36

Friday, June 18, cont.

Back at home, we found a letter from Germany forwarded to me from my prior address. I recognized the Professor’s precise handwriting and noting the letter was sent a week prior, I tore it open on the spot.

Heidelberg, June 11, 1897

Dear Miss Harkness,

I’ve had a stimulating week as a visiting professor at this historic university. A Professor Holman was assigned to me as translator and guide. Or, using his proper German title, “Herr Professor Doktor Holman.” More than one of the students was confused by our British tradition of referring to surgeons as “Mister,” a relic of the days of Barber Surgeons. One student, doing his best to address me properly in English, referred to me as “Mister Professor”Bell, and the title stuck. I’ve been called worse, and I accepted my new title with a smile.

As I shall have to travel through London on my way back to Edinburgh, I thought you, Doyle, and I could dine together and stage a brief reunion of the Three Musketeers. Doyle, as you may know, now resides in South Norwood, a short distance from London, so he could easily join us.

I joined the Marlboro Club during our prior adventure, so I plan on staying the night there on Saturday, the nineteenth. Fortunately, I made the reservation prior to our departure for Germany, for it was the last room they had available until after the Diamond Jubilee, and I can only stay the one night.

I shall be traveling at leisure for the next week, so please leave a message for me at the club’s reception. I estimate my arrival around noon.

If you are unable to meet with me, I understand, but request that you RSVP so that I may plan accordingly when I arrive.

Respectfully Yours,

JB

I read the letter over twice, the first time quickly, savoring the memory of his voice as I imagined him reading it to me. The second time I read it over more slowly, in order to fully grasp the content. Bell was arriving tomorrow! It would be good to sit around the table with my comrades once more. Then I frowned. James and Elizabeth should not be excluded.

Elizabeth could tell by my smile the letter was significant. “What is it, Margaret? Who do you know in Germany?”

“A dear friend,” I said. “Though he resides in Edinburgh. He was with me in Germany recently, and stayed behind a few days once our business there was settled. He’ll be in London tomorrow and wants to dine with me and our mutual friend, Conan Doyle, tomorrow night.” Elizabeth’s eyes bulged when I mentioned my other old comrade. “Oh, Margaret, you must go! Could I go? Could I meet him? Could Father come too?”

I laughed at her enthusiasm. Elizabeth did nothing by halves. “In order of your statement and questions, I agree I should go, and yes, yes, and yes! The diversion would do us all good.”

Elizabeth danced up the steps to the building entrance while I mentally composed my response. I would have much to relate to my two old friends on how I had spent the last fortnight. I’d have to move quickly to get a message to the club and be back in time for dinner. I stopped Elizabeth as she started to change back into a dress. “If you want to accompany me,” I advised, “don’t change. I’m leaving as soon as I dash off a note.”

I wanted to re-create the episode of the Three Musketeers as closely as possible, and as I was soon leaving for a new life in Australia, I felt a little indulgence was called for. With that in mind, I sat down and composed the following note:

Dear Mister Professor Bell,

I am delighted to have the chance to break bread with you and Doyle one last time before my emigration to Australia on July seventh. As it’s possible this will be our final farewell, I will take the liberty of requesting that you task your doorman to purchase five tickets for the eight o’clock performance of our mutual acquaintance, Mark Twain. I shall reimburse you for all when we arrive.

I can see your abundant eyebrows ascend after reading the number of tickets I require. While you have been teaching in Heidelberg I have been rather busier, to wit—I have survived an assassination attempt by an anarchist and acquired a dear friend in Inspector Ethington, who has a remarkable fifteen-year-old daughter. I trust you have no objection to them joining us for the evening. I recall our conversation regarding the inspector after our initial meeting with him, and once again your perception, and generosity of spirit exceeded mine.

His daughter, Elizabeth, desires to become a detective like her father. As such, she is already adept at passing herself off as a young man, and I would ask you make a reservation at the club for the five of us, to allow me to coach her on how to behave as a male in more formal situations. I would be grateful if you didn’t share Elizabeth’s gender with Doyle, to see if she can fool him for the evening.

As you can tell, I aspire to be as entertaining as always.

My current address in Soho is attached. Please send one of the club’s couriers with your response to inform me if my plan meets with your approval and, if so, what time we should arrive.

Affectionately Yours,

Margaret

I folded my note and placed it into an envelope, wrote the flat’s address on the outside with my name, and looked up to see Elizabeth ready to go. “Come, Elizabeth. We need to buy you some theater attire while we’re out.”

Elizabeth hesitated at the entrance to the Marlboro Club, holding back and asking me, “Are you sure?”

“Don’t be afraid, Elizabeth,” I soothed. “The residents scarcely look at one another. A young man your age will be completely beneath their notice. Besides, I want you to get a good look at where we’re having dinner tomorrow night.”

“What!” Elizabeth’s pale face turned paler. “Impossible! I wouldn’t be able to swallow.”

“How else are you to meet Doctor Doyle?” I teased.

She sighed and followed me into reception where I exchanged pleasantries with the clerk, then explained I had a note for a guest arriving tomorrow. We left, Elizabeth mute the entire time.

“Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“No, but I didn’t have to say anything. Are Professor Bell and Doctor Doyle agreeable to two females joining them for dinner in a men’s club?”

I patted her shoulder. “As for me, I’ve dined there with them before in male clothing. Knowing Professor Bell as I do, I think he’ll find it excellent sport.”

“And Doctor Doyle?”

“Oh, he won’t know. I want to see if you can fool him the entire evening.”

Elizabeth gave me a look somewhere between amazement and terror as she froze on the sidewalk in midstride. “Margaret! How could you? What if he finds out!”

I pulled gently on her arm to restart her motion before we were overrun by other pedestrians. “I sincerely doubt that will happen. First, Doctor Doyle has a robust appetite and will be much occupied with the meal. Second, he will be more interested in the recent adventures of Bell and myself in Germany than mine here in London. He’s apt to give you a friendly nod, then focus on other matters. As long as you don’t scream, you should be fine.”

“But my hair! I can’t wear a cap to dinner.”

“Quite right. I have a wig I can lend you. Now, let’s go, we have much to do!”

I swore Elizabeth to secrecy regarding the next evening’s plans until after dinner. When James arrived home I asked, in my most innocent voice. “So, any news to report?”

“No news from Peg Leg or his brood, nor anything new from Germany. I spent more time studying the route of the procession, and I am convinced more than ever that if Ott strikes, it will be during the ceremony. Besides, that would make the greatest impression. Unless he’s a distraction for some bomb-throwers along the route?”

“We can’t afford to discount the threat,” I said. “Anything else?”

“Various administrative tasks that I fear shall only multiply once I am promoted. Heavy rests the head that wears the crown, I suppose.” He shrugged.

“So,” he asked, “how was the rest of your day?”