Octavius Guy, Esq.
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sendforoctavius.bsky.social
Octavius Guy, Esq.
@sendforoctavius.bsky.social
Investigator-in-Chief for the good Mr Mathew Bruff, famed Solicitor at Law of Gray's Inn Square, London.

Sick of being followed around by a certain author I could name but won't.

This is my daily journal.
Friday October 27, 1854.

Octavius insisted on seeing Sir John. Bertha sent Charley to go with us.

I reckon the man was more interested in finding out what Octavius remembered of his attack than apologizing for sending him into danger.

Sadly, Octavius has asked for his diary back.
October 27, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Thursday October 26, 1854.

George again.

Today when I got to the Bucket of Blood, I overheard Octavius pleading with Bertha to release the doctor's and nurse's families and to send the pair of them home.

He clammed up like an oyster when he saw me standing there in the doorway.
October 26, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Wednesday October 25 1854.

George here.

Octavius is up and about but can't move his arm yet; it's tied in a sling. Bertha is well pleased.

The doctor and the nurse seem very relieved. The nurse asked about the possibility of finally going home. Bertha shut her up with a scowl.
October 25, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Tuesday October 24 1854.

I don't like that Sir John bloke one bit. When I told Octavius as much, he said he thought him broosk, which I worked out must mean "touched" or unhappy.

Still no sign of the escapees, which Bertha thinks is odd: "Ain't no one would dare to 'ide 'em from me!"
October 24, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Monday October 23, 1854

George still. I was called to Sir John's house as Octavius wasn't available.

"Still sick is he? If he'd found those convicts, my wife would still be alive!"

"They'll be found all right," I said.

"How can you be so sure?"

I wanted to reply: "Because Bertha's on the case."
October 23, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Sunday October 22, 1854.

The service was over, and Annie was fuming.

"I want to see him!" she hissed.

"You can't," I stuttered.

"Why?"

How to explain to my sister just who Bertha was? "Cause he's staying at a pub," I tried.

"So?"

"It isn't a nice pub."

Her eyes narrowed. "So?"
October 22, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Saturday October 21, 1854.

"He wants to see you when you feel up to it," I told him, though honestly Octavius's pasty, sweating face looked anything but up to it.

"Sir John?" he asked. I nodded and he blinked. "Why?"

"Don't know, but he made a point of asking me at the funeral."
October 21, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Friday October 20, 1854.

George here still.

Today was Lady Geeson's funeral. Mr Bruff closed our offices in Gray's Inn Square for the day and insisted that all the staff attend...not that Sir John seemed much impressed.

Mr Bruff asked after Octavius. I told him he was on the mend.
October 20, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Thursday October 19, 1854.

Octavius is still weak but was able to tell us how someone snuck up behind him and knocked him out cold.

Bertha's got people all over London looking for those escapees. At last she believes they're still here.

"If I finds 'em, I'll skin 'em!" she swore.
October 19, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Wednesday October 18, 1854.

Octavius was awake. I could have kicked myself when I told him how Lady Geeson had been slaughtered in her bed. He took the news personally.

"You did right, George," he told me as Bertha spooned him some soup, eyeing me like I'd be the next one to die.
October 18, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Tuesday October 17, 1854.

George here. It was Octavius they found. He was alive, but only just.

One of his arms was broken, probably from when he was pushed down the shaft.

He's being looked after at Bertha's by a doctor and this nurse who are staying with him for the time being.
October 17, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Monday October 16, 1854.

George here. I heard the junior clerks' shouts of indignation in the outer office, then Charley, Bertha's henchman, burst through the door.

"They think they found 'im!" he cried.

"Think?"

"In a shaft beside the Thames Tunnel. They're fetching ladders now!"
October 16, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Sunday October 15, 1854.

"Well, I think he disappeared for affectation," said Mary. She's my wife.

I prepared myself to step between her and my sister as I saw the look of loathing in Annie's eyes.

"What did our vicar just talk about in his sermon?" I asked. "The true meaning of charity!"
October 15, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Saturday October 14, 1854.

George here. Mary's not happy with me. We were meant to go for a stroll in Regents Park, but instead I went to see Octavius's brother at the fish stall he works at in Old Street.

"Bertha's got every criminal in London out looking for him," he told me.
October 14, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Friday October 13, 1854.

George again. Now I'm really worried.

Instead of looking for the dog as I was told to do, I went to Brandram's Wharf for a look around.

When I found his diary there, I plucked up courage and made my way to the Bucket of Blood, where I asked to see Bertha.
October 13, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Thursday October 12 1854.

George Crump again. Octavius hasn't shown his face yet and Mr Bruff is furious with him. I told him I was worried but he just shouted me down.

He's ordered me to take on a missing dog case, but I don't think it's right. I ought to be looking for Octavius.
October 12, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Wednesday October 11, 1854.

George Crump here and I'm only writing this because everything's gone really wrong.

The night before last, those thugs broke in and slaughtered Lady Geeson in her bed. Sir John blames Mr Bruff for his bad advice.

To cap it all Octavius has disappeared.
October 11, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Monday April 24, 1854.

"Go on, tell me then."

"It was a neat idea," said Octavius. "Coordinates for the planned attacks were delivered to Mrs Walsh's, leaving the diplomat entirely in the clear. But he didn't figure on dealing with Octavius Guy!"

I frowned. "I meant about Annie."
April 24, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Sunday April 23, 1854.

His nibs turned up at church. Almost wish he hadn't.

I hate how Annie gushes over him. Looked like they were making another assignation to me.

This week's dinner's at our place, and Mary wanted to cook it. It's seven as I write this and it's still not ready.
April 23, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Saturday April 22, 1854.

Yesterday I fumed all the way back to the office. His nibs seemed so sure that the coded letters would stop, yet he persisted in explaining nothing.

"How can you know?" I asked.

"Because we saw the diplomat moving house," he replied, damn his eyes!
April 22, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Friday April 21 1854.

We were at Mrs Walsh's, having just watched the movers stripping the diplomat's house.

"You will never be troubled by those letters again, or my name is not Octavius Guy!" his nibs declared.

Neither she nor I was impressed.

"Truly?"

"Truly, miss. I swear it!"
April 21, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Thursday April 20 1854.

His nibs seemed delighted with what he'd read in the paper. I wandered over casual-like and glanced at the headline: War In The Crimea Escalates.

"I sense you have questions, George," said he.

I wasn't about to let him get the better of me!

"Me? Course not!"
April 20, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Wednesday April 19, 1854.

"Are you going to let me in on what's going on?" I asked.

Octavius was again engrossed in his newspaper.

He shrugged rather annoyingly then said: "I threw the coded letter I wrote out. The rag and bone man took it. The diplomat then purloined it. See?"
April 19, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Tuesday April 18, 1854.

Got to Mrs Walsh's in time for tea. I was tucking into my third scone when the knocker sounded.

Octavius jumped up to retrieve the second post. Mrs Walsh looked on helplessly as he tore open her mail.

He rushed to her writing desk and began to scribble.
April 18, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Monday April 17, 1854.

His nibs expected me to mind the office but I went to see him at Mrs Walsh's.

He didn't seem surprised to see me. He put down the paper he was reading and rose from his chair.

"The letter won't be long in coming," he said mysteriously, tapping the front page headline.
April 17, 2025 at 6:28 AM