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Written by shevek
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Friday, 30 January 2009 |
The Story So Far:
After seeing the play Georgina twice experiences the same troubling
dream, Aubrey shuts himself away to work on a series of paintings, and
Alex begins to feel restless and take walks on clear evenings despite
the weather, which continues unseasonably cold. Dr Ludwig Krieger, who
saw the play but was unavoidably detained afterward, is unaffected.
The investigators are contacted by a Dr Highsmith, superintendant of St
Agnes' Asylum, Herefordshire. A patient's order of committal is up for
review very soon; Dr Highsmith believes he is fit to be released, but
is opposed by the patent's next of kin and family doctor. Can they
discover what the trouble is, and perhaps provide another medical
opinion? He seems eager for their help, but not desperate.
The patient is Alexander Roby, an artistic man from a good family; his
brother, Graham, is well-regarded merchant banker. Alexander was
committed in November 1926, following the brutal murder of his father
and sister. He believes himself responsible but no charges were brought
against him. He suffers from intermittent but severe bouts of "night
terrors" (scotophobia) which Dr Highsmith has been treating with heavy
doses of laudanum. It is Dr Highsmith's belief that the attacks are
caused by feelings of grief and misplaced guilt over the murder; they
are predictable and easily kept in check, so he sees no reason why
Alexander should not be released.
At the end of October, two weeks after the play, the investigators
visit St Agnes' Asylum to interview Roby. Trains are slow, and they
must stay overnight; there are guest rooms in the asylum. Alexander is
withdrawn and seems barely aware of them. When coaxed into speaking
what he has to say makes little sense, but references to "the yellow
sign", "Carcosa", and "the king in yellow" remind them of Mr Estus'
play. He mentions three names: Delia, Edwards, and Quarrie.
According to Dr Highsmith, Roby has twice been found with pencils in
his cell; these were confiscated as patients are not allowed sharp
objects. He is allowed books of poetry, however, and has made notes in
the margins of one ("From Our Ghostly Enemy", by Robert Graves). The
notes, written in English and rather stilted German, are fragmentary
but make frequent reference to "the city", "the lake", "the king", and
to the star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus. The investigators
suggest that Roby be allowed access to writing materials under
supervision and ask for copies of the marginal notes.
The asylum staff do not often see new faces and are keen to gossip. The
main topic is the brutal murder of an orderly last year, found with
multiple stab wounds in an inmate's cell. There was a police
investigation, but Dr Highsmith asked them not to talk to reporters for
the sake of the asylum's reputation; they are a little disappointed
that the investigators are not, in fact, reporters with chequebooks in
hand.
That night, Alex has a disturbing dream and wakes to a smell of rotting
fruit that takes some time to dissipate. He stays awake until morning.
A second interview with Roby is less successful but mention is made of
the city, which is enough for him. He does not wish to go beyond the
lake. The investigators catch the afternoon train from Hereford and are
back in London in time for a late supper. Dr Highsmith will supply
letters of introduction to the Roby family doctor, Dr Trollope, and to
Graham Roby.
What fateful secrets will their investigations in London uncover?
Discover the astonishing truth in next week's thrilling installment...
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Last Updated ( Friday, 30 January 2009 )
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