Page 41 of Infernal Vices

“Have you heard of the Secretum?”

“In the British Museum? Yes. It contains items too scandalous for the common folk to ever see for fear of mass hysteria. Us common folk are of delicate constitutions, don’t you know!” he jested.

“Well, I discovered that Henry Ashe is a covert pornography collector. He purchases erotic materials on his world travels and then sells them on, or donates them to the Secretum in the return for privileges and favours.”

“The filthy bugger!” Sebastian exclaimed in faux-outrage.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It is not for us to judge the sins of man!” I sighed. “Suffice to say, I was among a small group of men selected to view the Secretum. When inside the room, Charles led me to his father’s most recent donation, a particular book of homosexual pornography from Paris.” I rose and moved to my desk, opened a drawer and from beneath a stack of papers, took out the photograph and then returned to my seat.

“Within the book was a photograph that transformed Charles Ashe into a changed man.”

I passed the photograph to Sebastian. He took a glance at it and gasped in horror, a hand rising to cover his mouth. Understanding full-well that with his nude younger self draped over an older man’s lap, this was not a good memory for my lover I continued, speaking in a serious tone.

“It was the only one of you. I removed that photograph from the book after Charles discovered Lawrence Blake was a pornographer and also known as Nathanial Everett.” Sebastian held the photograph lightly, as if it would burn his fingers and he stared at the image of the young man he had once been.

“Charles was furious to discover Blake was not his real name and that he lied about his past. He revealed that he’d had his suspicions about Blake’s credibility for some time—that members of the cabal repeatedly spoke of small items of silver vanishing from their person, or their rooms.”

“Blake does not work and has no legal means of making money,” Sebastian informed. “He’s always been first-rate at manipulation and sleight of hand. When I was living with him, not a male guest left his rooms without Nathaniel retaining a memento. Even when he was flush, he had to steal something, a kerchief, a ring, a pocket watch.”

“Sounds like he suffers from Kleptomania?”

“Yes, yes, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Did he recognize me? Ashe?“ Sebastian asked, almost wistfully.

“No, I do not believe so. He didn’t mention the other man in the photograph. He was fixed upon the revelation that Blake was a charlatan. It enraged and terrified him. He’s invested a great deal into the brotherhood, and the betrayal was cutting. He realizes that we have all made ourselves vulnerable to blackmail and that Blake intends to bleed us of funds.”

My study fell silent for a drawn out minute, and I could hear the rolling creak of carriages passing outside, the footfall of horse’s hooves on cobbles, and the calls of newspaper boys.

“I…gods…I don’t even remember having this photograph taken. It’s like I wasn’t even…present…you know, like this boy is a different person,” Sebastian admitted in a small voice. I was heartsick at causing my friend such distress.

“I look so young, so innocent, and my eyes appear drugged.”

“I wanted to protect you. That is why I removed the photograph from the book. I could not be there for you when you were eighteen and in need, but I will do my damndest to protect you now.”

“Thank you dear heart. I appreciate it.”

“It is right and true that you should have a choice about what becomes of that photograph. Dash it into the fire if you will, or tear it in half to keep proof of Blake’s other identity. It’s entirely up to you.”

“This photograph has brought the most dreadful memories to the surface. I…I don’t know what to say. I wonder how many other photographs he took of me when I was under the influence. I hoped all photographs of me had been destroyed.”

I reached out, placed my hand on his knee and squeezed. “Forgive me, I did not intend to cause you pain,”

Sebastian held a hand up to still me, “No, you did the right thing. This, this, abomination makes me even more determined to spoil Blake’s great work once and for all.”

“Good. And on that note…Ashe and I have devised a plan…”

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