London-bound

Throckmorton and Cordelia caught the next available train to London. Cordelia knew of an author, who had spent time in Aegypt and had travelled down the Nyle towards its source. He might have more information. The man was known to have been in London most recently, but he was also rather reclusive. The Colonel hoped that his contacts at the Horatio Club on the Mall might be able to help. A couple of them were publishers of sensational books about lost civilisations in central Africa and they might know someone that could help.

Cordelia was not permitted inside the club; no women except on lady's night. Even Queen Victoria, when she had visited was only permitted to do so by special arrangement. Despite being the Queen, she had not been permitted to enter by the front entrance, which was reserved for members only. Some traditions are just too strong! So, the Colonel went on his own. The place smelled of pipe smoke and port. He liked the club. It was a comfortable pied-à-terre in the metrop and a place for those with an adventurous attitude to meet and discuss their travels. As he entered, his eye almost immediately alighted on Bunny Carruthers, one of those publishers with whom he wished to speak. Bunny was a rather over-enthusiastic sort and had probably never travelled outside Great Britain, apart from his military service with a junior regiment of no great renown. Still, his work brought him into contact with a variety of adventurous fellows and he was a useful contact to have. He probably owed his membership of the Horatio Club to his publishing business rather than to his adventures. Many members of the club had published memoirs through Bunny and thought it was useful to have him around so that they could bend his ear.

“Bunny, old stick, do you know that Hunter fellow? You know, the one that wrote about the lower Nyle.”
“Hunter? Oh yes, I know him. Published his last book for him, you know. Are you interested in his work? Tell you what, I shall organise a meeting with him if you wish. It’s a guest night here on Thursday. Why don’t I see if he will come along?”

Throckmorton was pleased, that had gone swimmingly.

Scene: find a person
Travel to metropolis by train
DF 4 to find quarry. DF 3 to get clue. Passed both tests easily.
3 Clues