“I trust,” the daughter answered, with a sigh. “Is it not a lovely day?”
“Lovely,” Pierce agreed. “Unspeakably lovely, but no more lovely than you.”
Elizabeth Trent tittered, and replied that he was a bold rogue to flatter her so openly. “One might even suspect an ulterior motive,” she said, laughing.
“Heavens, no,” Pierce said, and to further reassure her he placed his hand lightly, and briefly, over hers.
“I am so happy,” she said.
“And I am happy with you,” Pierce said, and this was true, for he now knew the location of all four keys.
PART TWO : THE KEYS : November, 1854 – February, 1855
Chapter 17
The Necessity of a Fresh
Mr. Henry Fowler, seated in a dark recess of the taproom at the lunch hour, showed every sign of agitation. He bit his lip, he twisted his glass in his hands, and he could hardly bring himself to look into the eyes of his friend Edward Pierce. “I do not know how to begin,” he said. “It is a most embarrassing circumstance.”
“You are assured of my fullest confidence,” Pierce said, raising his glass.
“I thank you,” Fowler said. “You see,” he began, then faltered. “You see, it is”— he broke off, and shook his head— “most dreadfully embarrassing.”
“Then speak of it forthrightly,” Pierce advised, “as one man to another.”
Fowler gulped his drink, and set the glass back on the table with a sharp clink. “Very well. Plainly, the long and the short of it is that I have the French malady.”
“Oh, dear,” Pierce said.
“I fear I have overindulged,” said Fowler sadly, “and now I must pay the price. It is altogether most wretched and vexing.” In those days, venereal disease was thought to be the consequence of sexual overactivity. There were few cures, and fewer doctors willing to treat a patient with the illness. Most hospitals made no provision for gonorrhea and syphilis at all. A respectable man who contracted these diseases became an easy target for blackmail; thus Mr. Fowler’s reticence.
“How may I help you?” Pierce asked, already knowing the answer.
“I maintained the hope— not falsely, I pray— that as a bachelor, you might have knowledge— ah, that you might make an introduction on my behalf to a fresh girl, a country girl.”
Pierce frowned. “It is no longer so easy as it once was.”
“I know that, I know that,” Fowler said, his voice rising heatedly. He checked himself, and spoke more quietly. “I understand the difficulty. But I was hoping…”
Pierce nodded. “There is a woman in the Haymarket,” he said, “who often has a fresh or two. I can make discreet inquiries.”
“Oh, please,” said Mr. Fowler, his voice tremulous. And he added, “It is most painful.”
“All I can do is inquire,” Pierce said.
“I should be forever in your debt,” Mr. Fowler said. “It is most painful.”
“I shall inquire,” Pierce said. “You may expect a communication from me in a day or so. In the meanwhile, do not lose cheer.”
“Oh, thank you, thank you,” Fowler said, and called for another drink.
“It may be expensive,” Pierce warned.
“Damn the expense, man. I swear I will pay anything!” Then he seemed to reconsider this comment. “How much do you suppose?”
“A hundred guineas, if one is to be assured of a true fresh.”
“A hundred guineas?” He looked unhappy.
“Indeed, and only if I am fortunate enough to strike a favorable bargain. They are much in demand, you know.”
“Well, then, it shall be,” Mr. Fowler said, gulping another drink. “Whatever it is, it shall be.”
__________
Two days later, Mr. Fowler received by the newly instituted penny post a letter addressed to him at his offices at the Huddleston & Bradford Bank. Mr. Fowler was much reassured by the excellent quality of the stationery, and the fine penmanship displayed by the mistakably feminine hand.
Nov. 11, 1854
Sir,
Our mutual acquaintance, Mr. P., has requested that I inform you when next I knew of any lady— fresh. I am pleased to recommend to you a very pretty fair young girl, just come from the country, and I think you will like her very much. If it is convenient for you, you may meet her in four days’ time at Lichfield Street, at the bottom of St. Martin’s Lane, at eight o’clock. She shall be there waiting for you, and suitable arrangements for private quarterings have been made nearby.