Chapter Two

The Second Visit

That evening, about eight, I found myself dressed like the finest East End toff, complete with a silk top hat. Once again I knocked on the door of the house in St. John’s Wood.

“Good evening, sir. What brings you to my door?”

“Good evening, madam. I should like to be entertained.”

“I am afraid I know you not. Why do you think there is entertainment here?”

I had my story ready. “I was given your name by a friend. I have long been away in the Foreign Service. I was recently called back for a consultation. A gentleman in that agency, whose name I would prefer not to mention, suggested I stop at your door. He said I should ask for Kit. You do have an entertainer by that name, do you not?”

“Why, we do, indeed. And she is available this evening; how fortunate for you. Please come in. Please leave ten pounds on the hall table.”

****

“It cost me ten quid. That’s more than I spend in a month. And these clothes must have cost plenty. Who’s standing the cost?”

Duff and I were in our room upstairs in the Black Lion. Duff suggested we meet there after my “field investigation” in case there were details unsuitable for a lady’s ear.

“We are paying the expenses this time. Mr. and Mrs. Barkis have been very good to us, and we owe them this favor. I’m sure you understand.”

“Maybe we do, and maybe they don’t have the cash to pay for my duds and my, should we say, research costs, but where are we getting the money?”

“Lady Peel has been very generous to us. The Iron Duke and Sir Robert have also arranged for us to be paid a sizable reward from the government for our efforts in uncovering the activities of the Maltese Cross Gang.”

“I haven’t seen any money. You know I am now studying mathematics with Miss Alice, and I can tell if you aren’t being fair with me.”

“So, you have gotten over your emotions concerning Miss Martin. That’s good.”

“Don’t change the subject. Where is the money?”

“Blathers, after all these years, don’t you trust me?”

“I just asked a simple question. Where is the money?”

“You know, you are starting to age.”

“Where is the money?”

“I’m trying to tell you.”

“Just tell me, then.”

“If you would stop yelling, I would.”

“I’m not yelling. You are.”

The door flung open and Barkis, himself, stood there with his hands on his hips. “Stop, both of you! You’re upsetting the ladies.”

“All I want to know is where is the money?”

“I am trying to tell him I have it invested for our retirement.”

“Right! Well, why didn’t you say so?”

Barkis said, “Both of you, downstairs. We all want to know what was discovered at Bliss House.”

****

I began my report to ladies and gents alike. If they heard something that made them blush, so be it.

“I was admitted to the house. Kit seemed to recognize me, but she couldn’t remember where she’d seen me afore. Of course, when she saw me on the day of the killing I was dressed much different. Duff, do you think it would have cost less than ten quid if I was dressed like I usually am?”

“I don’t think you would have been admitted at all.”

“Why not? That Gander fellow told me to come back later. He would have let me in.”

“Maybe he thought you were delivering something. Anyway, the disguise worked. Now, what did you find out?”

“Right. I’ll skip some of the details, but Kit and I had a good talk, off and on.”

“So to speak,” Barkis said. Clara gave him a look that said he should keep quiet.

“Here’s what she told me. This Colonel Granger—Nickleby says his real name is Granger Sikes—and Mrs. Bardell own the house. Gander was their muscle man. Colonel Granger would lure young girls just arrived in London to the house. Gander would keep them there. After a few weeks of beatings, most would stay. No telling what happened to those that didn’t. Kit tells me, quite confidentially, if you please, Emma was a fighter. First time Gander comes her way, she kicks him where it hurts most, if you ladies will excuse the way I put it, and Gander goes away all doubled over. After that she found the knife, and Gander was afraid to go near her. None of the customers wanted a thing to do with her either, but there was one fellow who would visit her on the sly.”

Duff asked, “What fellow is that?”

“Now that’s just the thing. Kit says the first time he comes to the house he asks for Emma. He goes up and stays awhile, then comes down and asks for his money back. Says that Emma wouldn’t cooperate. Kit saw the fellow and says, just like me, he looks kind of familiar.”

Barkis said, “I’m bettin’ that most lads look familiar to Kit.” Clara hit him on the shoulder with a wooden spoon.

I went on, “She said, too, that Mrs. Bardell and Granger were glad to be rid of Emma, for all the trouble she caused. They were probably not sorry to lose Gander, either. Kit says she thinks he knew too much about the way the house was run.”

Miss Betsey was on her feet. “The cads! I’ll have the police down on them. Trying to ruin my sweet Emma! I don’t care what her mother was like. She’s an innocent girl.”

I said, “I’m afraid you won’t get much help from the police. It is highly likely that police officials are customers there.”

Duff said, “Blathers, do you remember those girls Caddy Quale obtained to act in our little play for Sir Percy Wesley?”

“Right, you mean Nell and Betty.”

“Yes, those two. Do you know how to contact them? Maybe they can be of some help.”

“I might.”

****

Now, you have to understand, Nell and Betty deal with a different kind of fellows than the girls in St. John’s Wood. Out there was all barons and ministers and Knights of the Garter and all. Nell and Betty charged less. The two of them, and they quite often worked as a twosome, would spend a week with you for ten quid. Their customers are, well, like them newspaper lads what were with Mr. Dickens when we caught Sir Percy with, shall we say, his trousers down. Oh, I remember that scene well. Those ladies of the Vice Society beating on Sir Percy and ogling at his privates. And every time he tried to yank up his pants they would hit him again and take a good look for themselves.

Anyway, because Duff thought it might be helpful, I was, just by luck, mind you, able to locate the girls. They were very helpful, and when they found out I had paid ten pounds to interview Kit, they said they wouldn’t charge me for the time with them, even though, as they pointed out, since there were two of them, I would, no doubt, receive twice the satisfaction.

After engaging in the usual polite activities, I asked the girls, “Now, ladies, what can you tell me about Bliss House and the folks that run it?”

Nell said, “Blathers, you know we isn’t in the same game as them out there.”

Betty said, “Right you are. We ain’t had no peer o’ the realm in over five years.”

Nell said, “But we has heard o’ that rat Granger Sikes. He hangs around the train stations, you know, and when he sees a likely girl get off the train wearin’ country duds, he strikes. Lot’s o’ girls make the mistake o’ fallin’ fer his line.”

Betty said, “I almost made that same mistake meself.” She had a squeaky little voice.

Nell said, “It’s a shame he ain’t in gaol. Them toffs is so anxious to have a little bit o’ fun, they keeps a cad like that from being sent away.”

Betty said, “Them fools doesn’t know what a good time they might has wi’ the two o’ us. And for a lot less money.”

I once again explained my problem to the ladies. “Well, now, girls, you see the difficulty. The girls there won’t talk, and, for sure, the customers won’t talk. I would go back as a customer, but it’s so expensive, and I’m getting tired.”

Nell and Betty said together, “Use the tradesmen’s entrance.”