In the meantime, Things start strangely in cordelia's house. She awakens at 10 o'clock which is seriously late for her and begins her morning routines feeling stroppy and out of sorts.Her dreams had been kinetic and violent with fire and running. She finds most of the household has left to go about their morning routines. Scrounging some cold breakfast from betsy, She settles into the empty dining room table and goes through the post and tackling the morning papers.

The Times had to report that not only had the West End Slasher managed to outwit Scotland Yard and slay another actress, but he had also managed to slay the actress that they were using as bait while they were investigating that murder. Solidifying her resolve to take care of this problem, Cordelia began to turn the page only to be struck by a serious incongruity.

The date on the paper was wrong.

Her mind reeling. She went to Betsy and asked her what had happened yesterday. Betsy, not understanding, why the mistress would want to know such simply indicated that yesterday Cordelia had gone out very early, had left a note saying that she'd errands to run, Had come back in after supper feeling very tired and had waved away everyone saying that she would tell all tomorrow...

Cordelia remembered none of this.

This story was corroborated by a very concerned Thomas and also Jules. Since she had gone out early and no one but her could tell the rats to stand down, Jules had taken the opportunity to talk with Emily's father and had gained employment as the head engineer in his Pipe making factory.

Tabling her growing horror, She gathered herself and went to the theatre. The Workmen set to work cleaning and at lunch Jules arrived to turn on the boiler and pump. It was then that Cordelia pulled him aside and asked him what she had done that day and gotten the same story. Jo arrived as well and began work on the elevator. Feeling alltogether misprized by the puzzle in front of her, She asked Thomas if she would go and fetch Emily so she could consult. While she waited she happened to check her shoes. While there was no unusual wear there was some unfamiliar mud on them...and it didn't look like city mud.

Meanwhile, in another part of the west end, Desiree was walking her shoes off trying to find her way around the theater district. None of the famous theatres were the place she had seen in her visions. She had even hired a coach from a deaf man from yorkshire in order to cover more ground. She had even been flatly propositioned by Richard D'oyly Carte of the Savoy theatre. It was enough to discourage a weaker girl. Desiree D' Beaumont however was no weak girl. Finally after searching quite a bit ,she managed to find the place, Paid the stone-deaf hack, and swept into the theatre as only a french actress can.

Meanwhile, Jules had left the theatre to return to the factory only to make the disquieting discovery that he was being followed. Who could this be? Beller and his gang? The scotland yard types? Someone else?

Cordelia began to realize that Desiree was one those people who would be part of the cabal whether she liked it or not. She'd obviously been led here by visions and had nothing to go back to in france. She was also a scandalous trollop of some sort but it was just barely possible that she would also have her uses. Especially since none of the other members of the cabal had any theatrical experience. Allthough their meeting was awkward they decided that it might be good to adjourn to the house and have some tea and try to puzzle some things out. Thomas arrived with Emily in tow and the ladies headed home.

They arrived, to find that they had been beaten back to the house by Jules who was speaking to Jack Anniston about various things (earlier that morning, Cordelia had sent a message to Jack stating that she wanted to meet with him that afternoon.)

As Jules and Emily became acquainted with Desiree, Cordelia and Jack talked in the study about the recent weird events of the letter, and the dreams,and the missing day. Jack expressed deep concern and asked to be kept appraised of this situation but he didn't know excatly what to tell her.

Borrowing Emily, Cordelia continued her investigation. Emily did a small divination with the letter and some of the mud from Cordelia's boots. In the manner of reading tea leaves, She divined the image of a gladius and a shield.

The penny dropped. Cordelia realized that there was only one person who she would have gone to for answers about the letter and that person was Maximillian Praeger. Apparently, she had gone into the country, had words with Praeger, either challenged him or was challenged by him, to Certamen. and was roundly spanked. mindwiped and sent home.

In the meantime, Desiree was getting very drunk on bordeaux in the parlor with Jules and Jack. and it was only with quick explaining and some tact that Jules managed to explain to Desiree that he was not actually a member of the technocracy. Desiree had had some bad experience with those types. The subject of the Slasher also came up and Desiree found this killer of actresses to be unacceptable. She decided to volunteer to stop the horrible man

A furious, but tightly controlled, Cordelia joined the party again and asked Desiree to use her divinatory talents to shed even more light on this problem...and this took the investigation in an entirely new direction.

Desiree related seeing three fairly distinct images: A set of menacing cold grey eyes that seemed to watch her. A brown leather journal and a long wooden staff with a carved dragon's head on it's top.

This revelation caused Jack to start and look as if he had been hit with a fish.Which Cordelia saw immediately. Jack begged off, citing oaths he had taken and told Cordelia that all he could tell her was that it involved a missing relic and a major embarrassment to those of House Flambeau. Apparently, Robert had had the staff last...it went missing after his death.

The Journal however was another story. Cordelia recognized the description of it as being Robert's journal. She had remembered him having it and she hadn't seen it since his death. Asking Betsy if it was among his papers when she had put the house in order. she drew a blank but offered that it might be in the attic.

Desiree passed out, Jack left uncomfortably, Jules took a few hours to explain to Emily certain realities about Magely life that she had been lacking.(like why it was a bad idea to go the police.) Desiree's luggage arrived while she slept and badly sang french madrigals. Cordlia tore the attic apart...and found nothing until she sat in robert's chair...On a hunch, She checked under the cushion and found the long hidden journal. ( you can read it now)

4 hours later. They met in the parlor. Cordelia feeling as raw as an exposed nerve, Desiree none the worse for wear (Gotta love life 2 for dealing with hangovers) and Emily somewhat less naive than before. Cordelia explained that their lives might become extremely dangerous as a result of this and that they were free to leave if they felt they should. None of them did. Cordelia offered Desiree formal membership in the cabal and that more or less was that.

What would be the next course of action? Extract the truth from Praeger..and Jack? Tackle the people following Jules? Find and deal with the Slasher?