You arrive at the bank half an hour before midday. As you enter, Jonathan reaches for the letter from Everett, but discovers it is missing from his pocket, along with the letter from his father! Jonathan recalls being jostled on the pavement by a nondescript passer by while getting into the taxi - could it be his pocket was picked?

Even without the letter of introduction you are quickly escorted to the manager's office. Randolf Paine is a small and rotund man, his round face glistening with sweat and his handshake even limper and damper than Rupert Everett's.

"My Lord Deville, may I say what a pleasure it is to meet you. You have already heard about your father's deposit boy. Would you like to view it now? We can also run through the disposition of your investments"

Jonathan's smile is a trifle distracted as he returns Paine's handshake and introduces his companions. "I would like access to the box now. Perhaps we can defer the discussion of my investments to a later date, unless you can do it very briefly. We haven't had lunch yet and I've another meeting later today."

Father Alden raised an eyebrow.  “Curious that Mr Paine didn’t  ask for a reference”, he thought to himself.  But perhaps word travelled fast in financial circles.  He decided to hold his tongue.  After all, Johnathan was getting what he asked for so why make a fuss.

George smirks to himself.

The more things change, the more they stay the same - Money Talks, Merit Walks!

"Certainly Lord Deville, I will be at your disposal to go over your portfolio whenever you have the time" Paine assures you. "Gentlemen, would you be so kind as to follow me?"

He then leads you downstairs to the vault, where a clerk produces the key and fetches box 2464. Paine stands back discretely, but his curiousity is palpable as Jonathan opens the box...

Inside is a black, leather bound 5 year journal for the years 1905 - 1909, and a yellowing photograph that appears at first glance to be severely over-exposed. It shows an elderly man lying on what looks like a hospital bed. His eyes are closed, his face gaunt and pain-wracked. The man's torso is concealed by a large blob of white. Disturbingly, the man appears to be chained to the bed...

Jonathan thumbs through the journal enough to ascertain the dates and a cursory idea of the contents. He slips the photo inside the book.


He passes the journal to Father Alden: "Would you keep this for me, Father?"

Kit makes a small noise of surprise at the sight of the photograph.

"It's not - quite what I expected," he says quietly, sounding much less sunny than earlier in the day.

“Yes, of course.” Father Alden’s anguish was palpable as he took the journal, solemnly closed it, and placed it into his inside jacket pocket.

He reached for the small silver crucifix around his neck and rubbed it quietly as he nodded at Kit’s comment.

The diary consists of a series of handwritten entries, with the last one dated 30th August 1909, so most of the journal has been used. There are few blank pages, indicating the writer was fairly assiduous about keeping it up to date. As far as Jonathan can judge, the handwriting seems to match that on the letter from his father he saw earlier.

Jonathan thanks Mr. Paine and leaves the bank.

"Shall we go back to the hotel for lunch? I'm fairly itching to delve into Father's diary, but I'm rather peckish."

"That sounds fine, I'm hungry too.  Should I go check out the trains soon or we might miss out on tickets?"

"Let's not go up tonight, Uncle George. I'd like to get the legal and financial business out of the way.

"Do you think I should report the theft to the police? It's nothing of any monetary value, though I hate losing anything of my father's."

"Very well.  I have planned to go to Great Scotland Yard after lunch.  Perhaps we can all go and deal with business together.
I have a contact there who may be able to help."

"At least the manager knows what you look like now," Kit observes as the group prepares to leave.

"Even if someone's running around out there with that letter and they stumble on the notion of claiming to be you, they shouldn't get much joy of it.  Doubly so, if the Captain can pull some strings with Scotland Yard."

“I concur.  While there may be no harm to you, who knows what harm the thief could do others.  We should definitely report it.”  Father Alden said firmly.

As they exit the bank, Jonathan asks, "Does anyone have an idea where the hotel is from here? Can we walk or should we try to get a cab?"

George puts his hand into his jacket pocket...

08:49, Today: Captain George Yates rolled 4 using 1d6+1. Preparedness +1. =Edit= STREET MAP
This message was last edited by the player at 18:55, Wed 18 Jan 2012.

London is a very confusing place, lacking the regular gridded layout of most cities in the United States. The hotel could be on the next street for all you know, but luckily Captain Yates picked up a street map of central London at reception this morning. Kit is unconsciously on the lookout for trouble but is momentarily distracted as the group pores over the map, and only spots the man barreling out of an alley towards Jonathan too late to shout a warning. The ruffian makes a grab for Jonathan's pocket, but is evidently frustrated and pulls away, obviously ready to make a run for it...
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:44, Wed 18 Jan 2012.

Jonathan lunges for the fellow, intent to bring him down.

Jonathan Cavendish rolled 3 with a +1 spend on Athletics to grab the ruffian.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:29, Wed 18 Jan 2012.

George throws himself at the ruffian, trying to bring him down with a rugby tackle

18:58, Today: Captain George Yates rolled 3 using 1d6+2. Rugby Tackle.

The ruffian was clearly not expecting to be brought down a few paces later by an pair of efficient rugby tackles from Jonathan and George that send him crashing to the pavement, momentarily stunned. The pair quickly overpower him, pinning the miscreant to the pavement between them.

"'Ere lay off me guv I 'aint dun nuffink wrong!" he protests in a strong cockney accent.

Raging with indignation, George balls at the ruffian!
"D'you know who you're touchin' boy!  This is a Peer of the Realm."

George drags him to his feet, keeping a tight grip on his arm.
"Up you get boy, and spill the beans.  You are pickpocket, or is there something else?"

Momentarily stunned, Father Alden visibly checked Johnathan to make sure he was unharmed.  Seeing that Johnathan seemed no worse for wear, he turned to Kit, the Captain, and the scoundrel.

“Good show, men”, Father Alden complimented Kit and the good Captain on their quick capture of the ….. potential thief.

Father Alden had seen a few confessions in his time and he paid very close attention to how the miscreant responded.

George has rattled the miscreant, and the old army officer doesn't miss the ruffian's eyes flicker briefly to the right at the last question. George can't be sure, but thinks the man glanced at a trio of toughs slouching at the exit of an alley couple of dozen yards from you on the other side of the street.

"I just tripped and fell, honest guv. Beggin' yer pardon yer lordship" says the man, his attitude almost comically servile at the mention of the aristocracy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:31, Mon 23 Jan 2012.

"A poor liar, at best," Kit says with a scowl, although he remains a few paces away, leaving the interrogation to Captain Yates.  "I distinctly saw him go for your pocket, Jon."

A worrisome thought is demanding his attention; could two robberies in one morning really be a coincidence?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:22, Mon 23 Jan 2012.