. I’ll just go into my office
and read the paper.’
That did it. The night before she had once again gone to bed late and found him once again, apparently asleep with his back towards her. She slammed down her pen (taking care not to disturb the inkwell) and said to him, ‘Are you avoiding me?’
‘Not at all, what makes you think that?’
‘You stay out of my way during the day and at night you just roll over and go to sleep. You’ve hardly spoken to me at all this past week.’
‘I’m sorry, it’s just that I know how much this paper for the Royal Society means to you and I just didn’t want to bother you.’
‘Cobb, did it ever occur to you that I might want to be bothered. Several times a week in fact … and occasionally quite roughly?’
A grin slowly crept across his mouth. ‘No, actually it hadn’t. I’m sorry, I was just trying to be supportive by leaving you alone to get on with that,’ he indicated all her papers spread across the table, ‘so you could finish it in peace.’
‘So you don’t mind me doing this then?’ she asked. ‘You don’t think I’m ignoring you or getting ideas above my station by not just being the little woman at home?’
‘Not at all! Adele, I thought you knew me better than that. I’ve always been in favour of equality of the sexes. I think it’s marvellous what you’re doing, I’m so proud of you. This will be a major medical breakthrough and it’s all down to you. It’s fantastic!’
‘Oh I’m so glad,’ she said, relieved. ‘I know some men wouldn’t like their women-folk to lead their own lives but I guess I picked better a better man than that.’ She hugged him.
‘About this being bothered business,’ he said to her. ‘I’m feeling rather bothersome right now. Quite annoying in fact.’
She smiled back. ‘Let me get rid of Won Lungh first. I’ll send him on an errand that will get him out of the way for a couple of hours. Then we can go upstairs and annoy each other to our hearts content.’
‘That sounds like a plan, to me.’
***
The day of the reading of Adele’s paper on preventative medicine for victims of werewolf attacks, for the Royal Society of Science and Magick, had finally arrived.
The Royal Society of Science and Magick had been around for some two hundred years and was the magnet for all the finest brains in Albion. All the best and brightest that the country had to offer in the fields of medicine, science, philosophy and, of course, the Magickal arts, were drawn to it.
It had received Royal patronage two hundred years before and since then had had as its president some of the most famous, exciting, thinkers of their ages. Such leading luminaries as … Sir Christopher Wren, who had designed many of the buildings in the city, after the Great Fire of Londum. Samuel Pepys, who … er … kept a diary apparently (?). Sir Humphrey Davy, inventor of the miner’s safety lamp and Sir Isaac Newton, who told us why, an apple falls down from the sky.
They were all out in force today. The current president was there, Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie, noted physiologist and surgeon. That is why Adele’s paper had been granted permission to be read in the first place, as the subject was his field of expertise, the study of the living body. Also present was the august personage of the Arch-Mage of Albion, Sir Abraham Cadabra (or Abra, as he was known to his friends) the top wizard in the land. Along with all the noted Fellows of the Royal Society that were available in Londum to attend that particular day. Thornton was there as well as Jim Darby, who had come along as living proof of Adele’s claim for a cure and had agreed to undergo some medical tests afterwards to help with the research.
Cobb greeted Jim warmly as this was the first time that he had seen him since Jim’s return to Albion, after their little adventure together in Pils-Holstein. When Cobb had last seen Jim he was in a wheelchair, recovering his strength slowly but now he was the picture of health and looked tanned and fit.
Thornton had arranged with the president that Adele would be allowed to read out her own paper. Adele was happy to do this. As an ex-teacher she was quite comfortable standing up in front of a room full of people and giving a public speech.
Cobb, Thornton and Won Lungh sat together as Adele read out her paper. Cobb couldn’t help noticing that Thornton had an annoying cough and that before the speech had started, had left the room at the onset of a coughing fit. He returned before Adele began but still kept clearing his throat throughout Adele’s reading and several times had to hold his handkerchief to his mouth to stifle another outburst of coughing.
‘Are you all right?’ whispered Cobb, concerned.
‘Yes, I’ll be fine. Just got a cough on my chest that’s all,’ he replied.
Thornton had been the same when Cobb visited him a few nights before. He hoped that it really was only a cough and nothing more serious.
Jim Darby was up on the stage with Adele and when she introduced him as the test subject, he stood up and took a bow to a smattering of polite applause. Adele told the audience that one of the unforeseen side effects of the treatment was that the Silver Nitrate had accumulated in various places in the body and would hopefully in time be expelled by being filtered out by the liver. In the meantime however, one of the more visible places it had lodged was in Jim’s irises, so on close inspection, little flecks of silver colouring could be seen. Until it left his body, he was “The Man With the Silver Eyes”.
Adele ended by thanking the Royal Society for the chance to present her work for their consideration. This was received with warm applause and as the meeting broke up, many members came forward to congratulate her individually and to speak to Jim.
‘Marvellous speech, M’dear,’ the Arch-Mage said to her. ‘At last, a cure for werewolf bites. Never thought I’d see it in my lifetime. Nice to see that it came from one of our Sisters of the Craft too,’ he added with a smile, recognising her as a witch.
‘Yes indeed, my dear Abra,’ said the president of the society, Sir Benjamin. ‘Of course it will all need to be verified with laboratory tests but I’m sure that’s only a formality. Then the experimentation to find out the optimum dosage will need to be carried out. Perhaps you’d like to assist with that Miss Curran, if you’re available? But either way, I feel sure that Sir Abraham here will agree with me that if everything proves to be accurate, then it won’t be long before The Royal Society is in a position to offer you an Honorary Fellowship.’
‘Why, that’s wonderful,’ exclaimed Adele, astonished. ‘I’d be honoured.’
‘It’s no more than you deserve for this breakthrough, Miss Curran.’
Cobb, Thornton and Won Lungh managed to get through the crowd to join them, where they followed her and Sir Benjamin, as he led her away to the reception that the Royal Society had laid on for her.
***
Thornton Wells put his glass down on the table and coughed again. ‘I do apologise,’ taking his hankie out of his pocket. Adele had invited Thornton around for dinner, the day after the reading at the Royal Society, to thank him for his assistance in bringing her discovery to the attention of the Society. Jim Darby had also been invited but regrettably had a prior engagement.
‘Are you all right Thornton?’ asked Cobb. ‘You’ve been coughing every time I’ve seen you this week.’
Thornton dabbed his forehead where there was a light sheen of sweat. ‘I’m sorry but I can’t seem to shift this blessed cough, it keeps me awake at nights. Then because I’m awake I get the cold shivers that I would probably sleep through otherwise. But don’t concern yourselves, I’ll be fine.’
‘Still, you should take care of yourself. None of us are getting any younger,’ said Adele.
‘Dear Lady, your concern touches me but I shall survive.’
After they finished dinner Won Lungh cleared away the plates.
‘Sorry I can’t stay longer,’ said Thornton. ‘But like I said, I have to see a chap, spot of business you know.’
Cobb helped him to put his overcoat on. As Thornton buttoned it up, his face suddenly went white and he swa
yed.
‘Are you all right,’ Cobb asked, concerned.
‘Yes, I just went dizzy there for a moment. Maybe this cough is more …’ He collapsed and Cobb caught him before he hit the floor.
‘Won Lungh,’ yelled Adele and he came running through from the kitchen. Cobb and Won Lungh supported him while Adele examined him.
‘He’s passed out and he’s gone a deathly shade of pale. we need to get him into bed. Take him up to the guest bedroom, I think we’re going to have to call the Doctor.’
Won Lungh and Cobb manhandled him up the stairs and put him on the bed in the spare bedroom. Adele loosened his tie and collar. They sent Won Lungh to fetch Dr. Bromley while they undressed him and got him into bed.
Dr. Bromley lived locally and came within fifteen minutes. They left him alone with Thornton while they retired to the drawing room. Won Lungh brought them tea and then went off to finish the dishes from dinner.
After a while, Dr. Bromley came down the stairs and joined them.
‘I’ve given him a sedative to help him rest. Will he be staying here, is there someone to look after him?’
‘Yes of course, he will stay here,’ said Cobb. ‘What’s wrong with him, Doctor?’
‘Well it’s a combination of things really. A cough, exhaustion, it looks like a touch of malaria as well, it seems. Came across it in my Army days. Can’t tell more until I do some tests, I’ve taken some blood but it will be awhile before the hospital can report on that. I can give you prescriptions for something for the cough and the malaria. Over and above that, give him plenty of rest and I’ll come back tomorrow and see how he’s doing.’
‘Thanks for coming out on such short notice.’
‘That’s the trouble with sick people, they never give you advance warning that they’re going to be sick so you can plan it out properly, do they?’ he said.
He was Cobb’s doctor and knew him from old. ‘To be honest Mr. Cobb, I’m a bit worried about him, but we’ll see what the tests have to say.’
Cobb thanked him again and Won Lungh let him out of the house. Cobb and Adele went up to see Thornton.
The Londum Omnibus Volume One (The Londum Series Book 4) Page 51