Session 2 - The Plot Thickens

Report Date - Session played Monday 15th May, 2006

Audio Recording - The Monday Night Players Present...Tatters of the King Session 2 - The Plot Thickens (Note: This recording was made in 2006 and as such is quiet in places and has some quality issues.)

Halloween. The four new friends meet at Dr Bartlett's Wimbledon home on Wednesday evening, for a game of bridge. The house has been dressed with pumpkins and other spooky accoutrements by Frederick's wife Mary. Bartlett raises the subject of the play and mentions that he recently encountered references to various elements of its contents during a professional consultation.

Nathaniel Browne explains that such elements have already been published as part of Chambers' work and that this would explain where Bartlett's patient most likely encountered it.

The characters continue on with their own regular lives, although two events unfold on this day:

• Dr Bartlett meets Doctor Lionel Trollope in his London home. Trollope (seemingly drained and preoccupied) describes the Roby murders, and explains that he does not think Alexander Roby is now, or ever will be, fit for release. On his return home, Bartlett discovers that a man claiming to be a taxi driver was looking for his house earlier in the day, but never called. This may be The Tall Man, who appearances to mean harm to the party.
• Nathaniel Browne, desiring to peruse a copy of 'Le Roi en Jeune', calls Talbot Estus and reveals what he has so far discovered about the roots of the play. Intrigued by names in the play turning up in the works of Ambrose Bierce and thus having a possible source which predates 'Le Roi en Jeune', Estus arranges for Nathaniel to visit him for lunch the following day.

Both Nathaniel Browne and Dr Bartlett continue to be intrigued with the events surrounding the King in Yellow and the Roby Murders:

• Nathaniel keeps his lunch date with Talbot Estus. Arriving at the home of Estus and Michael Gillen, Nathaniel finds that Gillen is away on business. Over lunch, Browne and Estus describe their mutual enthusiasm for 'the King in Yellow'. Estus is surprised and offended by Nathaniel's insistence that the play was not performed as written, but nonetheless is persuaded to lend Browne his copy of 'Le Roi en Jeune'.
• Bartlett meanwhile visits Grahame Roby who is belligerent and unhelpful, but who does go on to mention Delia Hartston. It is obvious that the elder Roby clearly has not the slightest intention of consenting to Alexander Roby's release.

That evening, Bartlett dines with Withers and tells him what he has learned about the Roby case. Intrigued by the unfolding events, Withers offers to attempt to trace Delia Hartston.

It's a chilly Saturday, and among the group's regular weekend activities:

• Nathaniel Browne begins his own translation of 'Le Roi en Jeune', finding that it differs from Talbot Estus's play in some significant ways.
• Withers, prompted by Bartlett engages a private investigator, by telephone, to trace Delia Hartston.

Unbeknownst to all, however, as evening falls, Doctor Lionel Trollope is attacked and killed while travelling across St James' Park!

The violent death of a respected doctor quickly makes the papers, and as Dr Bartlett reads the Daily Express that morning he is shocked to discover the report of Trollopes' murder in St James' Park. Reading the eye witness accounts, he soon starts to think that one of the suspects matches the description of the tall man reported to have visited his home, only a few days before.

In the following post , Dr Bartlett receives a posthumous letter (Page 1 & page 2) from the murdered Doctor. In this missive the names of Delia Hartston, Lawrence Bacon and Vincent Tuck are mentioned in relation to the Roby Murders as well as fact that Roby once had a book published - 'The Walker by the Lake'. Worryingly, the letter also appears to predict, in exact detail, the circumstances of the Doctor's death. Trollope also reveals

Shortly afterwards, a man, possibly the very same Tall Man delivers a housebrick to Captain George Withers at Victoria Barracks, in what appears to have been an exercise to confirm Withers' billet. In reponse, Withers arranges to change his accommodation.

In the afternoon, Bartlett receives a visit from Detective Inspector Andrew Taylor, investigating the Trollope murder, who is interviewing all those who had appointments with Trollope in the days before his death. Bartlett is reasonably open with Taylor, mentioning the mysterious activities of the Tall Man and the possible connection to the Roby Murders.

Guy Fawkes' Night.

Once more the group gather again at Dr Bartlett's house and they talk further about their discoveries and partake in the fireworks. They discuss the events of the last few days, during which it becomes clear that everyone knows that Bartlett has been consulting on the case of Alexander Roby.

• Bartlett discusses the fact that he has been somewhat disturbed by his current work and that a friend of his (Doctor Trollope) has not only been murdered, but apparently predicted the exact circumstances of his demise in his letter to Bartlett. He urges Browne to find a book called 'The Walker by the Lake' which may be pertinent to the case. Browne agrees but is frustrated by Bartlett's unwillingness to share details of the book such as its authorship.
• Nathaniel Browne reveals the copy of 'Le Roi en Jeune' that he borrowed from Estus. The Yellow Sign on the cover seems to writhe and move upon the page, disturbing Withers and bringing back memories of bad dreams for Andrew Saunders. This dream was the mirror of Saunders' previous doppelganger dream. and in this version Saunders was the armed version of himself, attempting to seize a crown from his unarmed self!
• Finally, Browne also reveals what he has discovered about 'Le Roi en Jeune' and its differences from Talbot Estus's play.

After Bartlett's wife calls everyone outside for the fireworks (during which Browne sees the Yellow Sign formed by one of them, but the others do not), Bartlett receives a frantic phone call from Nurse Price at the asylum, announcing the murder of Frederick Long! This call brings a prompt end to the night's gathering,

The revelation of another murder at St Agnes Asylum isn't the only disturbing event that night however! On his way home, Saunders' cab is cut off by a black car and he finds himself confronted by the mysterious Tall Man. Unwilling to face the menacing figure directly, Saunders remains in the cab while the Tall man warns Saunders to tell his friends to 'drop this matter'.