Chapter 6: Day Three

[Mephistophilis]

'Did we think Apollo's bower was the laurels outside?' asks Harry.

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Apart from the trees, do you remember what else the reference to 'bay' might allude to?

[Philulhu]

OOC,A tree? An inlet of water? A horse?

[Mephistophilis]

OOC,Window?

[Philulhu]

OOC,Bay leaf?

[Mephistophilis]

OOC,In Keats's poetry Apollo's bower is art, poetry in particular, a form of immortality

[HoneyDog]

Mephistophilis,Yes! The bay windows.

[Mr. Handy]

"Apollo's Bower is a reference to the fireplace, I thought," says Alexander. "That's where the papers were hidden. Perhaps, like Perseus, I have to reflect the firelight at the eyes of the portrait." He adjusts the mirror to aim the light at the portrait's eyes.

[Mephistophilis]

Harry gives an embarrased cough, 'um, perhaps the bay window Dr Campbell'.

[Mr. Handy]

"Ah, right," says Alexander, redirecting the firelight to the bay window.

[HoneyDog]

Alexander angles the light so that it hits the window on the right of the fireplace. Looking through the window, the beam can be seen to be landing in the location of the statue, Icarus.

Getting up to see, Harry Forby exclaims excitedly.

“Icarus! Of course! Why didn’t I think of that! It’s so obvious now – it was his masterwork, after all!”

[aine]

“In the statue; well! But please, let’s not rush out there, listen to the dogs; someone or something is disturbing them - it might be dangerous! And don’t forget; didnt Aleister get this far and decide not to take the treasure for some very good reason!” Isolde is uncharacteristically very anxious.

[Mephistophilis]

'You don't think someone is out there do you?' gasps Harry. 'While I don't think we should be hacking away at statues in the middle of the night, I'm worried someone else might get there before us.'

[HoneyDog]

“My father knew where the treasure was?” queries Forby, frowning. “Nonetheless, we must investigate! Bates, prepare some lanterns!”

“You shouldn’t excite yourself too much!” Gertrude pleads. “We can handle this.”

“Nonsense!” comes the reply. “I must see this.”

Bates hesitates, unsure of what to do.

[Mephistophilis]

'Where is Lt Meddler?' asks Harry. 'I think he should be here for this'. Harry heads off to Meddler's room, partly because they might benefit from his help and partly to see if he is still in the house.

[HoneyDog]

Harry finds Meddler emerging from the dining room, looking anxious.

“I thought you might be Gertrude” he says. “What schemes are you fellows hatching now?”

[Mephistophilis]

'It looks like we may have found the treasure!' Harry exclaims. 'Mr Forby is organising lanterns so we can take a look'.

Harry wonders whether this turn of events might force Meddler's hand.

[aine]

Isolde wrings her hands as she hears the dogs howling outside, “Alexander, you and Harry please try to stop this. Say you need to examine the statue scientifically in daylight; anything to stop this madcap scheme tonight! We’ll stand guard on the statue all night if needs be.” Isolde implores the gentlemen, looking at Viv and Gertrude to back her up.

[Philulhu]

Vic was torn. She was worried about the howling dogs but at the same time, wanted the mystery solved so they could go home. She eyed the poker in the fire place, reckoning that would teach anyone a lesson...

”Do we need to resolve this tonight?” she asked, hesitantly.

[HoneyDog]

Meddler jerks back in surprise, his eyes wide, before he manages to recover himself.

“I’d better come along” he says quietly.

He follows Harry back to the library, where the discussion on how to proceed is in full swing.

Harry,Harry can roll Psychology to try and gauge Meddler’s reaction.

“Miss Beauchant is right, Harry” Gertrude is saying. “It’s waited all this time, it can wait until daylight. The strange man that Connie saw could still be around.”

“All the more reason to go now, before he gets it!” replies Forby, stubbornly.

“I agree with Gertrude, old man” says Meddler. “I’m sure that the task, whatever it entails, will be much easier in daylight.”