Page 24 of Infernal Vices

Several days ago I was accosted by brother Ardmillan. He was in a desperate state of mental discombobulation. He sought my forgiveness and offered a bag of silvertrinkets to win his way back into the good graces of the brotherhood. It seems that he secreted himself in your house and carried out the theft while you were asleep. I am outraged that a brother we both trusted would betray us in this manner.

I’m sure, as you are reading this note you’ll understand as a man of the law, Brother Dancer cannot permit this theft to go unpunished. He sought counsel from me on how to proceed and I spoke with two other brothers with authority in this area. We fear Brother Ardmillan has strayed too far from our path and cannot be trusted to continue this journey with us. Therefore, I have ensured that he was committed to Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum where he will receive treatment for all that ails him.

I do hope you are relieved to have an end to this unsavoury matter.

Blessed is the seed

L.B

Dancer’s vulpine eyes watched for my reaction. I tried to keep my expression unreadable, but I was not happy about what they’d done.

“Please don’t concern yourself about the asylum. Due to his station Lord Ardmillan will receive more…favourable treatment than your common lunatic,” Dancer insisted.

I’d heard that mental asylums were ghastly places, but the fact of the matter was, Euan was most certainly behaving in an erratic manner. I too hoped that with medical intervention Euan would forget his obsession with the cabal and his unsatisfied appetites. Even though he had betrayed me, I was still concerned about him and I secretly I vowed to request a visitation to check on my old friend’s health.

Detective Inspector Dancer rose from the couch and reached for his bowler hat. “Destroy that letter. If anyone asks you should say that the box of silver was left at Scotland Yard by persons unknown. I trust that my secret remains as safe as your own, Brother Benedict.”

“Yes, yes, of course, of course, Brother Jack,” I said hurriedly as I placed the letter on the table with the box of silver items. I would destroy it after I’d shown it to Sebastian.

“I am glad to see this matter put to bed,” Dancer said as put his bowler on his head and strode toward the door. I rose and rushed to my office door to see Dancer out. I had been curious as to the identity of the other members of Fratres Seminis, but to discover that a police detective was among our ranks was terrifying. I reached for the shiny brass door knob and pulled my office door open. Dancer kept his vulpine amber eyes on me, his mouth hitching with amusement. The sounds of life outside of my office, the clacking of the typewriter, the footfalls of staff moving around the building all made me remember myself, pulling me from the turmoil of possible discovery. Dancer grinned, and then placed a heavy hand on my shoulder and squeezed.

”Calm yourself my brother. We look after our own. If you ever have any problems you can call on me at Scotland Yard,” he assured with a wink.

Oh yes, they certainly ‘looked after’ Euan by sending him to a bally lunatic asylum. I nodded numbly and then Dancer walked out of my office.

I closed the door and leaned against it, taking a heaving breath. This was not good, not good at all!

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