IC: Elizabeth and Caroline visit the Penhew Foundation

[Raiko]

The Exhibit Hall - The Penhew Foundation - Tottenham Court Road, Bloomsbury, London
4:20pm - Wednesday 28th January, 1925

Edward's face hardens for a moment when Elizabeth mentions Sir Aubrey's death. When she has finished speaking he says, "Sadly it was not the danger of the expedition that cost Sir Aubrey his life, but betrayal from within..."

Edward smiles before continuing, "...but that tale is not one for such delicate ears I fear."

"Anyway as you say this collection is a fine monument to his memory. Yes, many of our exhibits originate from digs in the Dashur region. Dashur was the site of a large necropolis, close to Memphis, which as you'll know was the ancient capital of Egypt."

"There are several large pyramids there, as well as a huge number of small pyramids and other tombs. Although not as famous as the Great Pyramids of Giza, they are actually just as archaeologically significant and interesting."

As the conversation continues Edward leads Elizabeth and Caroline slowly around the exhibits, he talks about each item in the collection in laborious detail. Sarcophagi, mummies, crowns, vases, sceptres, chests, assorted weapons and armour, plates, tools, coins - the list is endless, but no matter how significant or not an item is, Edward seems to know an almost overwhelming amount of information about it.

As they walk around the collection the ladies notice that although the collection includes some items exhumed by the Carlyle Expedition, it is all small items, pottery, tools and the odd weapon, none of the significant items in the hall are from Sir Aubrey's final ill fated journey to Africa.

Outside the Penhew Foundation's large windows it is beginning to go dark, and London's famous fog appears to be getting thicker.

[imme]

Elizabeth politely listens to Mr. Gavigan's little lectures and throws sympathetic glances at Caroline. She looks somewhat nervously at the coming night, disliking the thought of navigating dark, fog-filled streets.

"Please forgive my forwardness, Edward, you have been giving us such a splendid tour, but I just cannot get what you said about Sir Aubrey out of my mind. I am sorry that it touches on what I am sure was an unpleasant time for you, but I must ask. Has whoever betrayed him been brought to justice?"

[Raiko]

The Exhibit Hall - The Penhew Foundation - Tottenham Court Road, Bloomsbury, London
4:22pm - Wednesday 28th January, 1925

When Elizabeth asks her question, Edward looks a little taken aback for a moment, he shakes his head sadly, "No I'm afraid not, they hung Sir Aubrey's actual murderers in Kenya of course, but the betrayer escaped justice."

"Sir Aubrey perished co-leading the Carlyle Expedition which you might have heard of. His co-leader and the expeditions main financier was a young man from New York named Roger Carlyle."

"Accompanying Mr Carlyle was a rather mysterious young African lady who travelled under the name Nichonka Bunay. Apparently the idea of Carlyle travelling to Egypt was originally hers."

"Miss Bunay claimed to have information regarding a dark period of Egypt's history during which a sorcerer is reputed to have ruled over the Nile Valley. Sir Aubrey has long been interested in researching this paticular period, if only to debunk the myths."

Edward looks angry as he continues the story, "Sadly the woman proved to be no more than a fraud, even her name appears to be a lie. The expedition uncovered lots of worthwhile items, most of which are at the Museum of Cairo or loaned to the British Musuem, but nothing they found related to the period in which Mr Carlyle and Sir Aubrey were interested."

"Realising that her cover would soon be blown the evil woman absconded with a rather large amount of money from the expeditions funds, to the sum of £3500 in fact. That's more than seventeen thousand American dollars!"

"Everyone was obviously terribly disappointed, and another of Roger Carlyle's friends Miss Hypatia Masters - feeling that the disappointment, combined with the summer heat, would serious affect both her own health and that of Carlyle's – suggested that the expedition spend the summer months in the relatively cooler climes of Kenya."

"Sadly whilst on safari, they rather injudiciously entered dubious territory, and paid for it with their lives."

Noticing Elizabeth glancing uneasily out of the windows, Edward says, "Yes, I'm afraid that our foggy winter evenings can be rather unsettling to visitors. If you're uneasy, then perhaps I could have one of our chaps accompany you both safely to back your hotel."

He points back towards the stairs, "You can both join me in my office for a cup of tea while you wait if you like, I'm sure I could tell some happier tales of Sir Aubrey's."

[imme]

"Oh, yes, I remember hearing about the Carlyle Expedition in the newspapers, horribly tragic. But I thought it was all rather mysterious. I suppose I must just have a poor memory, since I don't recall having heard about this woman before. I take it nothing more of her has been heard since?"

Elizabeth is relieved at the offer of someone to accompany them home ... and then she thinks again. Mr. Gavigan seemed good enough, but suppose someone came later asking about Caroline and herself? If they accept the offer of the escort back to their hotel, then the staff at the Foundation will know where they are staying. So far they don't even know their names, since she and Caroline were careful to not introduce themselves. The cup of tea sounded nice, but, now that she had decide that they better leave on their own, she was hesitant to stay much longer.

She laughs. "Yes, the fog is quite peculiar to London, but I've been here many times before, and I don't mind it so much. Thank you for your offer, but I think we must be leaving now. Perhaps we can return later to join you for that cup of tea?"

[Raiko]

The Exhibit Hall - The Penhew Foundation - Tottenham Court Road, Bloomsbury, London
4:23pm - Wednesday 28th January, 1925

"No I'm afraid that Nichonka Bunay disappeared from the face of the Earth, with rather a lot of money belonging to the foundation and Mr Carlyle."

Edward leads two ladies back towards the staircase, "Ok, if you're sure, then I'll show you both out."

"...Perhaps we can return later to join you for that cup of tea?"

"Oh of course, I'm here most days, you are most welcome to return. Perhaps I'll have more time to show you around the rest of the building next time?"

[Decrepit]

Caroline glances at Beth, happy that she's taken the lead here. Caroline is rather used to following her patron's (and friend's) lead, and it feels rather natural and comfortable to do so here.

The day's exploring may have gotten them slightly further than they'd been before, but it seemed like the puzzle was still just so many loose pieces, none of which seeming to fit well together.

[imme]

"Oh of course, I'm here most days, you are most welcome to return. Perhaps I'll have more time to show you around the rest of the building next time?"

Elizabeth smiles. "Excellent. We'll look forward to another wonderfully informative tour. Thank you for your time."

She plans on taking the tube back to the hotel, perhaps looking over her shoulder a few times to see if anyone is following them.

[Raiko]

Tottenham Court Road - Bloomsbury, London
4:28pm - Wednesday 28th January, 1925

Edward wishes both ladies a safe journey, and returns to his office.

Walking back towards Grooge Street tube station, both Elizabeth and Caroline keep their eyes open for anyone following them, but they don't notice anything untoward.

The evening rush is beginning and the foggy streets are getting busier.

[imme]

Elizabeth feels more safe in the foggy streets because of there being so many people around. As they make their way through the crowds, she says to Caroline, "Well, we learned some interesting things today. I was tempted to stay longer, but I really don't want to be out after dark. If nothing else, I'm sure the gentlemen would be nervous. I hope they were happy with whatever car they found."

With the attitude of an experienced traveler, she confidently guides them back to the tube station and through the underground maze.

[Decrepit]

"This black woman seems to be of central importance, especially if, as it seems, she is still alive somewhere with stolen money," Caroline says. "Remember how important she was in Huston's notes?"

ETA:"Beth, I got the distinct impression while we were talking to Edward that ... now, darling, I don't mean this as any criticism, but I think you may have pushed him a little too hard. I'm not sure what else you or I could've done, but he seemed to be telling us everything honestly up until a certain point. Anyway, he seemed to figure out that we were fishing for information and started telling us something other than the full truth." She pauses. "That's what I think, anyway."

[imme]

"This black woman seems to be of central importance, especially if, as it seems, she is still alive somewhere with stolen money. Remember how important she was in Huston's notes?"

"Yes, indeed, I think we must find out more about her. She seems to have had a sinister role in all of this."

"Anyway, he seemed to figure out that we were fishing for information and started telling us something other than the full truth."

Elizabeth frowns in disappointment. "Oh dear." A wrinkle appears on her brow as she thinks for a moment. "I really must work on my detective skills. Maybe it would have helped for us to reveal our true intent to him. He did seem honestly upset at what happened to Sir Aubrey. I just ... wasn't sure what was best to do. We do have an invitation to return, maybe we can go back tomorrow and talk with him more frankly.

"What do you think, how much of what he said can we trust?"

[Raiko]

Hyperlink:

Elizabeth and Caroline arrive back at the Ritz in this post.

EDIT: (I unlocked this thread again so that you can finish your conversation here first)

[Decrepit]

Caroline responds to Beth's last question to her.

"If we want to know what Gavigan knows, it seems to me that there are only two options. One is to do as you suggest--be totally honest with him and trust that he's just suspicious of us for being nosy or a danger to him.

"The other option would be to do something ... more direct, or more hidden, anyway: try to sneak about or even break in." Caroline surprised herself a bit with the second suggestion, but the events of past days were changing her mind about a lot of things.

[imme]

Elizabeth looks a little surprised by Caroline as well ... but thoughtful. "Hmm. I guess we should speak with the others and see what they think." She is unusually quiet and thoughtful on the way back to the Ritz.