The Dark Palace

The setback seemed to act as a spur to Macadam. He remembered that he had a pal who was something of a dab hand at all things electrical. The pal was able to lend them a suitable rheostat of his own, which he set up in the department so that Macadam could operate the projector, and spark the electrical arc lamp that provided the illumination.

And so Macadam was able to show them the test footage he had got back from the processors.

They did what they could to turn the department into a kind of picture palace, draping Qui

However, as the film began to ratchet through the escapement, Qui

The show was over in a matter of minutes, seconds even. There was an equal interval of deep, contemplative silence. Inchball broke it with a slow, sarcastic hand-clap.

‘There are one or two adjustments to be made,’ admitted Macadam as he removed Qui

Qui

And so Qui

He and Macadam took up positions on the Strand, on either side of the arch that led to the alley. Neither of them had seen Hartma

Macadam’s spirits had rallied decisively when Qui

For Qui

The weather continued to be changeable. Brief bursts of sunlight were quickly forgotten in the pervading damp gloom. The constant flow of traffic around them worked in their favour, creating an ever-changing population on the street. No one else was there for long enough to remark on the two men who never seemed to go anywhere. (Qui

They took it in turns to break, either to grab a hurried pie or a chop in a cheap restaurant on the Strand, or to take a leak in the public convenience in Fleet Street. The rest of the time they pretended interest in shop windows into which they barely glanced, Macadam because he had one eye on the entrance to the alley, Qui

Herr Hartma

And so, at the end of a fruitless, unrewarding week, Qui

It was Friday morning. He stared at the wall, willing something to appear on its blank surface, a photograph, a diagram, anything that might give them a lead.

‘We have to look at this from a different angle,’ he said at last. As if to prove the point he turned his back on the wall and sat down at his desk. As it was, neither of his sergeants contradicted him.

Qui

You are cordially invited to the world premiere of

THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER

‘The German community in London would naturally be interested in any cultural event which is co

‘I should say so!’ Macadam sat up with sudden energy. ‘I have read about Waechter in the Kinematograph Enthusiast’s Weekly. His last film was very popular, I believe, and the new one is set to cause even more of a sensation. By Jove, sir! You have been invited to the premiere!’

Qui

On Friday, April 17th 1914, at 7 p.m.

Before an audience of specially invited celebrities

‘The seventeenth. That is today. Perhaps I will go, after all. I will take Inchball with me so that he may look out for Hartma

Macadam was crestfallen. Qui

‘Macadam, you may come along too, of course. We will get you in somehow. Now, you said you have read about this fellow, Waechter. May I see the article?’

Macadam’s expression lit up. With an eager bustle, he retrieved his collection of Kinematograph Enthusiast’s Weeklies from a drawer in his desk. A few moments of happy thumbing later, he spread out the article in question in front of Qui