meet with him or regret his absence forever? And what if, when she came before Solomonâs throne, divinity crackled like thunder in the air between them, and they set about recording their sinister secrets?
The Gospel of Sheba resides upon Lettieâs pillow now, but I shall find a safer resting place for it on the morrow. I hate to think of returning it.
Exhaustion claims me even as I pen this, and my body revolts against the poison saturating it. Whether I will awaken after sleep takes me tonight is by no means a certainty. If I do, I must live better henceforth, of that much I am certain. I have caught glimpses of true happinessâin Lettie, who expanded my dreams; in Grace, for whom I can live to see hers be realized if I am lucky. But just now my heart dully throbs, pumping naught but cinders and grief, and I must consign myself to oblivion hoping I land in the proper sphere.
If I fail to wake on Earth, pray God Lettie never sees this. I did so desire ever to see her happy, and always told her so from the beginning.
Telegram from BAKER STREET to LISSON GROVE, September 22nd, 1902, marked URGENT.
EXAMINED WHITE PROTECTIVE GLOVES FOUND HIGH CONCENTRATION OF MONKSHOOD THEREIN STOP ACONITINE NEED NOT BE INGESTED, ABSORBED THROUGH TOUCH PARTICULARLY HANDS THUS ALL YOUR THEORIES CONFIRMED STOP INSIDIOUS BUT YOU MUST ADMIT VERY CLEVER STOP HAS YOUR CONDITION IMPROVED? STOP GLOVES WILL RETURN TO YOU BY AFTERNOON POST, ADVISE WHEN YOU MEAN TO RETURN ALL TO BROTHERHOOD AND I SHALL HAVE AN INSPECTOR AT THE READY PER WATSONâS PLAN âSH
Telegram from STRASBOURG, GERMANY to LISSON GROVE, September 22nd, 1902, marked URGENT.
SIR WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU OF SERIOUS EMERGENCY OVERSIGHT STOP YOUR WIFE MRS. COLETTE LOMAX HAS BEEN FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS LYING ILL WITH PNEUMONIA IN STRASBOURG STOP SHE ASSURED US THE ISSUE WAS FATIGUE AND VOCAL OVERWORK STOP PLEASE PROCEED WITH HASTE TO THE HOTEL JOSPEHINE, AS SHE IS UNABLE TO TRAVEL ALONE, OR WIRE FUNDS FOR AN ESCORT âMDW, ESQ, COMPANY MANAGER
Letter sent from Mrs. Colette Lomax to Mr. A. Davenport Lomax, September 22nd, 1902.
Oh my Arthur,
Iâve lied to you, which is absolutely horrid, and forces me to see myself as I amâa woman who would rather invent a duke than admit to sleeping in mould. By this time even lifting a pen is a challenge, so I must confess quickly: I am really sincerely unwell, to my honest dismay. I havenât so much as set foot in Strasbourg proper yet, only hidden in this rathole of a hotel they booked for me, but I hope so that you will take me to see the sights when you come. If you do come.
Forgive me, I beg you. You said you only wanted me to be happy, you see, and I turned it into something false and dreadful, imagining you wanted a meadowlark in a cage and not a free songbird. At any rate, Iâve invented an entire duke at this point to stop you from fretting and I cannot continue in this vein any longer. A bit of pride was at work as well. I know you didnât wish for me to accept this tour, but I so wanted to feel valued in my profession, and I couldnât admit that you were right, and a better-organized engagement would have come along sooner or later. Even if you are angry, which youâve every right to be, please take me away from this small corner of hell.
Always,
Mrs. Colette Lomax
Excerpt from the private journal of Mr. A. Davenport Lomax, September 22nd, 1902.
I fairly ran through the tiny spaces between the stacks today, breathless and dizzy, having been told by a new hire that my governess wanted to see me urgently in the foyer (Miss Church not being a member). Subtle iron finials were subjected to brutal treatment upon my part as I raced to what was certainlyâI imaginedâmore unhappy news, this time involving my little girl.
Seeing Grace safe and quiet and clutching her doll next to Miss Church, my heart commenced beating in the usual manner again. Well, not quite usual, yet suffering
The Gospel of Sheba resides upon Lettieâs pillow now, but I shall find a safer resting place for it on the morrow. I hate to think of returning it.
Exhaustion claims me even as I pen this, and my body revolts against the poison saturating it. Whether I will awaken after sleep takes me tonight is by no means a certainty. If I do, I must live better henceforth, of that much I am certain. I have caught glimpses of true happinessâin Lettie, who expanded my dreams; in Grace, for whom I can live to see hers be realized if I am lucky. But just now my heart dully throbs, pumping naught but cinders and grief, and I must consign myself to oblivion hoping I land in the proper sphere.
If I fail to wake on Earth, pray God Lettie never sees this. I did so desire ever to see her happy, and always told her so from the beginning.
Telegram from BAKER STREET to LISSON GROVE, September 22nd, 1902, marked URGENT.
EXAMINED WHITE PROTECTIVE GLOVES FOUND HIGH CONCENTRATION OF MONKSHOOD THEREIN STOP ACONITINE NEED NOT BE INGESTED, ABSORBED THROUGH TOUCH PARTICULARLY HANDS THUS ALL YOUR THEORIES CONFIRMED STOP INSIDIOUS BUT YOU MUST ADMIT VERY CLEVER STOP HAS YOUR CONDITION IMPROVED? STOP GLOVES WILL RETURN TO YOU BY AFTERNOON POST, ADVISE WHEN YOU MEAN TO RETURN ALL TO BROTHERHOOD AND I SHALL HAVE AN INSPECTOR AT THE READY PER WATSONâS PLAN âSH
Telegram from STRASBOURG, GERMANY to LISSON GROVE, September 22nd, 1902, marked URGENT.
SIR WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU OF SERIOUS EMERGENCY OVERSIGHT STOP YOUR WIFE MRS. COLETTE LOMAX HAS BEEN FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS LYING ILL WITH PNEUMONIA IN STRASBOURG STOP SHE ASSURED US THE ISSUE WAS FATIGUE AND VOCAL OVERWORK STOP PLEASE PROCEED WITH HASTE TO THE HOTEL JOSPEHINE, AS SHE IS UNABLE TO TRAVEL ALONE, OR WIRE FUNDS FOR AN ESCORT âMDW, ESQ, COMPANY MANAGER
Letter sent from Mrs. Colette Lomax to Mr. A. Davenport Lomax, September 22nd, 1902.
Oh my Arthur,
Iâve lied to you, which is absolutely horrid, and forces me to see myself as I amâa woman who would rather invent a duke than admit to sleeping in mould. By this time even lifting a pen is a challenge, so I must confess quickly: I am really sincerely unwell, to my honest dismay. I havenât so much as set foot in Strasbourg proper yet, only hidden in this rathole of a hotel they booked for me, but I hope so that you will take me to see the sights when you come. If you do come.
Forgive me, I beg you. You said you only wanted me to be happy, you see, and I turned it into something false and dreadful, imagining you wanted a meadowlark in a cage and not a free songbird. At any rate, Iâve invented an entire duke at this point to stop you from fretting and I cannot continue in this vein any longer. A bit of pride was at work as well. I know you didnât wish for me to accept this tour, but I so wanted to feel valued in my profession, and I couldnât admit that you were right, and a better-organized engagement would have come along sooner or later. Even if you are angry, which youâve every right to be, please take me away from this small corner of hell.
Always,
Mrs. Colette Lomax
Excerpt from the private journal of Mr. A. Davenport Lomax, September 22nd, 1902.
I fairly ran through the tiny spaces between the stacks today, breathless and dizzy, having been told by a new hire that my governess wanted to see me urgently in the foyer (Miss Church not being a member). Subtle iron finials were subjected to brutal treatment upon my part as I raced to what was certainlyâI imaginedâmore unhappy news, this time involving my little girl.
Seeing Grace safe and quiet and clutching her doll next to Miss Church, my heart commenced beating in the usual manner again. Well, not quite usual, yet suffering
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