Free The Lunatic's Curse by F E Higgins

since. He took a small box from the desk and unlocked it. Nestled in the folds
of green baize lay a large smooth disc of black rock on a long silver chain: his precious Lodestone.
    He took it out and held it up to the light. It swung gently to and fro and he followed it with his eyes. Tibor used this polished stone in what he termed the ‘Lodestone Procedure’, a
technique by which he could realign the humours in the body and cure all manner of mental ills. At least that is how he presented it to his patients. In fact he employed his indubitable powers of
persuasion and this magnetic rock to send his customers into a sort of trance. In the trance they were in a very suggestible state and volunteered all sorts of information (generally about their
wealth) that could be used afterwards without their even realizing they had divulged it. Mrs Ecclestope, with her simple intellect and her nervous disposition (not forgetting her rich husband), was
a perfect candidate . . .
    Some time later a very satisfied Mrs Ecclestope, relieved of the burdens of her mind (and a substantial burden of silver from her purse), thanked Dr Velhildegildus and tripped
lightly away.
    ‘Same time next week,’ called Tibor after her.
    The day’s work over – professionals did not work afternoons – Tibor was looking forward to a light lunch at his club. He had just put on his new hat (on account of the unusual
shape of his head all his hats were made to measure) and taken his cane from the elephant’s foot umbrella stand (all the rage these days) when the servant called to him.
    ‘What is it, man?’ he asked with irritation
    ‘Melvyn Halibutte has sent for you, down at Irongate Jail.’
    Tibor raised his eyebrows. ‘How interesting,’ he murmured.
    Now, you could be forgiven for thinking that the governor of Irongate Jail would be an unlikely friend of Dr Velhildegildus, but birds of a feather flock together and although Tibor and Melvyn
were on different sides of the river they flew in very much the same direction. Tibor knew Melvyn Halibutte would not call upon him for any trifle. Besides, Melvyn kept a well-stocked drinks
cabinet.
    So he called for a carriage and ventured south.
     
14
The Merry Inmate
    For those of you unfamiliar with the legendary city of Urbs Umida, and the notorious south side of said conurbation, to acquaint yourself with it you need only picture a place
so foul and mephitic that merely to think on it brings tears to the eyes and a stinging to the nose. If that is not enough for you then use your imagination further to people the revolting streets
with evil-eyed incorrigible swindlers, nimble-fingered pickpockets, heavy-browed thugs and gin-soaked layabouts in blood-streaked rags; a kind of multifarious pigswill of turpitudinous humanity all
fighting to survive, for certainly it could not be called living.
    Those of you who do know of Urbs Umida, doubtless you can tell that little has changed in this hellhole ’tween times.
    On account of the large crowds still lingering after a public hanging, the carriage driver had insisted that Tibor get down and make his own way to the jail gates. To add to his displeasure
Tibor could see quite clearly the dark silhouette of the fresh body on the gallows already being pecked at by the crows. A passer-by threw an apple core at the unfortunate, whose only crime had
been to pinch a gentleman’s peruke.
    Urbs Umida was indeed a harsh and cruel place.
    It might only have been a matter of a few dozen steps but Tibor was feeling distinctly out of sorts by the time he presented himself to be waved through by the gate-keeper. He was escorted to
the governor’s office and only felt safe once he stepped inside the spacious, warm and very tastefully decorated and furnished room. It could not have been in greater contrast to the
prisoners’ quarters below. Truly, it did not do to get on the wrong side of the law in Urbs Umida.
    Governor Halibutte was waiting for Tibor, and