Play@YSDC

Plate glass and crystal chandeliers. Red velvet ropes and white-gloved doormen.
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... edited.jpg[/img]
Genteel clients stroll casually, ostentatiously, among the lots on display, accompanied by earnest young things in well-cut suits.

" … it was a birthday present from Mrs Grant's cousin, a Mr Spinks. Dreadfully heavy, but useful in … certain circumstances." says Grant to Harwood as they pass through the doors.

"Shall we start with the militaria I've marked in my catalogue, or shall we look at everything first and concentrate later?"

An Earnest Young Thing (EYT) glides over to you. "Good morning,.. gentlemen" she says, casting a slightly unfavourable eye over your suits. "Are you here for anything in particular?"

Harwood, distracted by the boss' story, pauses before replying. Whilst he contemplates a response the condescending figure approaches. Harwood fiddles uncomfortably with his tie and cuffs, suddenly horribly aware of his suit. It was at times like this he regretted the various family fortunes they were supposed to have lost. The opulence of King Street always made him feel out of place and on edge.

Give me Hodgson's anyday, he mutters darkly. He turns and continues, instinctively turning the accent up a few notches. Perhaps it would be worth going over the militaria? It would be good to get a better feel for the kind of thing we would stock. Perhaps after that it would be as well to take a closer look at the more...specialist items at which we were looking?

"The militaria literature from the auction of the American Embassy to the Court of St James? Of course, sirs" says the EYT. "Please follow me." As she glides over the parquet, she continues "Were there any particular items or time periods you wished to view first? There is some correspondence on the position of the United States Government during the Napoleonic wars that is attracting interest from historians and Napoleon collectors."

“That’s one of the periods I’ve noted will interest my customers, Miss.” Grant says, waving his catalogue. “So lead us to it, please.”


Sotto voce, Grant says “I hate this part, Harwood. Being escorted around, that is. Let’s see if we can escape her gimlet eye!”

The EYT leads Grant and Harwood to a desk against one wall, and distributes white cotton gloves. She unlocks a nearby glass-fronted cabinet, withdrawing a large volume bound in red Moroccan leather, which she places carefully on the desk.

Harwood nods distractedly at Mr Grant, flicking his hands across his pockets. He stops searching with a slightly puzzled look and then murmurs to Grant,

Actually, I was just wondering, given the importance of the commission, is it worth me having an early look at the items to get the lay of the land?

Grants nods his assent with a flash of his eyebrows at Harwood.

Placing his gloved hands on the red Morocco volume and gazing into the eyes of the EYT, he says “Well! What have we here, Miss?”

"Sir. The volume you are holding represents a selection of diplomatic correspondence from the American Embassy in the period 1808 to 1812, leading up to the War of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States of America. It includes a number of letters inscribed by Presidents Jefferson and Madison and by Prime Minister Spencer Percival. Of particular historical interest is correspondence concerning the trade blockades of the era and the 1811 Little Belt incident. The correspondence offers considerable insight into the practice of diplomacy and naval capabilities of the time."

This book you could probably find a buyer for, but it's likely to be a high outlay, due to the inscriptions. You might want to line up a buyer in advance of the auction. Feel free to create a bookshop Regular (p.17 of the Bookhounds manual) who might suit.

Grant raises his eyebrows at the EYT. “Ah! Now there’s a war that’s fallen out of everyone’s memory except for our North American friends. I’ll wager that the occupants of 10 Downing Street and the White House will meet on the bicentenary year and no mention will be made of the War of 1812.”
He opens the book carefully and starts examining the contents. “Now, let’s have a look inside. Hmm, yes, that's Jefferson all right, and Madison, …” Grant burbles on, identifying the authors of correspondence by their handwriting, and so on.

OOC,I am using [b]Document Analysis[/b] and [b]Textual Analysis[/b] not to find clues but to keep the EYT focussed on me to allow Harwood to do whatever he plans to do.

Harwood takes advantage of the EYT's distraction and detaches himself from her orbit. He moves away unobtrusively looking for the perfect spot. Maneuvering his way through the other people he locates what he was looking for - the Countessa's desires. He pauses, takes off his glasses and polishes them contemplatively as he surveys the room. Mind made up he moves over to a series of glass cabinets and starts making quiet notes on his catalogue. Whilst ostensibly surveying the lots he scans the room for parties with an interest in Irving.

OOC,I am putting Occult and Bibliography (for members of the trade) on standby for identifying interested parties, if neccessary then perhaps Streetwise or The Knowledge for those...more unsalubrious gentlemen who might be present.

“Well! That’s beautiful. Thank you, Miss.” Grant closes the book and annotates his catalogue with a pencil. Selecting a militaria lot that he knows he has a buyer for, Grant asks to see it, and tries to keep the EYT’s attention on him.

Once that's examined and the catalogue annotated, Grant visibly relaxes and says “That’s enough business. Now for a small reward. May I see the Irving Granada and Columbus lots, please?”

Hardwood: Irving's desk is easy enough to find. It is an elegant but ordinary looking Georgian roll-top writing desk in walnut, with lockable drawers. As you look at it, wondering at what hidden value it possesses, a waving reflection catches your eye. Turnign, you see the shabby figure of Laura standing outside the front window, peering in and trying to catch your attention.

Grant: the EYT murmers "sir, it is our custom to only bring one lot at a time for inspection. May I bring you the Columbus manuscript first? The Granada collection is currently being inspected by another client."

“You certainly may! Or the Alhambra if it’s idle …”
Grant keeps an eye on the EYT to see who else is near the Irving manuscripts and interested in them.

Grant watches the EYT as she walks to another cabinet. Nearby, at another desk, you spot a man you know from Fletcher's. He and another man - foreign looking chap, wearing a red velvet jacket in the middle of the day - are looking at a manuscript of some sort.

The EYT returns to Grants desk bearing a polished wooden box, which she carefully opens, withdrawing a large bundle of foolscap pages bound in black ribbon. "The Columbus manuscript, sir." Grant recognizes Irving's clear, flowing hand.

Harwood watches as Mr Grantis led over. He scans the room slowly trying to see if anyone is noting Grant'sinterest. He notices Laura at the window and gives a very slight nod, brushing his nose with his finger twice to show he has seen her. He takes a careful look around the room again making sure there is no one of interest before slowly and unobtrusively walking over to Laura.

OOC,If he sees anyone of interest he will pause long enough to makes notes, if it is other booksellers or agents he will simply make a note and head for the door, if it is anyone concerning or seriously out of place he will wait longer to see if they take any odd actions or take a particular interest before leaving his post.

Laura nods, marionette-like, as Harood slips back out the door. "Message for you from Jory". She sticks out her hand. It occurs to Harwood that she isn't paid a wage, and messenger boys usually get paid per message.

Harwood supresses a wry smile and hunts in his pocket for coins. He extracts a shillling and hands it over.

Thank you M'dear, what's he got for us?

The note says:

Other players: Fletcher, Maggs; and Ted Allen's boys too. Some Yank called Berg from New York. F,M & TA planning to knock our item of interest. F,M's client - Spanish. Don Alejandro Glencoe de Unamundo. Wants the Irving books.

Harwood looks over the note.

Thanks, interesting. Might be worth hanging around for a little while. Most of these chaps are known but its the others who are interesting. It would be good to get a better feel for the clients, so if we could see where the agents go and who they meet we might get an edge. If we spot any of them I'll signal you to follow them. We will of course make sure it is worth your while.

With that Harwood nods thanks and strolls over to the window. He takes up position, slowly scanning the rooms and starts to tick off the obvious bookmen. This Spaniard was the worry. Who was he and why did he want the items? Harwood looks for the Maggs' representative. The Don would not deign to trouble the rooms anymore than the Countessa would, but he might be locatable by following the agent. Harwood gave the room a slow scan hunting his man.

OOC,Harwood is looking to maintain as much as possible the discreet distance between him and Mr Grant. I will use bibliography to identify Maggs' man at the sale in order to put Laura onto following him. If I can see anyone outside of the usual list of suspects I shall consider them instead. Chances are Maggs' man will go back to Berkeley Square but if they do go straight to the Don we might get a chance to get onto him early. If it helps, what might I get from occult re our mysterious aristocrat?

Harwood doesn't spot anyone from Maggs, but does see someone from Fletcher's, accompanying a man who looks Spanish, come to think of it. They are examining a manuscript quite similar to the one in front of Grant.

The name of Don Alejandro does ring a few bells in Harwood's store of occult and bibliographic lore. He's apparently of Scottish descent, hence the name, via some complex movement of die-hard Catholics from Scotland to Europe after Calvinism set in. A wealthy and reclusive landowner, he takes a strong interest in Spanish Mysticism and has sponsored the reprinting (in Spanish) of various works both by "mainstream" mystics like St Teresa and St John of the Cross and the odder and more debatable works of Ramond Llull and Priscillian, in particular their Alchemical writings, and some translations into Spanish of other mystical Christian works like The Cloud of Unknowing and Teilhard de Chardin's books. He appears to believe that Spain's gathering civil conflict can be averted by religious/mystical renewal - perhaps indicated by the name of his estates, "Unamondo".

(Grant, did you want to do anything with the Columbus manuscript?)

"By the way, Mr. Harhood," Laura suddenly said, toying around with the coins in her hands.

"Are you missing something from your pockets?"

Harwood pauses a moment, his eyes flick round briefly, and he takes a breath, he takes out his tobacco and rolls a cigarette. He lights it and takes a drag and appears to make some kind of internal decision, and then asks,

Note in German? Then without waiting for a reply he continues,

Good, I needed that to show Mr Grant, actually it helps if you have it, makes it quicker to bring you up to speed. I don't think us and the Kings of the Ring are the only shows in town. I think we have a third party. Don't know how your German is but that note is telling someone to get the fountain pen. Now I know it's not ours and it's unlikely to have come from a Spanish Scot so that means someone else is under orders. Now here's the fun part.

He pauses, considering his next words,

I found that note in a shop round the corner from ours, didn't pay it any mind at first, that was before our patron showed up. Another shop dealing in magic at that. I wonder...

He continues, almost like he's thinking out loud,

A note in German to a magic shop specialising in worm-ridden rubbish and two well-heeled members of the spook squad. All coming out for an author's belongings. There's something odd going on here.

He gives a slightly forced laugh and waves his cigarette vaguely,

I'm not saying we're bidding against the bogeyman or anthing here but if we can work out why everyone is after them maybe we get our edge. Hmm...Berg, Geman? The note says American but I wonder...

He drifts off for a few moments, something unpleasant flashing across his face. After a brief moment he takes a last drag from his rollie and grinds it under his heel.

OK, the mysterious German can wait. Let's deal with what we know. See that Spanish looking chap there with the manuscript? Could you follow him when he leaves? I think it would be useful to know where he's staying, see if he meets anyone, see if we can get a handle on our opposition.

Laura rises up on tiptoe and whispers something in Harwood's ear. She then slopes across the road to an unobtrusive doorway where she can roll a ciggy and keep an eye on the foreigner in red.

Meanwhile, the EYT prepares to take the Columbus notes back to storage and bring out the Alhambra notes.

Harwood stands outside for a moment longer contemplating Laura's message. He appears to make up his mind, drops his cigarette and grinds it out. Walking back in he moves to where he can watch the Spainiard unobtrusively, considering his next move.

After a few minutes, there is a quiet altercation at the other desk. Judging from the cold look the Fletcher's agent directs towards Grant, they have asked for the Alhambra manuscript and been told that someone else is inspecting it. The man in red shrugs and pulls out a pipe, which an EYT then tells him he can't smoke inside. He shrugs again and heads for the door, pipe in hand.

"Do you need that manuscript, Mr. Harwood?" Laura whispered to him.

That's certainly part of it. There's a desk and a pen as well. I think for the moment we'll have to do them legit unfortunately. There's no way even a lady of your particular ingenuity could get that out from a Christie's viewing. If we lose of course...

Whilst talking Harwood pats down his pockets. Now, had he remembered the pipe he always kept for those 'academic' moments? First impressions were always so important.

OOC,I am not completely sure about the rules for inventory. I know I have established Harwood as a roll-up smoker (a university habit, so much cheaper) but I see him as the kind of person who would smoke a pipe at the right moments to establish a more academic air (particularly if his quarry smokes one), part of his changing personality to suit the conversation. Can I count that as a legitimate carry under disguise or would you prefer me to make a preparedness test? Secondly, I would like him to have business cards which do not identify him as part of Grant's merry band, probably taking advantage of Dr Black at the Warburg (from when they were writing articles together) to give him a cover story. Perfectly happy to take that one as preparedness as I have not specified something like that in advance.

Bookman wrote:

OOC,I am not completely sure about the rules for inventory. I know I have established Harwood as a roll-up smoker (a university habit, so much cheaper) but I see him as the kind of person who would smoke a pipe at the right moments to establish a more academic air (particularly if his quarry smokes one), part of his changing personality to suit the conversation. Can I count that as a legitimate carry under disguise or would you prefer me to make a preparedness test? Secondly, I would like him to have business cards which do not identify him as part of Grant's merry band, probably taking advantage of Dr Black at the Warburg (from when they were writing articles together) to give him a cover story. Perfectly happy to take that one as preparedness as I have not specified something like that in advance.

For simplicity, just spend a point of Preparedness and it will cover for both pipe and cards.

Grants taps his teeth with the pencil, as if thinking of a potential customer, and makes notes in his catalogue for the Columbus notes. When the Alhambra notes appear, he speaks.

“Thank you, Miss. Less of the military history in this one, I guess, but in for a penny and all that. May as well see the whole set, eh?”

Grant examines the Alhambra notes, giving it all the attention he gave the other Irving manuscripts, and continues sotto voce.

“Who’s the blighter in red with Fletcher’s man? The silly ass tried to light up in here without a second thought. Must be new to Christie’s rooms.”

Harwood pulls out his pipe and quickly loads it, Hang on a tick, I'm going to try something.

He takes a breath, checks to make sure he has his business card and steps up to Don Alejandro, lighting his pipe as he does so.

My most illustrious lord of Unamundo, he says with a slight bow.

Forgive my presumptuous approach but your reputation proceeds you. My name is Dr Harwood, a scholar of some small standing in the stranger byways of theology. I read your article on the unsuspected parallels between the prophetic visions of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, certain irregularities in the operation of Šindel's clock and aspects of the recent deposition of the monarchy. Reminded me of a clock my great-grandfather, the er...

Harwood mentally counts off with the stem of his pipe, Fourth baronet, was reputed to have. It had one hand which went backwards and one which counted centuries.

Harwood pauses and shakes his head, Heh, but I digress. I must apologise, I have no Spanish and so was compelled to read it in the Latin translation of Monsieur Chevillon. I am sure it robbed it of some of the subtleties of the original.

He pauses and looks quickly about him before continuing slyly,

I must admit, I find the presence of a gentleman known for his erudition and taste at this sale a little mystifying. Whilst I enjoy the writings of Mr Irving I would not have thought his particular idiom would have had much appeal to a scholar.

Harwood pauses as if considering.

Unless perhaps there were something which lesser minds were not able to appreciate, something about the religious history of Spain maybe?

He pauses and takes the opportunity to relight his pipe, looking carefully at the Don through the wreath of smoke.

OOC,Preparedness point spent. I will use the Occultist special ability to use a point of Occult instead of another interpersonal skill, in this case either flattery or credit rating (in occult terms) depending on which you think my intro and Don Alejandro's personality lead to more naturally.

Edited slightly as I realised the post had not saved properly at work and I had spelt color wrong, or right if you prefer...

AndrewTBP wrote:Grant examines the Alhambra notes, giving it all the attention he gave the other Irving manuscripts, and continues sotto voce.
“Who’s the blighter in red with Fletcher’s man? The silly ass tried to light up in here without a second thought. Must be new to Christie’s rooms.”

The EYT glances around. "Sir, we aren't allowed to discuss the identities of clients" she murmers. Grant notes that she has shifted slightly so that she is standing between him and the other Christie's staff.

Leafing through the Alhambra, Grant confirms the authenticity of the Irving manuscript, which seems to be background notes and fragmentary drafts of the various stories in the Alhambra collection. Various notations seem to indicate cross-references to Spanish archives. The most extensive draftings and notations appear to refer to "The Tale of the Arabian Astrologer". In particular, the names of some of the lead characters are given many different permutations, often heavily crossed out. Skimming the text, Grant notes that there seem to be several references to a "confidential annex" and others to a source or archive titled "Plombos".

Bookman wrote:Harwood pauses as if considering.
Unless perhaps there were something which lesser minds were not able to appreciate, something about the religious history of Spain maybe?
He pauses and takes the opportunity to relight his pipe, looking carefully at the Don through the wreath of smoke.

The Don, assuming this to be he, takes Dr Harwood's card with a slight bow and examines it for a moment before tucking it in his breast pocket and lighting his own pipe. He does not offer his own card in return. Harwood may be slightly surprised by the smell - the Don's tobacco has more than a hint of bhang about it. Despite this, the Don's eyes and voice are clear.

"It is always a pleasure, Doctor Harwood, to make the acquaintance of a scholar, and one so familiar with my modest essays at that..." The Don puffs on his pipe, sending a perfect smoke ring in the air between himself and Harwood. Harwood blinks - for a moment, the Don's face through the smoke seems enlarged and distorted - but the smoke mirage passes.

"You are curious, Doctor Harwood, about my interest in Irving - and yet you know not your own interest. You have encountered black and white, now you seek out the red - but is yours the seeking of a man who has walked the Milky Way, or one who will not take the first step without seeing the last?" The Don puffs his pipe again.

"Well. Senor Irving drank eagerly of the deep wells of wisdom of my country - but some wells spring from the depths, and some wells are lined with lead. Do you understand? You have heard, I think, of the historical theories of Hegel, so vulgarised by the materialists. But which point of Hegel's triangle truly points upwards? From which direction does one arrive at the true synthesis? Putrefaction, Calcination, or Fermentation? Father, Son or Holy Ghost? James, Priscillian or Cecil? Matter, Time or Space, perhaps Mr Einstein would say. It depends upon where one starts, does it not?"

Harwood notices that the man from Fletcher's seems to have spotted the conversation, and is hurrying from the desk in the direction of the door.

With a one point Textual Analysis spend, Grant notes some curious jottings:

"Cf Labtayt esp. A.Glencoe Span. translation"
"Gate & key - "all locks in Spain will open to..." - if only I could tell Scott!"
The name "Hazrad" is crossed out, replaced with "Hazen" throughout. The Spanish princess character is called "Godolpho" in earlier drafts, before being nameless in the later ones.

Out of the corner of his eye, Grant spots the Fletcher's man heading towards the door.

“Hmm. Interesting, certainly, but too literary for my customer’s tastes. Thank you, Miss, I’m finished with this one. Back to the militaria for me.” While she puts the Alhambra away, Grant annotates his catalogue.

Harwood drops the remaining arch pretence and says seriously,

All three colours are equally vital to the Work, we cannot proceed with out moving from nigredo, to albedo to,

He gestures slightly at the Don's red suit and with a small smile finishes,

Rubedo. I might argue that all of the points are the same, we merely perceive them as different depending on where we stand. In which case any of the three could lead to the perfection towards which we strive. Too many seek the answers, any scientist can find those, but unless you know the questions you can never know what you have found.

He pauses and considers for a moment,

Knowledge is like a fire. Too much is just as deadly as none. It rather reminds me of the delightful Irish folk tale about how the robin got his red breast. Hmm, or perhaps the Aboriginal one...But I think your shadow is getting agitated. He may well pour honeyed words into your ear about me. Should you still be interested in getting in touch with me you can get me through the card, if I am not there my colleague Dr Black will happily take a message. If you will excuse me, My Lord.

With that he knocks out his pipe against his heel and nodding a courteous, if brief farewell to the Don he walks off smartly. He nods surreptitiously to Laura to join him and walks round the corner where they cannot be seen talking together.

Forgot to colour the speech.

Laura slinks unobtrusively around the corner.

Seeing his client no longer molested by Harwood and the Alhambra manuscript free, the Fletcher's man hurries to secure the Alhambra for the Don. Once the man in red is absorbed in the antique papers, he sidles over to where Mr Grant sits, annotating his catalogue. "See here, Mr Grant," he hisses through his teeth. "This is a high class auction, not one for your old war horses with a few shillings left over from their pensions. You're not going to cut in on our client, no matter what degrees your fancy boy out there claims to have. Back off and leave the big game to the big boys." Reddening under the startled gaze of the EYT, the man hurries back to the Don's desk.
edited - finally figured out how to kill google's so called autocorrect.

Little further of note happens at Christie's; the man in red inspects the Alhambra manuscript for over an hour, then leaves on foot in the direction of the West End, trailed unobtrusively by Laura. Harwood, not wishing to advertise his connection to Mr Grant, makes his own way back to the Bookshop.
As does Mr Grant?

Grant takes his leave of Christie’s. “Thank you very much, Miss. I best be going, much to do before tomorrow.”

He reclaims his possessions from the cloakroom, of course, and returns to the bookshop with a spring in his step and a music hall classic on his lips.