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their votes into a hat Dr. Lyons had provided. Next, he placed the hat
on the table and began pulling out the votes, carefully tallying the count
while we all waited patiently, watching him; and after a few moments, he
proclaimed that I had received a majority vote, with only two dissensions,
leaving the strips of papers on the table for all to verify. I was taken
aback a little further, for I was now in a Club, their Club, as an honorary
member; and, apparently, the youngest ever to be given this honor.
Dr. Lyons looked at me proudly, Congratulations my boy! How do
you feel?
I just looked at him and said, I . . . being overwhelmed by this, I
am most honored sir, looking about the room, and . . . and I thank
you all, bowing to them. I felt as if I had been thrown to the wolves
for expressing my beliefs, fought them off, and won a great prize as an
honorary member of the Scriblerus Club whatever that was? After this,
WILLIAM M. CULLEN 197
Dr. Lyons treated us all to a scrumptious supper in my honor; and it was
at supper that I learned what the Scriblerus Club was. The Scriblerus
Club, Dear Reader, was founded by most of these men back in 1712 as
a way to satirize the formal rules of learning, emphasizing its ignorance
and its many abuses upon the learning, wherever they might be found, in
the form of a fictional scholar named Martinus Scriblerus; and now I was
honorary member.
After our supper, and after everyone else enjoyed some of Dr.
Lyons delicious brandy and then took their leave, I was informed by
Doctors Lyons and Sloane of what I could expect as a new member of
the Club . I was told I would have access to various members homes in
which I may borrow their books upon which to read. (I was delighted at
knowing this.) Plus, I would also be allowed to participate and express
my opinions, if and when asked, on any number of subjects and issues
concerning the Club, tho I would not be allowed to vote on policies,
being just an honorary member. I told them I understood, and thanked
them for their support of me. Then, came the catch; but at least they
were forthright about it. I was told that I would be expected, from
time to time, to perform certain duties for members and one of those
duties would require that I print articles from the Club, using the name
Martinus Scriblerus.
I told them I would be happy to do these duties as long as it does
not jeopardize Mr. Palmer s operations, in any way, considering the King s
sensitive, censorship, restrictions he has placed upon us printers. The two
gentlemen certainly seemed to understand my position, telling me it was
not in their interests to jeopardize Mr. Palmer s operations in any way.
In fact, they needed Mr. Palmer s operations to run smoothly in order to
serve their interests.
And with that we became great friends; but more importantly Dear
Reader, it was here, during this meeting, that I got to meet Vyola s father,
Dr. Wyck, for the very first time who, by-and-by, was one of the two
dissenters.
Doctors Lyons and (Hans) Sloane started off by offering me some brandy
and a seat, which I kindly accepted. Next, they asked how my lessons
with Vyola were going to which I answered were going quite nicely,
thanking them, again, for getting me the position to which they said
think nothing of it. Then Dr. Lyons got to the point of his invitation,
198 THE PRINTER S VAMPYR
wanting to know about the two men Dr. Wyck had been seen with this
Sunday past.
Well sir, I think you two might be on to something, for those two
gentlemen are here, from Budapest, to recruit Dr. Wyck s students as
anatomy instructors.
Ah, said Dr. Lyons, pondering it over. Therefore, it does seem that
Allan is performing illegal anatomy classes in order to give his students an
upper hand in gaining employment.
Aye; so it seems sir, I replied.
Anything else to add about his behavior, my dear boy? asked Dr.
Lyons of me.
Well sir, thinking it over, he s rarely, if ever, around when I arrive
to tutor Vyola; however, he does have a tendency to show up for supper;
and then he leaves again afterwards, being gone for several hours. In fact,
he is rarely ever around when I leave.
But where does he go? asked Dr. Sloane concernedly.
Meaning, he is working nearby, I reply.
When you see him arrive for supper Ben, where is he usually coming
from? asked Dr. Sloane.
He comes from the kitchen area.
His cellar! exclaimed Dr. Lyons suddenly, slapping his forehead.
How could I been so blind!
But of course! laughed Dr. Sloane. I should have known as much
myself.
I guess we needed our good man from the inside to jar our
memories, laughed Dr. Lyons, slapping the side of my knee. It tis been
so long since I have been over to Dr. Wyck s home, I nearly forgot he has
a cellar for I kept thinking he slips away to the university, or somewhere.
And I didn t think he would have the audacity to do such a thing in
his own home, added Dr. Sloane, confirming what Dr. Lyons just said.
I looked to them both for an explanation.
You see my boy, said Dr. Lyons, Allan has access to his cellar
through his kitchen, for his is a newer construction; whereby, many of us
have service access to our cellars from the back of our homes.
Yeah?
It is, now, common and one takes it for granted; plus, he has a
servant s entrance which goes to the cellar as well, which would allow
his students to arrive sight unseen by you and Vyola while you two are
working on her lessons in the library, I presume . . .
WILLIAM M. CULLEN 199
Allowing him to perform his nefarious classes in complete
anonymity! added Dr. Sloane
Therefore, thinking it over, he hired me to distract his daughter
away from his illegal activities.
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