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folded beneath me and it was while I was still adjusting their position that I heard the door open and the sound of low muffled voices. I detected the scent of cigar smoke as others entered the room.
    Soon a man called his fellow members to order. I will not trouble you with the minutes of the entire meeting, and in this capacity, no doubt the secretary of the society did his job with admirable diligence. However, these would not have captured the strange atmosphere at the start of the gathering, which to my ears were more akin to the beginning of a voodoo ritual than a meeting of professionals. I heard what appeared to be someone humming a low, sustained note like a man attempting to tune a piano without the aid of a tuning fork. The voice was joined by another, at the same pitch. If there had been more musicality to the performance, I might have taken them for a male voice choir warming up for an evening of Monteverdi, which would have made Holmes and me feel very foolish indeed. The sound swelled to a cacophony, making the lock of the trunk rattle. I was almost certain at this point that this was indeed a musical company, and thought for a moment about revealing myself. Surely a fulsome apology and a firm handshake would have sufficed.
    It was then that I heard Chatburn declaiming above the racket, in a voice filled with affected mysticism:
    â€˜By the two lamps of the sun and moon, and in the blood of Prince Nizam, I declare open this meeting of The House of The Ruby Elephant!’ It was rather overdone, I felt, and smacked of amateur dramatics. I knew that Holmes would be similarly scathing about the performance. Then a chill ran through me:
    â€˜If there are enemies amongst us, let them show themselves now, or we seek them out and drain them of their God-light.’ I shut my eyes, almost expecting the lid of the trunk to be flipped open. I felt entirely protective of my God-light.
    â€˜Then let us begin,’ Chatburn finished. I expelled the remaining air in my lungs.
    â€˜What news of Snitterton?’ a voice came in.
    â€˜Yes Jack, what news?’ came another, rather more prosaically. I puzzled at the name.
    â€˜Still at large. But I have taken steps. You will have heard of the great detective, Sherlock Holmes? I have engaged him to seek out Snitterton on our behalf. Where we have failed, Holmes will surely succeed. I provided a simple clue that will send him on a chase across London. Once he delivers him to us, we will finish him.’
    â€˜Naturally, Chatburn,’ came a voice of authority, we are all concerned that Snitterton is gathering his forces. We have heard that he has sworn vengeance on us all.’
    â€˜And yet,’ came yet another, ‘It is you, Jack, with whom he has his grievance. What say you to squaring up to him, man to man, eh? Get this thing over with.’
    â€˜I wish,’ said Chatburn wistfully, ‘I only wish it was that simple. You heard the curse he placed on our order as he left. No man can lift such a curse, not even I.’
    The room broke into a flurry of conversation. I heard the strike of matches and the sloshing of drinks.
    â€˜Order, brothers, order,’ Chatburn called. ‘Mr Smyth, would you care to furnish us with what we know of Snitterton’s plans?’
    â€˜Of course, Mr Chairman,’ came a low voice I had not yet heard. There was the sound of chair legs grinding backwards as he rose to his feet. Some heavy steps worked their way around the room, coming slowly towards me. Clearly this was a man of some size and stature.
    â€˜Brothers, this news came to me from an acquaintance, who has neither the wit nor the inclination to lie. Snitterton has formed a society of his own: The Order of the Sapphire Butterfly.’
    â€˜Sounds somewhat derivative,’ a voice chipped in.
    â€˜Think what you will,’ rebuked Smyth. ‘He has already signaled his intention. No doubt you will have heard of the elephant that