Unknown Date (Elle to Annya)

Dear Miss Marianovski,

Your letter was unexpected and most welcome. I am not good at flowery thanks, so I'll just say plain thanks.

You be careful with Connie. He's handsome and charming and all, and of course we grew up together, but there's enough about him to trouble a girl's mind right on to madness and in a queer way I figure I got off easy. Not even just a girl's, his old school chum has been in the sanitorium for a couple months and I'm not saying I know why, but . . . it's not too hard to figure after a while that nothing sticks to Connie.

But if you've made up your mind and it sure sounds like you have, then you'd do as well to enjoy yourself and treat him kind. For all he's never had a day of trouble in his life he's maybe had cold kindness, too.

Anyway this isn't what I meant to say but it's been so long since I had a woman friend to talk things over with. I suppose I sound right foolish. Well, I won't tell Con you sent me the money and I expect I won't have to bother you again.

Yours truly,

Eleanor Everett

PS. I have enclosed a ha'penny in case you are curious to see some British money.

ENCLOSED: One ha'penny coin.

Unknown Date (Mme Four to Roger/NY Ned)

Roger,

This news is most alarming. Under no circumstances must the Target be allowed to leave the country. On the night in question, you and Frank must take him to the Old Mill Tavern. It is enough out of the way to allow for sufficient flexibility should our plans go awry. Get him drunk and try to convince him to stay, as a sort of lark or defiance of Father or whatever you like. If he is not inclined, leave him inside in Frank's custody , and go out to the streetlamp directly in front of the tavern. Making sure you are well lit, attempt to light a match for a cigarette and fail three times. On the third failure swear any oath you like by your Sainted Aunt Elizabeth. Rejoin your friends in the tavern. No more than five minutes later, the Target will be arrested by our mutual friend in the police force.

It is desirable that you remain above suspicion to the Target, but it is imperative that you do NOT allow him to leave. All will be excused in service of this goal, short of mortal harm.

I will be meeting with the Rev. Father Anderson, third of that name, on the same day. I do not have to tell you how important it is that everything run smoothly while he is in town.

Yours in haste,
Mother

November17, 1911

Dear Frank,

Well, I must admit you gave me a bit of a scare! I am sorry to hear that you have been indisposed but correspondingly relieved that you have returned to health, and that your indisposition was nothing more serious. The inactivity of Room 816 has, I hasten to inform you, been somewhat remarked upon. In an attempt to unruffle feathers, I have already offered what may be exaggerated reports of a phusical illness. Should anyone inquire, you have suffered fever, nausea, vertigo, and various other digestive unpleasantries. I have been vague enough that you may emphasize or play down any of these aspects. I hope you do not take amiss this interference. It is my belief that this will smooth, at least marginally, your re-emergence into the Social Club.

I am further gratified to learn that we have a certain commonality of purpose, though sorry, as I may infer, that it has cost you personally. At this point I would suggest that we continue to work within the auspices of the Social Club, while personally expanding our goals. At the moment we have the mechanics of harm, embarrassment, manipulation - but we lack a human touch which you and I, Frank, would desire to add: that is to say a sting. The Social Club wishes to inspire certain actions, but I would couple with these actions an encompassing emotional devestation. Let me put this simply: I want the Target ours to dissect. For that I will require an anatomy. Nothing you have observed about him is insignificant, but most important is that we understnad as precisely as possible what he cares about and why. Let us discuss the impressions you have so far and map how to proceed from there.

I am startled by your other piece of information. At present I am uncertain how to proceed with it. Do you have any further details? I would be pleased to compare our knowledge of the family in question.

If you ask the carrier of this letter where he got his shoes, he will give you an address. You may come and find me there any evening this week after seven o'clock. Please do not share this information with anyone else in the Social Club.

I think you will make a fine scalpel, Frank. I hope you will take that as a compliment, and perhaps an image to give you some comfort.

Yours with all respect,
Mr. Five

Unknown Date (Elle to New York Ned)

Sweet Neddie,

I found your last letter awfully cryptic. If I've anything of Conrad's I'll be happy to return it when he gets home - which your sister claims will be soon - no need for sworn statements and other drastics.

Anyway, we all miss you terribly here in Old Wilkshire. The Bog is pretty this time of year hunkering down to face the winter. Is it really three years ago we used to go walking there so often? I think about that from time to time.

Say hi to Con for me.

Elle

November 17, 1911 (Annya to Eleanor)

From: Annya Marianovski
385 Park Avenue
New York, NY
USA

To: Miss Eleanor Everett
Wilkshire-on-the-Bog
Shropshire
England

Miss Everett,

After reading the note (I can't dignify anything so informal with the word letter) that you wrote to Mr. Wilkinson I know you are not one to be surprised that you are not alone in desiring such a man. I do not make it a habit of prying into Mr. Wilkinson's affairs (why create trouble for myself?), but when he leaves papers such as your note lying about I cannot be expected to sit idly by without neutralizing the threat.

You must understand, Eleanor, that I intend to keep Conrad. I will do all that is necessary. I hardly need tell you that this man has a special charm, an impetuosity that is is at once his attraction and default, for how can one hold on to the flying embers of an exploded firework? I intend to. Mr. Wilkinson may not have realized it yet, but I have already dealt with all his other attachments in New York.

Please find enclose $400. This should be more than enough to deal with your problem. Please do not come after Mr. Wilkinson again.

Do not think me a fool. I know that this is an activity, an expensive, exhausting activity, that I will have to continue all my life. But my great-great-great-grand uncle was a king, and I am prepared to fight for what I want.

Sincerely,
Annya Marianovski

Enclosed: $400 in 50-dollar bills.