Dear Diary,
Went to the theatre the other night for Dot's birthday and because Bart Tarrant had called me in in a professional capacity. I've known Bart for years but he has been in England directing his G&S on the provincial stage there. I found out why he had left Australia – his dearest love, an actress called Dorothea, died apparently by her own hand in the very theatre we were to see Ruddygore.
They had a ghost, well, I'm good but not even I can exorcise a ghost, at least I thought not.
Inspector Robinson was somewhat reluctant to accept my help, not that it stopped me but I think, at the start he was glad to get rid of me because he let me go off with a silk importer from Chinatown. A thoroughly elegant chap by the name of Lin Chung. He took me, and Dot, to dinner where I met his grandmother who was all charm – I think not! A bit surprised I speak enough of their language to answer her and understand that she didn't want her grandson associating with me – she must read the papers! Sadly I insulted Lin, intimating he was probably in the opium trade – he isn't he assures me – but his fiancées family are, ... Lin is promised/engaged to a young lady back in Shanghai, an arranged marriage and all he has to do is sign the contract, which he seemed reluctant to do. I understand, I think, he has been educated by a western culture, Oxford I think, and has many of those values. However, he told me his company could do with the extra financial input – so to speak – I don't see he has a choice.
I did see him again, seems he accepts my apology and was quite willing to, shall we say, entertain me after dinner! I am sure I shall see him again – at least until he marries. Married men are strictly off my radar, I don't want to be some man's mistress.
I have been a bit naughty and given Hugh a book on the Eastern art of love, told him I wanted to be sure it wasn't banned under the obscene publications act, a whole chapter on kissing, I teased him. Darling Hugh, so sweet and so clueless in the art of wooing a fair maiden – Dot, that is.
The murders were committed by a man who was Bart's rival for Dorothea's affections all those years ago, and two other men were murdered as he tried to discredit the theatre and Bart. However, it transpires that the leading lady is Bart's daughter, he didn't know the reason Dorothea took time out from the stage to have his baby and she was brought up by Dorothea's relative.
Jack quoted Shakespeare, he refused to do the Major General's song, claiming her had forgotten it – what rot! Anyway he quoted Anthony and Cleopatra – 'Age shall not weary her ...' what a voice, it made me go all gooey inside! Who knew a police Inspector would be well versed in the works of the bard? He's got hidden depths, which I intend to plunder at some point.