It Was 1894

The window shone a light on the middle aged man's gleaming forehead. He stifled a yawn as he glanced around the room. The office clerk, Greta, had seated him inside the office itself on a chair against the wall. From there he admired the artwork on the walls, etchings and paintings of boats.

The room boasted the best woods. In fact, everything was made of the deepest mahogany or cedar with a natural rose or dark almond hue. The desk was formidable and stood out among the simplified rest. A tall, ornately carved chair covered in russet velvet and a footstool to match. The bookshelves on the side wall reached the ceiling which was 13 feet high. He had never seen so many books in his life. The small candelabra was not lit and barely used. A lovely fireplace helped warm the emerald green and burgundy carpet, from the orient no doubt. A side table with a plant in front of the window finished the place. He took this all in with a careful study.

Not one to admire luxury or indeed be used to it, he could appreciate the finer taste of design that he was seated in. Though he didn't feel like he blended in well. He smoothed the lapel on his well worn suitcoat. He owned two sets of clothes. His work clothes with one set of pants and shirt, plus a different shirt that would make it casual wear, for the weekend. This suit he wore was his second, formal clothes that he had bought used at the market, loose threads and all. The same shoes were worn for either outfit, the only difference is that when he wore the suit he would clean them. He was fastidiously neat, not a hair out of place and well shaven. He owned a wallet, no watch and smelled of soap.

The warmth of the sunlight streaming on his face began to make him tired. Trying to keep his eyes open he studied the room again. Entertaining the thought of picking out a book to browse while waiting he decided not to. He shouldn't be much longer now... and he stopped his thought as the door opened.

The lawyer entered, flushed and smiling, "Well, well, Mr. Charlemagne, so good to see you. I appreciate your prompt attention to my correspondence." Then the lawyer looked sincerely into Mr. Charlemagne's eyes as he shook his hand and said, "so sorry the appointment is under these conditions. As you know I was a great admirer of your aunt and her charity work. Please bring the chair to the desk and we shall get started at once." Mr. Charlemagne blinked hard so as not to show emotion, coughed into his handkerchief and did as asked and seated himself opposite Mr. Humphrey, the lawyer behind the great amazon of a desk.

Humphrey pulled in the chair as he sat and looking over his spectacles and spoke, "Rosa certainly was an entertaining person. You won't believe this, you really won't," and he chuckled a bit as he said it. You are the heir of a fortune so your life is going to change fairly soon I imagine. That is, I mean, all things considered depending on how the venture works for you to meet the condition." He then paused and with raised eyebrows looked directly at Charlemagne. Who then slowly and carefully replied, "excuse me, condition? Whatever do you mean. This is an appointment to discuss Aunt Rosa's Will, yes?"

"Yes, yes, indeed it is. Let me explain further. She left explicit instructions. A bit of a test if you will, a game. Your Aunt Rosa would have you complete a bit of a mystery before you are able to receive the sum of money."

"A what? You must be joking. A game. We are living on coffee and toast as it is most of the month. I loved Aunt Rosa, but she actually devised this? What is it that I am supposed to do?"

"She has left you a clue on a piece of paper. I haven't read it. It's sealed in an envelope. I will read you what she has here on her legal notes, typed by my own secretary, Greta, a few years ago:

"Dearest Henri, I hope you understand. I am in full control of my wits and temperament. I have set out these instructions, not to make life more difficult for you but for you to appreciate fully the value of what I am giving you. If you refuse this then you example a stubborn nature, and to be entrusted with this gift you must exhibit at all times a loving attitude that reflects interest. Mr. Humphrey my solicitor and agent will pass on to you this envelope which contains a written clue. You will then go on a scavenger hunt for the item. When you return with the item, you will compare said item with the slip of paper in Humphrey's envelope and if it is the correct one then he is to issue the fortune check you are to inherit. You have two tries, if you do not find the clue then the fortune goes to Ducks Unlimited, to feed the birds at the nature parks for however long the funds last. There is one direction that will help you out - you will find all of this in my chambers. My dearest love and regard for you and your lovely wife, Marta"

With that the two gentleman looked at each other and began giggling, turning into a full out giggle fit where neither was in control for a few moments. Wiping his eyes Henri Charlemagne exclaimed, "oh come oooon, is there no other way we can do this? Let's pretend we did and just give me the money would you. I really don't think she would mind."

Smiling, Humphrey looked at him and said, "not a chance lad, I wouldn't miss this for the world. Rosa was a very straight forward person, not so complicated. I am sure the clue will not be difficult and something you shall remember her by. I want to hear every word of how the scavenger hunt goes when you return."

"Oh, yes! That's for certain, I will remember this." Charlemagne replied, eyes growing wider in sheer awareness that he actually had to do this. "My wife will not be pleased, not be pleased at all. She has had her dinner items picked for a week and entertaining the idea of which driver to take us there. Now it's beans and toast again tonight."

Struck for a moment, Humphrey replied, "think of the future man, it won't be long, it's one item. Bring your wife with you, make it entertaining. Here, here, take these," and he turned to the shelf on the book case that had a door that opened like a cupboard. He pulled out some sweet bread. He always kept a snack for while working. He wrapped it in a linen scarf and said, "enjoy this," as he handed it to Charlemagne. Henri, stared at him a moment and for the second time that day said, "ohhhh come oooon." Then he quietly reached out his hand and nodded in thanks. "And the sum is...?" "The sum," announced Humphrey "is $30,000 dollars," and he smiled and nodded. Charlemagne quietly stared back at him and then as if an invisible foot kicked him in the butt, he half leapt out the office door. Then he stopped, turned and quickly asked, "the envelope man!" Humphrey handed it to him and with quick words of "have a good day," exchanged by each, Charlemagne was out the door.

In this year 2023, that amount would equal 1 million dollars. The average working class wage in the year 1894 was 2 to 3 dollars per year. Groceries well spent would be 1 cent per week, 52 cents per year. Almost all of the remaining would go toward living accommodations, water and wood. Charlemagne was an illustrator for a newspaper. He worked part-time. The rest of the time he helped Marta with her sewing business which she did full-time. Together they cared for their tiny apartment that had two rooms. A bed-sitting room for private with a murphy style bed that unattached from the wall, and a commode behind a room divider. The other room was a kitchen with woodstove for entertaining guests with it's own bookshelf that had a few cast out books. Many a Saturday evening they would re-read these books out loud to each other and for entertainment would exaggerate accents and discourse, much amused with themselves. They had met at 16 years old and now at 40 were still young at heart.

Excitedly, Charlemagne explained the whole story right down to every fantastic detail including the swirls in the wood. Wide eyed Marta took it all in and when he got to the part of the actual sum of money she had to sit down. Then she cried. Great rivers of tears all over her blouse. Shock can be like that. "Let's eat those sticky buns, I'll put on the tea. The envelope Henri, get it out, let's read it together," she stammered. So he did.

"The first clue will be in the yellow room, you will find reflecting well the universe. The second will be a little more difficult, and will find it positioned well. The clue itself is something small, something purple, something to straighten out the good in you. Glamorous, yet with teeth, enjoy the view." The key to her home was tucked inside.

The Scavenger Hunt Begins

The next day was Saturday, they had the whole day to do their scavenger hunt. They had already discussed possibilities. Marta had a great mind for detail and indeed Henri was glad he had her by her side. The sun shining on a brisk early autumn day, they walked the entire distance to Aunt Rosa's abode. Almost gleefully slipping the key into the lock of the ornate door, they stepped inside. It was not the feeling of her not being there that met them once inside it was the sense of disorder. Opening the curtains for the sunlight they both gasped.

The place was in complete disarray, not like Aunt Rosa at all. What had happened here? The woman had gone quietly in her sleep. Her service man, Jeeves, had told him so. He had been there in fact, having lived on the main floor. The woman had servants! The room was never like this...

"Oh dear," said Marta, face fallen. Marauders have been here. This is clear. Everything is not just gotten into, it's fallen over. As if they were looking for something or other." Henri and Marta exchanged looks. "Do you think someone was just robbing the place or would they have known about the scavenger hunt clue somehow, what do you think?" he asked her.

"Not so sure how they would know that but perhaps. What would the clue do for them however. You must be the one to present it to the attorney for the inheritance," said Marta. "Quite right that is," he replied. "Then, we will do what we came to do and will call the police after and report the break-in. Just explain that she left us the key to sort out her personal belongings," Henri replied. Marta thought for a moment, "no, that won't do. I don't believe that one is supposed to touch items or re-arrange things after a robbery and someone surely saw us enter, a neighbor perhaps. No, we will have to get the police beforehand and say nothing about the scavenger hunt."

The tall detective entered the house. "Shemplock is here!" as if he was announcing himself. As he did Marta and Henri stood up from the divan and welcomed him. Before they could say much more than "hello," the man was throughout the room peeking under upturned chairs, examining dust along the shelves and peering at every object there without touching anything. "Tell me again why you are here," he asked Henri, who explained in great detail how they were here to simply check on the house and his beloved Aunt's belongings and found the place like this. They immediately gave the message to the carriage driver to go get a police man. Shemplock wrote some notes on his pad of paper, directed the couple to continue their visit there if they wanted but lock the door, and left.

Shemplock had no reason to doubt them. He knew at once neither of them would stage a robbery and then stay there as if to lie and cover it up. His senses keen he knew truth when he saw it. Plus they had a key so why rob the place, they were obviously entrusted to visit or borrow as they pleased. Obviously it was someone the woman knew. Rosa Charlemagne, a writer by profession who had made wise investments under her husband's counsel when he was alive, was known and rich. Anyone could have tried to rob the place but anyone would have had to also have a key because there was no signs at all of a forced entry or break-in. How to know what if anything was missing was a bit of a mystery but as Rosa was recently passed away, 5 minutes inside was all he needed to figure out most of it.

Henri's intuition was firing quickly. He had the strongest feeling this upset was to interfere with their finding the clue. They wasted no time and went directly to the yellow room on the second floor. This was her hobby room, Rosa's personal study. Where she went to do all things, write, pray, do her correspondence, her business papers.

"Reflecting well the universe," they said in unison. The globe on the table, it must be that. They headed toward it, picked it up and turned it over in their hands as if it was a glass object. Then they shook it. Nothing inside it seemed. They did not know what they were looking for. Then Henri took out a pen knife and stuck it in the seam of the thing, separating the world in his hands to look inside - nothing.

"The prayer stool?" Marta questioned. "Perhaps she meant that kind of reflection." Moments later, stuffing on the floor, the poor prayer stool would never be the same, nor their indifference. There was no magical item found in that either.

Marta stared off into space thinking for a moment. The light shone in from the balcony doors and bounced off the large mirror on the opposite wall. This lit the table in front of it where they had looked at the globe. She turned for a moment to swipe her hair that had become loose behind her ear. "Of course," Henri exclaimed, the reflection shining on the globe or what was left of it came from the mirror. He and Marta stared at each other and half lunged to it, each taking one side and lifting it carefully off the wall. There it was written on the back in Rosa's lavish, swirling handwriting:

"First step done, now find the broken part also reflected well, where the design matches art and there will be the item."

Reflected well? What else does this shine on?....the balcony. It has to be. Open the doors to the balcony and there lies the universe? The balcony floor was laden with small ceramic tiles, imported. Each a different color which made an intricate pattern like stars. What matched it however? The afternoon was still bright and fresh air filled the room. Not tired yet, they continued. It was down to a simple search now.

As Marta checked for loose tiles Henri checked everything else, bureau top, table drawers, bookshelf, and before he would check the closet he stopped for a moment and pulled back toward the bureau. The portable closet had a few sweaters in it and slippers but along the top was a dressing box that held personal items for women, hair clasps, garters, hand mirror, etc. He pulled it out. "Here it is!!" he exclaimed. The box had stars engraved on it, matching the design of the tiles with the corner slightly chipped, per the clue. As she hurried to his side, his expression turned to dismay as he turned it over, empty.

No purple item of whatever it was but he was certain that was the answer to the next clue. "Maybe we should tell Shemplock the whole story then," Marta spoke, crestfallen.

Upping the Auntie ~ Back At The Lawyer's Office

The following Monday, filled with gusto, Henri announced himself loudly. Chest sticking out, head in the air, as if he was Shemplock himself, "Henri is here!" he announced proudly as he opened the office door. Humphrey surprised, looked at him, "is our appointment today?" "No, but I have something to say. I don't know what scheme this is you play but we figured out all the clues to the point of empty desserts! What trick is this?!" Henri hollered.

Shemplock out in the foyer grinned from ear to ear. From his standing point he could hear the conversation while keeping an eye on Greta, the clerk who was in the next room on the other side of the foyer. He was expecting her at any moment to rise and go into the hallway and she did.

Greta whispered to Jack who was standing behind the coat rack, "what the devil did I tell you!! What is Charlemagne doing here? You said it would take him a week at least and we had time." Shemplock had seen these two together before and both of them being office clerks, he had a hunch. He knew one thing, she hadn't done this on her own and after the weekend break-in it was likely they would disguise any communication in the open, so as not to lend suspicion.

"Time indeed," said Shemplock coming up behind the two. You are both out of time." Then he grabbed them each by the scruff of the neck and started pulling them toward the lawyer's office.

Humphrey stared in utter disbelief at his secretary being carried in like an alley cat, and who is that with her?! Before he could find his words. Shemplock announced to the room, "Shemplock is here!" and everyone in the room stood still. Jack started to cry as Greta pretended to faint while Shemplock half tossed them onto the chairs around the side table.

Henri was half giddy with excitement, this was the most exciting thing to happen to him, ever. "Now explain what you have really done here, you two. So far it is just a prank and I know that. You are caught before it could be much worse...yes?"

Greta carefully told her story to them all. She had written the note herself and concocted the whole scheme. The plan was for Charlemagne to come up with no clue of an item at first but in the meantime she would give the real check to Jack who was a clerk at the bank. They would leave together with the fortune before anyone figured it out. Before doing so they would put the purple comb (something to straighten out the good in you - hair. Glamourous with teeth - a comb), in the dressing box for Henri to find later if he went back for a second try, but they hadn't gotten that far. First, they wanted to stage the break-in to cause a distraction, thinking that it would keep Henri away from the house for at least a week to give them time. Anything suspicious after would seem like it stemmed from the break-in, they figured. Henri would go back to the lawyer's office and Humphrey and he would open the other envelope to find the other check. The actual fortune was 60,000. They had one check that they would deposit. Jack would change the amount of the deposit after they took half. She had also forged a check they had stolen from Rosa's house and that would be the one in the envelope to give to Henri. The mere adjustment at the bank would disguise it and that way no one would get caught. Charlemagne would have 30,000 and so would they and he wouldn't know a thing.

With that Humphrey's head dropped to his desk in a faint. Henri splashed some water on him, went to the cupboard and handed him a sticky bun.

Amazed, Charlemagne asked Shemplock, "but how did you know?" "Simple," he replied. "Humphrey handed you an envelope unopened, not knowing what was in it. His clerk had given it to him and had placed the key in it so she obviously had a copy key. It is not uncommon for a widow of your aunt's age to leave a key with her attorney for at the time of the will, none would entrust their servants with that responsibility."

Then he turned to Greta, "now produce the correct check at once." She stood and he followed her to her desk. She pulled it out of her bag, along with the purple comb and handed it to Shemplock. Once back in the lawyer's office, Shemplock admonished the two, "consider yourself lucky. Once you were noticed missing you would have likely been found eventually and thrown in jail. This way you returned the money before that happened so we will decide what to do with you."

Humphrey, interjected, "I can take it from here. Greta, you're fired and Jack I will be letting your manager know." With the sincerest apologies Humphrey handed Charlemagne the check of 60,000 dollars. Barely standing still with a hop and a skip in the air, he kissed Humphrey on the cheek and flew out the door hollering, "and a bonus for you Shemplock."

Once Henri got to their apartment he explained in great detail the appointment with the lawyer to his beloved wife Marta. Both overjoyed they went immediately to the bank not stopping to talk to anyone. They pinched each other repeatedly to make sure each wasn't dreaming and giggled while waiting for the clerk to deposit the check. From there they went to a dinner in the finest restaurant. It was the first time they had eaten out in 20 years, loose threads from his suit coat and all. Oh, what plans they had.

Greta and Jack were able to find jobs sewing.

Shemplock bought himself a new house with the gift Charlemagne gave him.

Humphrey took his wife on a holiday with his gift.

The Charlemagne's also bought a new house and lived happily ever after.

The End.

This story wasn't inspired by the Three Stooges but the character as a blend of Sherlock Holmes was. If you like slapstick comedy you would love these guys. They don't date back to the 1800's but they are classics.

*

Copyright © 2023 Lisa A Lachapelle. All rights reserved.

Lachapelle’s links: Vocal Stories & Website

Leave a tip or a pledge if you wish to and I in turn will wish for you.

If you would like to be updated on all my writing just sign in to Vocal for free and click Subscribe on my work. Or brighten my day with an email [email protected]. Seeking An Art Patron, for details, just ask.