A Riddle in Bronze

of metal and many items of half-built equipment. Roberta carried her bag inside, placing it against one leg of the workbench, while I hesitated in the doorway with my own. I watched as she took the trap from her bag and freed the cylinder inside, depositing it on a small metal tripod above a Bunsen burner. Then she glanced at me. "Come in, Mr Jones, and bring that bag with you. I have work to do and very little time to complete it."
I remembered the damaged netting and the tripods which had been bent almost double at Lady Snetton's. "Can I help in any way?" I asked, as I put the haversack beside hers.
"No, this will require a certain amount of skill." She took a seat at the workbench and cleared the space in front of her. Then she removed the ripped netting from the bag, laid it on the workbench and reached for a spool of wire. "Would you send the maid up when supper is served?"
"Yes, of course." I took the hint and left the room, closing the door behind myself. I decided to change my coat, for the one I was wearing had endured much ill-treatment throughout the day and was sorely in need of a good brushing. It was still my intention to visit the Crown and Feather that evening, and I did not wish to appear as a chimney sweep's assistant.
While changing my coat I discovered the pages I'd removed from the journal earlier. I looked around my room, but there was no fire in which to dispose of them, and I didn't want to leave them lying around for the servants to find. So, I tucked them into my pocket and resolved to dispose of them at the earliest opportunity.
– — Ω — –
When I came down for supper I discovered to my surprise that the professor was also present. He was seated at the table with a plate of cold ham, sliced boiled eggs and fresh buttered bread before him, and he looked little the worse for wear. Mrs Fairacre had laid on quite a spread, and Roberta was at the sideboard behind her father, transferring food to her own plate.
"Well, my boy?" said the professor, in his reedy voice. "How was your day?"
"Very interesting, sir. Miss Twickham and I paid a visit to Lady Snetton's residence, where we successfully captured a wayward spirit."
All too late, I saw Roberta gesturing at me wildly from behind her father, and as I caught sight of the professor's changing expression I realised I'd erred most grievously. His genial air of bonhomie vanished, and he pushed back his chair and leapt up, turning to confront his daughter. "You took our bookkeeper on a cleansing?" he roared. "Have you quite lost your mind?"
"You were hardly in a position to help," said Roberta mildly. She seemed unperturbed by her father's rage, and it dawned on me that these angry clashes of theirs must be frequent occurrences.
"Taking an untrained amateur along is the height of stupidity," shouted the professor. "You should have postponed until the morrow!"
"Everything proceeded to plan, father. And in addition, Lady Snetton agreed to pay us ten pounds."
"I don't care what…" The professor's voice tailed off, and I saw a gleam in his eye. "Wait. Did you say she agreed to ten pounds?"
"Indeed."
"I see." The professor glanced at me. "And what is your opinion? Did things go as smoothly as my daughter claims?"
I recalled the torn netting, the bent stands, and the clammy feel of the spirit as it fastened itself to my spine. Those, and the severe tremors which had shaken Lady Snetton's house to its very foundations. "Er, very smoothly indeed sir. No trouble at all."
"Ah-hmm."
The wind had completely gone out of the professor's sails, whether at the mention of money, or due to the lingering after-effects of the brandy. He gave his daughter a stern look, then retook his seat and transferred his attention to a thick slice of ham, carving a bite-sized piece before gazing upon me once more. "You seem remarkably sanguine under the circumstances. Many would have run for the hills at the very mention of wild phantasms and vengeful spirits, never mind witnessing them with their own eyes."
"I did what I had to, sir."
"Stout fellow," he said, with a nod.
Roberta gave me a grateful smile as she took her seat at the table. I left the pair of them to fill my own plate with eggs and ham, for I had not eaten for some hours and was feeling the lack of food. In addition, I still had an errand to run that night, and I did not know how late I would be back. "An acquaintance of mine mentioned a tavern in the area," I said casually. "Would either of you know of the Crown and Feather?"
Roberta shook her head, but the professor glanced up. "A low establishment indeed," he said, eyeing me in concern. "I would avoid the place if you know what's good for you, since it's plagued with cut-purses and burglars and women of ill repute. In fact, I'm surprised you admit to the acquaintance of any who might be likely to frequent such an establishment."
"It was mentioned to me in passing," I said hurriedly, fearing he might believe I was seeking female companionship of that kind… and that I was crass enough to ask my hosts at their own dinner table where I might find such an establishment. "I was merely curious as to the location."
"Curiosity is a noble virtue," said the professor loftily, "but one must be careful to channel the pursuit of knowledge into worthwhile areas."
Roberta snorted at this. "Father, you speak as though you've never once visited a tavern. Mr Jones is not a child of ten, and we have no call on his time of an evening. Why, for all you know he is betrothed to an innkeeper's daughter!"
"I assure you I am not betrothed to anyone," I said quickly.