Table of Contents
Session 2 - The Plot Thickens
Report Date - Session played on Monday 15th May, 2006
Previous Session - The Madman | Next Session - Alexander's Friends
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Wednesday, October 31st, 1928
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.
Thursday, November 1st 1928
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 - through his neighbour - that a man claiming to be a taxi driver was looking for his house earlier in the day, However, Frederick's wife states that no such man ever called at their door. This is later suspected to be be The Tall Man, who would trackdown with each of the Investigators over the following weeks.
- 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.
Friday, November 2nd 1928
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, while belligerent and unhelpful, mentions one Delia Hartston, Alexander's ex-finacee. It is obvious that the elder Roby has not the slightest intention of consenting to Alexander'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.
Saturday, November 3rd 1928
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 has significant differences from Talbot Estus's play.
Unbeknownst to all, however, as evening falls, Doctor Lionel Trollope is attacked and killed while travelling across St James' Park!
Sunday, November 4th 1928
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. Reading the eyewitness 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 in addition to the fact that Roby once had a book published - 'The Walker by the Lake'. Worryingly, Trollope's letter also appears to predict, in exact detail, the circumstances of his death.
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 response, 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.
Monday, November 5th 1928
Guy Fawkes' Night
Once more the group gather again at Dr Bartlett's house, and they talk further their discoveries while partaking in a small display of 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 dinner, 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). As things wind down for the evening, 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'.
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