A Steampunk Guide to Hunting Monsters 4 | Page 19

Sunday , May the Thirtieth
Well , we have sorted the palace mess out . Many of the tenants and servants have chartered a boat home . The monster hunting tour , quite amusingly , came in hot pursuit of the traveling palace when it was ripped from the ground , and they are hovering just over the horizon , ready to land .
Earlier I saw Cyprien sitting in a pile of rubble , and I believe he was crying . Percy spoke to him . I think I overheard him say , “ You could have all the wealth in the world , and that feeling wouldn ’ t go away , believe me . You can ’ t cheat , you can ’ t get it by force . There are no shortcuts to love .”
I do wonder of what they were speaking . Later , when Mr . Longville joined me , and I asked , he said , “ I gave him my card . Maybe we can get him some work on the tour ?”
And , once again , Mr . Longville managed to both irritate and ( I suppose ) impress me at the exact same time . That thief along for the tour ? Well , adventure awaits I suppose .
He continued , observing my lamp , " I see you finally got yourself a Genie ."
" I shall not let him out ," I replied . " He and I have an understanding . I am not his master ; I am his jailer . I will not make any demands of him , but will only watch over him until he is quite rehabilitated and fit to re-enter society ."
" I was but jesting ," the Genie said within the bottle . " I meant not to hurt thee ."
" Now you be quiet , you ," I replied quite sharply . " Or I ’ ll recite the Lord ’ s Prayer ." And that was that .
Tuesday , June the First
Mrs . Bamfield is keeping some secret -- I knew something seemed odd . Her furtive behavior in that Turkish market for one . I nearly met her in the hall of the airship as I was returning from the castle wreckage , but she appeared to duck into a side corridor -- perhaps to avoid me ? Why should she be avoiding me ?
I decided to straighten this affair out immediately , and stepped out boldly into the corridor .
" Mrs . Bamfield ," I said . " What are you doing lurking around here in the dark ?"
She could hardly ignore a mention of her own name , and indeed she did not . She stepped forth .
" Oh - Miss Dashwood !" she said , mysteriously . She lifted up a small box . It was made of iron , and most ornately decorated with silver . It was also just the size of the mysterious parcel she had purchased in the Turkish market .
" It was so tiny ," she said . " I feared it was not strong , and would perish from lack of care before I could bring it to my ... sister . I was warned not to open the top , but I ..." Her voice broke off . " I opened the lid ! Just the merest crack . The creature was already dead ! It was a scam ! My ... I ' m sorry , her husband will not be pleased !"
" But why does she need a small monster at all ?" I asked .
" Her husband is something of a collector -- things that most people would not care to own ."
Though she does not speak of it , I think Mrs . Bamfield ' s sister does not have a happy marriage .
Wednesday , June the Second
During our brief stay in Spain , Brunhilde Bamfield discovered a tiny blob on the plains ! It was wandering through the tall grasses . With our trip diverted from its planned course , it was quite a delight to find some worthwhile monster hunting after all . The blob has been put in a crate for shipment and loaded onto the airship for our flight which is currently moving along the coast . Brunhilde claims that the blob will be a replacement gift for her sister , in San Francisco , and she seems much relieved !
I wished to ask her more about the subject , but today Mrs . Bamfield was enthralled by a