Free A Study in Temperance (The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance Book 4) by Ichabod Temperance Page A

a habit of producing jubilant little noises of happiness as he is able to read volumes from the meagre scraps of burned material.”
    “As I thought, we have the remains of our villains’ costumes. They have now, certainly, returned to normal state of dress. Hello! What’s this?”
    After carefully sifting through the charred remains of ruffly shirts, soft boots, silky pants and extravagant headwear, the thoroughly thorough investigator discovers another layer of ashe that is visibly different than the rest.
    “The remains of a glabrous leaved plant. Though I have worked to expand my knowledge of botanicae, this species eludes me.”
    “I’m familiar with a few different plants, may I have a look, sir?”
    “By all means, Temperance, I appreciate your input.”
    “Nossir, I’m sorry, I don’t recognize this plant.”
    “Excuse me, gentlemen, but may I conduct an examination myself of this mysterious botanical evidencia? Though I do not claim an expertise in these manners, and I positively loathe the concept of putting my face to that ashe heap, I do feel that I too should be doing all in my power to assist in this investigation. Perhaps I should peruse the remains as it appears so important to our counselor.”
    Mr. Temperance produces a large red handkerchief and spreads it out upon the floor to protect me from any errant soot. I am already completely covered in filth and muck from my travels through earthen tunnels and subway ditches, but it is a sweet and considerate gesture nonetheless.
    Most of the flora has been burned, but there do remain a few of the heavier stems and stalks. These are of a plant that must have stood approximately fifteen feet in height. Its branches have been folded many times to reduce it for entrance to this fireplace.
    Something moves me to waft the scent of an unburned leave.
    Oh, no! I know that smell! I know this plant!
    Impulsively, I fall back from the thing in horror.
    “Madame!”
    “Miss Plumtartt! Are you all right, Ma’am?”
    Too late! I have revealed my most private of secrets!
    “Oh, oh yes, Mr. Temperance, gentlemen, I am quite all right, really, er, eh, ahem, yes, indeed.”
    “I am afraid that will not do, Madame. Please be so good as to be forthright and completely honest with us at this time. If you have any information that can assist our investigation, then I must strongly, unequivocally and under the most rigid of terms, ask you to relent with that data.”
    Mr. Temperance looks as if he is slightly deflated somehow by the disappointment of my having been anything less than honest with him.
    “Have, … have you kept something hidden from me, Ma’am?”
    The pained paladin pleads in a small and tremulous voice, wracked by unexpected confusion.
    I look from one to the other but I know there is no refuge to protect me. I am defenseless. As much as it hurts me to do so, and at the risk of losing the love of my own little Ichabod Temperance, I am forced to come to grips with total confession.
    “This information is not to leave this chamber, gentlemen, upon your sworn word.”
    “Yes, Ma’am, Miss Plumtartt, Ma’am.”
    “I concede to your terms, Madam, but I must insist that you relent the name of the plant if you please.”
    ~huh-sigh.~ “The scientific name is Lawsonia Inermis . The more common name is Egyptian Privet, or Mignonette Tree.”
    I see the detective running the names through his mental catalog of information.
    “Oh yes. I know that plant. The Arabs refer to it as ‘hjiean-nau’.
    I see Mr. Temperance’s relays make the final connections.
    “Oh, do you mean henna? That’s what they use for dying leather and cloth. Sometimes in some of the more exotic parts of the world, wild and worldly women use it, to, ...”
    His eyes grow large as they come to the wrong conclusion.
    “No, no, no, Mr. Temperance, that’s not it at all!”
    “Well, if it ain’t any of them then lemme see. I think it is also used in the dying of women’s, …