Fri 27 Apr 2012 Session

Friday, ?? ??? 1934
Hengst bookshop hires a new librarian/cataloger, Father Fabrizio.

Alexander Hengst receives an invitation to meet Johnstone Dives at the Primlander Club.

Johnstone Dives commissions Hengst to acquire for him a book called "Cadis Urbi Verae Claves" (latin for "True Keys to the City of Death") by any means. He says he believes the book is in London and will be auctioned in 5 days - he wants us to acquire the book for him before then. He offers us "substantial" renumeration. The source of his information is a letter from Paul Fletcher in South Africa to Aston Drummel.

Researching the De Castris family connection leads us to the one-armed Louis De Castris, who is staying at The Dorchester. Father Fabrizio's discussions with Louis De Castris reveals that he believes the book to rightfully belong to his family, and offers "substantial" renumeration for it.

Investigations of Aston Drummel reveal two bookshops he has recently visited - Thompson's & Sons, and Aquarocks. Compton of the Yard investigates at Thompson's first. He confirms that Aston Drummel was there previously, but learns little else. However, rummaging through some books that Aston Drummel sold to the shop, reveals a clue - a beer coaster for the "Ten Bells" pub stuck to the back cover of one of the books.