Meanwhile across town, Emily was spinning a tale for her family of her new association with Mrs. Nyles, an association that had enabled Emily to be invited to the Marsten party later that evening. This greatly relieved Emily's mother who had worried about the strange behavior of her child. Emily took the opportunity to talk with her father about possibly speaking to Jules about a position in his firm. Her father was taken aback a bit that Emily had made such an association,and with an American no less. So he had decided to take it under advisement and speak to the man. Then he patted her on her head and admonished her to be careful of whom he associated with...After all, being so young she had no real idea of how the world worked.

One stern lecture and two arguements later it was decided that (1) Mr Deveraux would make certain to clean away the bits of translator mechanics from the parlor. (2) That it would be inevitable that "Mr" Deveraux also learned how to dress and act like a lady. Cordelia was particularly bemused by the fact that she was forced into the unenviable position of defending social norms that she herself struglled against. Her tyrannical tone also managed to get Jules's rebelious streak up. It also peeved Jo mightily. Time grew short and they went to the theater to get some more work done.

Arriving at the theater, they discovered that one of the workmen had been set upon...probably by Mick Beller's toughs and while he had mananged to drive them off he had been badly beaten in the process. When he started coughing up blood, Thomas bundled him into the cariage and set off at once for Christchurch hospital. Cordelia sent the rats back to the basement and work began again on the interior of the theater that held so many mysteries.

Jules had managed a make-shift roof tiling machine and the workmen began tearing out the seats of the balcony. The basment pump was also set to working again and work began in earnest.

Cordelia, Emily and Jo set out for Harrods and armed with measurements for Jules, purchased an evening dress for Jo and a suit and carte de visites for Jules. During this unhapppy excursion, Emily began making snide remarks about Jo's mannish tendencies and her improper behavior. At least until Jo threatened to thump her a good one. Cordelia was forced to step in.

Once Jules had finished the roof, He had an idea that it might be good to collect a bit more intelligence about the personage of Professor Hawthorne Rausch. Setting out in a cab, he headed over to Scotland Yard. Upon arriving he noticed a slight ionization in the air. Acting on a hunch he brought out his goggles and discovered to his discomfiture that the entirety of the Scotland Yard compound was netted with shaped Ether...In a defensive pattern reminiscent of Technocratic workings. Unable to attract attention to himself, Jules still enquired as a concerned businessman about the West End Slasher and was politely brushed off by the police and was back on the street in 10 minutes. Frustrated, but with new intelligence, Jules returned to the theatre.

Finishing up the work day, the cabalmates headed home to the pleasant surprise that Betsy had taken it upon herself to draw bathwater. Everyone had tea and began the laborious preparations for going to the Marsten party that evening. There was much clucking and cooing over young Jo, who cleaned up well, and Miss Margroves practically swooned upon seeing Mr Maxwell properly kitted out.

Heading towards the outskirts of London, They arrived at the sumptous home of Elsie Krupworth Marsten. Upon being announced, Elsie fluttered over and introduced herself to Cordelia's guests and fluttered away again. The Ladies had been issued dance cards (to Cordelia's bemusement) and they entered the social fray.

Lord Douglas Abernathy, an old childhood friend of Cordelia's immediately presented himself and demanded a spot on her card. Taking her old friend in her arms they danced and talked of many things, Finding out that Oscar was also at the party they retired to the library where he was holding court. Oscar looked like a shadow of himself (prison will do that to you) but seemed genuinely delighted to see Cordelia again. He even promised to write a play about Cordelia while he recuperated in Paris.

Meanwhile, Jules was busy fending off the overly amorous widow Marsten but also happened to meet a gentleman by the name of Edward Bartholomew with the royal scientific society of cambridge who commented on the unique construction of Jules's cane. Mr Bartholomew was intruiged enough to invite Mr Maxwell to meet him him at his club and discuss science and engineering there.

Emily was dancing the night away with some of the younger gentry when she unhappily encountered her ex-fiance Fredrik Whitfield in the arms of his new fiance, Claire Stratton. he had that stricken look when he saw her. Emily was forced to pull the knife out of her own heart too.

Cordelia had also bumped into an old acquaintance too. Clive Harris(a former suitor) and his escort. There was some unpleasantness but all parties walked away without injury and nobody caused a scene. Abernathy,Wilde and Nyles spent the rest of the party in the library regaling one another with awful gossip from the House of Lords.Cordelia also confided in her dear friends that she planned to open a theatre which pleased them greatly.

Maxwell realizing that Jo had gone missing and with a quick search he turned her up on the kitchen stoop smoking cigarettes with a couple of the younger gentleman of the party. This degenerated into an arguement with her of course. Jules knew from his visions of the 20 century that cigarettes were bad for her, and they violated propriety too. When he tried to address her as Mr Deveraux though she looked him right in the eyes and coldly informed him that if she was going to be forced to flounce around in these IMPRACTICAL clothes and behave like some thrice-damned show pony then he could bloody well call her Sarah. Which pretty much put a cork in it.

Emily sensed a twinge. Stepping out onto the veranda she noticed two men exchanging heated words. Her presentiment grew stronger. One of the gentlemen drew a sword from his cane and set to skewer the man, who was unarmed. Thinking quickly, Emily screamed and both men stopped immediately as if pole-axed. Partygoers drifted over to see what the matter was. Covering, Emily explained that she had seen a spider. The man with the sword said that this wasn't over and slipped into the night.

A touch later, a gentleman introduced himself to Emily and asked her to dance. Allthough thoroughly improper, she just couldn't seem to say no to the man. He introduced himself as Edmund Cheltenham and while they danced he intimated that they shared similar problems and a similar neighborhood...while absorbing this information it also became clear to Emily that her handsome stranger wasn't breathing and was cool to the touch. He said that he wished to speak to her at length and that she could call on him at his club.

Returning to the party proper, they found their erstwhile hostess butchering one of Gilbert and Sullivan's arias in the ballroom. Taking this as his cue Oscar luanched into a display of the razor-like wit that had served to make so many enemies in the past and put each of his detractors present into his place and then dramatically make his exit. Abernathy and Cordelia decided to follow suit. and after they had collected Cordelia's compatriots they set off for Fishbridge,Pallfrey's and sons, for a late supper and a bottle of wine.

Before returning home, Emily took it upon herself to apologize to Jo,who suprisingly accepted.

They arrived at their various home suitably tired and ready for bed.While Cordelia was sorting through the evening post she discovered a letter with no return address which read thus:

Dear Mrs. Nyles:

I wish to warn you. I am privy to secrets in certain circles and i have heard rumors that you intend to look into the matter of your husband's death. Know this: Your Husband wasn't killed for who he was or what he'd done...but what he knew. Be very careful

A Friend.

What does this mean? Who sent it? Only time will tell.