Play@YSDC

"It sounds to me like we're dealing with a man who's gone mad, painted himself green, put on an animal mask, and is living in the woods," says Alexander.

Isolde looks hard at Alexander, “Remember last winter on Dartmoor? We may have something similar here; we shouldn’t discount it.” She says meaningfully and then she says,
“Poor Connie has been dreadfully frightened; she should rest. And Mr Forby, you at least can feel like you are not imagining things after all, however odd they seem.”

Presently, Gertrude and Meddler return.

“Harry will be fine” Gertrude tells the investigators firmly. “It seems very likely that the man Connie saw was using the costume you found, Mr. Brown. It's not some mythical monster.”

“It will be dark soon” says Meddler. “We’re unlikely to be able to find his tracks. The best course of action is to stay here, and be vigilant throughout the night.”

"Or a similar costume, rather," says Alexander. "How could he possibly be using the same costume, when it's already been recovered?"

“Wasn’t it returned to the place you found it?” says Gertrude. “Well, he must have made another, at least partially. Connie said that he was mostly naked.”

”Shouldn’t we check and see if it’s still there?” asked Vic.

'We left the costume in place' Harry affirms. 'I'm not sure there is much to be gained from leaving it there further, and we might prevent someone else being frightened if we recover it'.

Given all this is being discussed in front of his prime suspect, Lt Meddler, Harry doubts there is any value in proposing lying in wait tonight as he has already been tipped off.

“I’d rather you didn’t” says Gertrude. “The quarry is dangerous enough in daylight, and it is getting darker. I’ll feel much more comfortable with you all in the house. We’ll serve dinner soon.”

“Oh good.” Says Isolde. “I’m almost hungry after that trip to the village, or maybe that lovely tea has improved my appetite.”

"Aye, some food would be lovely," says Alexander.

Soon enough dinner is served. Despite Connie not being available, to help, Mrs. Bates serves up a roast chicken, which is appreciated by all, especially Harry Forby. Although the food lightens the spirits, the mood is still tense, and nearly everyone eats in silence, apart from George, babbling about his ferret.

OOC,What are the plans for after dinner?

OOC,Certainly, it's time. I will assume all companions are there to see the secret revealed.

Dinner passes without incident, and with the exception of a grumpy Meddler and a curious George, the parties meet in the library, where Bates has placed a large standing mirror, as requested.

The Forbys, especially Harry, are eagerly awaiting events, and look expectantly at Alexander.

Outside, the dogs begin to howl in unison.

"First, we need to light the fireplace," says Alexander.

“A fire? In this heat?” says Forby doubtfully. “Very well. Bates, would you?”

Materials for a fire are not present but within ten minutes Bates has laid some kindling and is stoking a blaze, sweating profusely as he does so.

“What now?” asks Forby, fanning himself.

The hairs on Vic’s neck stood on end with the howling of the dogs.

”Alexander?” she prompted, looking from him to the fireplace.

"Your grandfather wrote: 'I’faith I shall mimic Perseus, an amusing conceit, and with the gift of Prometheus dispel the night from Apollo’s bower. Where’er this light do shine, there I will conceal it. I shall conceal it, I mock you, my green ey’d rooster’s egg. For it is mine,'" Alexander says to Harry Forby. "The gift of Prometheus is fire, and it is now night. Perseus used the reflective surface of his shield to reflect Medusa's gaze back at her, and now we must use a mirror to reflect the light from the fire to reveal the treasure's hiding place. Please put out all of the other lights in the room, so that only the firelight shines."

Bates shuts out the lights, and waits expectantly.

The room is now dark apart from the firelight, and it's reflection in the mirror.

The howling increases in volume.

OOC,Where would you shine the reflected light?

"And angle of incidence equals angle of reflection," says Alexander, using the mirror to reflect the firelight at the portrait of Nicholas Forby hanging above the fireplace, specifically at the emerald in the portrait.

The light reflected by the mirror alights on the emerald in the portrait as planned. But nothing happens and nothing is revealed.

OOC,Look at the riddle Alexander just quoted more closely. The answer is there.