Basil, Dawson, and Rosa left the Duchess' house and walked down the streets of London for Baker Street.

Dawson: I must say it was good to bring Miss Spellcove along, right Basil? She was of good comfort to the Duchess when she was in tears.

Basil: Perhaps.

Rosa: Perhaps? She was crying that her necklace belonged to her mama and it's the only thing she has left of her.

Dawson: So, what have you found, Basil?

Basil: When I searched the Duchess' room, I found a small drop vinegar sauce on the spot where our peg-legged adversary had been standing.

Dawson: Vinegar sauce?

Rosa: How do you what kind of sauce it is?

Basil: I once been down in the East End in disguise and seen one of the merchants trying to sell oysters with vinegar sauce.

Dawson: Which means the thief has been to the East End?

Basil: Precisely. Our peg-legged friend has eaten oysters with vinegar sauce while down in the East End.

Rosa: And your plan-?

Basil: I intend to go to the East End and track down our peg-legged friend.

Dawson: But Basil, the East End is a dangerous place! You might not make it out alive!

Basil: Dawson, I have been there before and I managed to get out alive.

Dawson: You're not going down there alone!

Basil: Of course I'm not.

Dawson: Oh good.

Basil: You're coming with me.

Dawson: What?

Basil: Come on, old man. You've done this before when we disguise ourselves as shady characters or whatever and you can do it again.

Dawson: I strongly object to this! It's far too dangerous!

Basil: But Dawson, if we don't go to the East End, we'll never catch our peg-legged adversary and track down Doran and the stolen valuables! If we don't, Sir Evens, the Duchess, Lady Caroline, and my brother will think poorly of me, and you!

Dawson: (hesitates) Oh, very well. But just this once I'm going to the East End.

Basil: (smiles) I knew you would say yes!

Rosa: Then when shall we start?

The two men glanced at Rosa, dumbfounded.

Basil: What do you mean 'we?'

Rosa: I'll be coming too.

Basil: Certainly not. This is no business for women.

Dawson: The East End is a terrible place for women to venture.

Rosa: I may be a lady, but that doesn't mean I'm afraid if some dark, damp, and dirty street, filled with robbers and killers.

Basil: Really? A young lady like you would make an easy target for any street thug.

Rosa: I have been alone on the streets before and if some ruffian laid hands on me…

She reached into her purse and took out a dagger, much to Basil and Dawson's surprise.

Dawson: Really Miss Spellcove? Do you really think-

Rosa: It's only for protection. You never know when you might it. How about this? If you let me join you, I promise not to get in your way or interfere with whatever you do.

Basil: (after a moment of silence) You promise not to do anything reckless? (Rosa nods) Very well. It's settled. Well, now our work is done, it is time we had some play. There's an opera concert this evening, starring an old friend, Miss Relda, who is singing solo.

Dawson: And perhaps a bite of lunch?

Basil: Exactly!

Dawson: Care to join us for lunch, Miss Spellcove? And to the opera theater?

Rosa: Oh, well, I do have other matters to attend to.

Basil: What other matters?

Rosa: Mama will be worried about me because I'm gone for so long, but your invitation to lunch and to an opera concert sounds like a fine idea.

Dawson: Splendid!

000000

Meanwhile, a couple blocks away, Fidget was secretly meeting with Captain Doran in an alley behind a barrel.

Doran: So, how is Miss Rosa making progress?

Fidget: She and Basil are going on about men and women. Had a little fight about she-males.

Doran: Uh, she-male?

Fidget: You should've seen it! It was quite a show! He, he, he, he!

Doran: I didn't bring you here to talk about she-males, you nit-wit! I only asked how Rosa did. Do they suspect anything about her?

Fidget: Nope, not a thing! She's got everything under control.

Doran: Good! I'll send word to our employer about this. Keep an eye on Rosa more, and report to me if anything goes wrong.

000000

At a French restaurant, Basil, Dawson, and Rosa were sitting at a table while waiting for their lunch. Rosa was sitting quietly at the table as her eyes darted around from one place to the other.

Basil: You expecting anyone, Miss Spellcove?

Rosa: What?

Basil: Your eyes are moving side to side at the room, as if you know someone is coming.

Rosa: I'm not expecting anyone, it's just I've never been to this restaurant before.

Basil: Really? You seemed nervous about something.

Rosa: I'm not nervous about anything!

Basil groaned and now the table was silent again. Basil just glanced out the window while Rosa continued to gaze around the room. Dawson could tell something was going on between them.

Dawson: I don't mean to be rude, but I think you two have a problem.

Basil: What problem?

Dawson: You two seem at odds with each other.

Basil: It's nothing like that, Dawson. The girl has been quite stubborn to me-

Rosa: Me? Stubborn? Why can't you just let it alone?

Basil: I will, once you tell me what's on your mind!

Dawson: Would you both please calm down! We're in a restaurant in public! You two need to stop fighting like a married couple-

Basil/Rosa: We are not!

Dawson: And please try to converse with each other before we go into a dangerous territory. For heaven's sake, and for mine.

Rosa: Oh, all right. If you want to know what's on my mind, I'll tell you. I haven't been to London in years. As I've said before, I've spent my entire life in the Swiss Alps with my mama and nanny, and I haven't even seen my papa in years ever since he left for London until we heard of his death. When I came back to London with mama, I feel as if everything's changed around me. With papa's death and the breakdown my mama went through…

Dawson: A breakdown?

Rosa nodded. Her face turned to sadness at the mention of her father.

Dawson: You must sound very close with your father.

Rosa: We were, until he left for London. He still gave us the money we needed to our wants, but he never visited us.

Basil: You once said that your father was murdered. How would know that?

Rosa: A letter came to our home, telling us about how papa died. He was killed by someone he…despised of, and who brought ruin to him and us.

Dawson: You must have gone through some difficult times then after the loss of your father. Our apologies if we offended you.

Basil: Well, I once had difficulties myself, Miss Spellcove. But everyone learns from them and it helps them to move on and learn for the better. Isn't that right, Dawson?

Dawson: Quite so, Basil.

By the time their conversation was over, their food had arrived. And during the meal, Rosa felt a little better. Not because of the food, but by her comforting companions.