Spirited Away - The Game

"We all know what Mr. Norrell expects the outcome of this investigation to be," Maximilian replies. If he even personally knows of this case at all. "Does that mean my associate and I are not supposed to do our job to the best of our ability?" He tilts his head in a challenging manner. "If a patient were to come to you"—he pauses here as if that was the entirety of his hypothetical, implying that Dr. Amberly has no patients coming to him, before he continues—"expecting that there is no cure to their ailment, would you simply flip your books, mumble some mumbo jumbo and tell them they are right?" He smiles sweetly at Amberly, then adds, "You don't strike me as that kind of quack. So why do you accuse me of being one?"

The question earns Maximilian another significant look - the good doctor seems to have an inexhaustible supply of them - but rather than listing the many ways in which he finds Maximilian to be a deceitful, secretive and untrustworthy fellow, Amberly simply says:

"I am looking forward to being proven wrong. Let us shake hands then. You will agree to be discreet with your findings and mindful of the dignity of the inhabitants of this home; and I will endeavour not to hinder you in your inquiries." Amberly offers his hand.

"And you will keep certain peculiarities about my person to yourself," Macimilian adds. He waits for Amberly to give some kind of agreement before shaking his offered hand.

"And I will keep certain peculiarities about your person to myself," Amberly echoes, signifying that the condition is accepted. The men shake hands in uneasy truce, and Amberly steps aside, allowing Maximilian access to the door.

"A word of advice, since you are so determined to poke around. See to it that you interview Mrs. Tubbs's maid. I don't believe it is simple discontent that has incited her to resign her position - or attempt to." Mrs. Murgatroyd had indeed complained earlier of the maid's intentions and had denied her, probably threatening her with lingering unemployment. "The girl has witnessed something which has distressed her, or my name is not Earnest Amberly."

Maximilian's face briefly looks like he's about to quip something in response to the doctor's words, but in the end, he opts to simply nod and say, "Thank you. I will keep it in mind." He opens the door and steps outside of the room. After the initial moment where the doctor blocked the door and worried Maximilian with that gesture, the former charlatan already relaxed during the talk, not getting the impression the doctor means him harm. There is still a bit of relief at that exit now being unblocked for him.

He steps outside the room and then decides to leave the building entirely, catching a breath of fresh air in front of the house as he waits for Edward to return.

Meanwhile (provided they encounter no obstacle), Edward leads the carriage through the Tubbs' gates, expertly prodding Endymion and Selene to negotiate the turn and settling in the courtyard in front of the mansion.

Henry stays behind to close the gates after them, then regroups at the house.

"You have my thanks, Henry. Just one last effort. We can now bring Mr Calstock's trunk in the house."

They begin the unloading operations.

With his luggage and its sensitive content safely in his possession, Maximilian can finally settle himself into his room. Edward on the other hand needs to see to the horses' needs before his own. He is given a room as well, in the servant's quarters under the attic. It is the size of a generously proportioned cupboard, there are no windows and the bed has been constructed for someone a foot shorter than him, but at least he is afforded some privacy - a rare luxury for a servant. A basin and a pitcher of ice-cold water also have been left for him, to remove the dust and the smell of horses off his person as best as he can manage. By the time master and man-servant are free to reunite and discuss their findings, the night has properly settled over the house, all the occupants have retired to their rooms and the noises of people trying to go about their business as quietly as possible mixes with the creaking of the ancient beams.

When Edward returns from his trip to recover Maximilian's suitcase, the young gentleman informs his servant that they will need to have a conversation at the earliest convenience, which ends up being a bit later than Maximilian would have preferred.

The two men are in Maximilian's room, the door locked, when Max sits down on his bed. "What are your thoughts on Dr. Amberly?" he asks, initiating the conversation.

The butler stands in the room, hands tucked behind his back out of habit. "The man seems quite... astute, Sir. His demeanour makes one wonder if he and Murgatroyd are sincere in their intent with regards to Mrs Tubbs. And he is clearly wondering the same thing about us, Sir," he adds.

"Did you have occasion to mitigate the good doctor's suspicions, perhaps?"

"The good doctor appears to have noticed a certain peculiarity about myself," Maximilian says. "He asked to speak in private after you had left. We had quite the interesting conversation. He's certainly an intelligent man, witty as well." With a playful smile that Edward has has known means trouble since Adelaide Calstock had been a little girl, he adds, "If only he was a little more handsome."

"Is that so?" he chuckles, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, from my end I am happy to report we are in good standing with the Inn despite our shortened stay... I took the liberty of paying for the entire agreed period. The landlady even gave me this spike, for protection."
He unwraps the heavy bundle to show the old spike.

" I also heard of a lock keeper by the canal, Mr Walter Peglar, who seems a superstitious sort, and fond of the bottle. Since we heard mention of the canal as a 'fairy road', he seems the man to talk to about..."

"The good doctor seemed eager to want to get rid of us," Maximilian says. "I believe there is something he is worried we will find out. Not about any fairies, but likely something a bit closer to home. He did recommend we talk to the maid, the one who attempted to quit. He said something occurred to make her want that."

He reaches out and brushes the spike with his fingertips. "How kind of her," he says. He doesn't believe the spike will come in handy in any way, but it is a nice gesture nonetheless. To the mention of the lock keeper, he says, "Not a bad idea. Perhaps we can sway him with a bottle of wine to chat with us."

"What is our best course of action, I wonder. With the witty doctor's suspicions aroused, our every gesture will be under scrutiny. I can approach the maid, maybe. Witty or not, Amberly is unlikely to spend much time with the help. It would be below his stature. "

Edward proposes to make frequent visits to kitchen, pantry, maybe laundry room, under the pretext of carrying out his master's demands, continuing the 'fastidious master' pantomime.

"That would be a good idea," Maximilian says. "If I was seen speaking to the maid, it would only throw further suspicion on me, which may not be good for our duty here. Perhaps I can distract the good doctor a bit," he adds with a chuckle. More seriously, he adds, "Perhaps tomorrow in the afternoon, we can visit this lock keeper. Late enough that we can drink with him, early enough that he would still be lucid."

"Then be it. May I borrow one of your shirts, Sir - pressing it smooth would give me an excuse to spend significant time with the help, in the hope to learn something - or to spend time with the maid in question in a socially acceptable manner".

"I shall keep my eyes peeled and my ears open. If there is nothing else you require of me, I will seek my quarters for the night."

"Stand by the door so nobody can open it," Maximilian requests. Once Edward is in position, he opens his suitcase and, ignoring his dresses, pulls out a folded shirt, handing it to Edward before closing the trunk again. "That does sound like an excellent plant, though you know me. I will not object if you choose to spend time in a socially unacceptable manner either." He throws Edward a smirk, then says, "Good night, my friend."

Maximilian's wittiness has failed him.

The old house creaks in the night like a ship on a calm sea, which proves soothing to the senses. Maximilian gives in to it fully, sinking deep into undisturbed sleep.

Edward on the other hand, the ever watchful guardian, is more used to sleeping with one eye open; especially in places they are strangers to, full of persons with unknown motivations and gossiping servants. So when a door opens not too far down the corridor, he is immediately awakened. It is hard to tell the time in his tiny, windowless room, but his experienced senses tell him that it is far too early for the new day to begin, even for the help, who rise long before sunrise. So someone - one of the other servants who sleep in this attic - has curtailed their already short rest and is prowling about with some unknown purpose.