The Mad Doctor of London Part VI

The Mad Doctor of London

A Great Mouse Detective Pastiche

By E. Grimes

In Part V: The hunt is still on for Dr. Von Seyss; and despite gathering evidence of the doctor's
activities and whereabouts, Basil loses track of his suspect for some time. A chance meeting with
the flower seller, Emma Tilbury, adds yet another piece to the puzzle; but Miss Tilbury is too
frightened to cooperate when Basil and Dr. Dawson try to question her further.

Von Seyss, having moved to another flat before Basil can find him, proceeds to change his appearance.
In order to draw suspicion away from his own person, and also deceive the public, he disguises himself
as Basil. The reason for this horrific plan: to gain the trust of potential victims, and ultimately make
the detective bear the blame for Von Seyss' actions.

But the mad doctor's past is about to catch up with him. His young mistress Anna Heinstoffer, whom
Von Seyss had left for dead in his Vienna home (see Part I: The Arrival), has in fact survived--along
with the doctor's unborn child. After recovering from her ordeal, Anna leaves Vienna and makes an
arduous journey to England. Arriving there a month before Von Seyss resumes his crimes, Anna finds
shelter at a farmhouse outside of London. She intends to search for her deranged paramour, hoping to
reunite with him despite his brutality towards her. Meanwhile, however, Anna is content to stay with
the farmer and his wife until the birth of her baby.

As the end of Anna's pregnancy draws near, she reflects upon her past relationship with Von Seyss,
and the events that changed her life...

"Anna? More milk, love?" asked Mrs. Harwicke, gesturing to the stone pitcher on the dinner
table.

The young woman hesitated a moment, then shook her head, sighing comfortably. "Nein...danke
schön, gutefrau."

With Mr. Harwicke's kind assistance, Anna rose carefully from the table. Mrs. Harwicke led
her off to the washroom, then helped her upstairs to bed, while her husband cleared up the dishes.
Afterwards, the farmer sat by the hearth and lit his pipe; a few minutes later, his wife returned
and joined him before their cozy fire.

"Poor Anna," she said to him in a low voice. "She can hardly walk now, her belly's grown so big.
The little one's well on its way, it appears. Anna's such a little thing herself---it's sure to go badly
with her, once her time's upon her...as if she hasn't suffered enough."

Harwicke grunted sympathetically. "Bloomin' shame. No husband, no family to look after
her...and you can tell she's not quite right in her head, poor thing. To have come so far...it's
the mercy of God she's alive, and the child with her. But whatever shall we do for her, Mother?"

"I don't know," sighed Mrs. Harwicke, shaking her head sorrowfully. "We'll have to worry
about that when the time comes. But I wonder---who is the father? And where could he have gone?"

"I'd like to find him," Harwicke said angrily. "I'd give him a good horse-whipping, I would! What
hard-hearted scoundrel is he, to neglect a child like that in her condition?"

"Tssss! Mind what you say, John," his wife scolded gently, giving a wary glance upstairs.

"She can't understand us, Bess," insisted the farmer, though he lowered his voice. "It's
quite fortunate that we can speak her language...but we'll need to teach her some English.
Anyway, she's got a home with us, long as she wants it...and Heaven help anyone who
troubles her again!"

Mrs. Harwicke nodded in silent agreement. She was glad, at least, that her husband cared so
much---and happy that Anna Heinstoffer had entered both their lives.

"Indeed," the farmer's wife said at last, "it's a blessing that she's come to us. And there will
be the new baby to look forward to. How I've missed having a young one in the house!"

Harwicke smiled wistfully. "Aye, Bess...you and I both. Perhaps t'was the hand of Providence
that brought her to us..."

Upstairs, Anna snuggled comfortably under a handmade quilt, happy to have a soft, warm bed to
sleep in...such a welcome change from the scratchy haystacks and dirty floors she'd had to
lie on during the course of her travels. But this night, tired though she was, Anna could not sleep
at first. She could hear the Harwickes' voices below; and even though she understood little English,
she sensed that they were talking about her. She couldn't have blamed them; after all, they had been
given plenty to talk about in the last month.

She lay quietly now, thinking about the Harwickes and how kind they had been to her. And Anna
had so desperately needed kindness---even more than the comfortable bed, the clean clothes, the
plentiful food and fresh cow's milk that they generously supplied her. It surprised her, however,
that the good farmer and his wife asked nothing of her in return---so accustomed was she to conditions
being placed upon her. Anxious to show her gratitude, the young mother-to-be eagerly helped with the
lighter farm chores, as long as her health made it possible.

Anna's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the stirring of her unborn child, and her tiny hand
moved to her swollen belly. The life within seemed more active each day, and anxious to come into the
world. As Anna thought about that, her heart began to feel heavy. How strange, she thought, that one
could be both happy and sad at the same time. It wasn't the first time she had felt that way, nor would it
be the last. But not until her path had crossed with the psychotic Austrian doctor had she known such
confusion of heart and soul.

Staring out into the darkness, Anna felt her heart grow heavier still as she recalled the wonderful,
terrible life she had led with Dr. Heinrich Von Seyss...

Somehow, Anna had always sensed that she was different from other people. Her mother and father,
who gave her every loving attention, tried to help her believe otherwise. Yet she wondered why the
other children would laugh when she could not read or count in school, or when she was slow to
understand some things. She had few playmates, and often the children would play cruel tricks on her.
Even certain of the adult mice looked down on the poor simple girl, calling her an "imbecile", and
much worse. Seeing all this, Anna's parents shielded their daughter as best they could from the cruelty
and ignorance of society. Sadly, they protected her far too much, though their intentions had only been
for the best...and the terrible irony of it would reveal itself later in Anna's life.

When she was nearly 16, Anna lost her parents to a fire that swept through their building. A woman
who owned a flower shoppe, one Frau Wagner, took charge of her; but her "charity" was a selfish one,
for she sent Anna out in the streets to sell flowers, giving her scant food and a shoddy bed to sleep
in. Moreover, Anna never saw what little money she made. Such was her life for many months.

Alone and uncared for in a world she didn't understand, the innocent girl was far too vulnerable to
society's darker elements. Ironically, one of them would seem like the only friend she had...

She had often gazed in breathless admiration at the handsome doctor who had recently begun strolling
through her part of the city. How beautiful he is, Anna mused, watching as he sauntered proudly through
the streets, his dark silk cloak sweeping elegantly behind him---it reminded Anna of a peacock she had
once seen at a zoological garden. Sometimes the gentlemouse passed by so close that she could smell
his cologne, and his little walks became the bright spot of Anna's forlorn life.

As the days went by, she noticed that the doctor had started watching her in return. Whenever
she glanced his way, Anna would see him look directly at her, with such a charming smile that the
young woman would blush deeply and suddenly become intent upon her merchandise.

She was all the more flustered when one day she looked up from her work to find the dashing
gentlemouse standing before her.

Hastily, Anna remembered her manners and curtsied awkardly. "Guten Tag, mein Herr,"
she stammered. "My name is Anna H...Heinstoffer, mein Herr. And...and how are you?"

"I'm well...I..." Anna's answer was suddenly interrupted by the sound of her empty stomach
growling, and she turned pink with embarrassment as she saw the stranger raise his eyebrows
with a curious smile.

"Forgive me, mein Herr," she said, almost tearfully. "I haven't eaten all day..."

"So I notice, my dear," replied the doctor. "Don't be embarrassed...that happens even to
the best of us. Hungry, are you?"

"Well, it so happens," her visitor went on, pointing to a bundle under his arm, "that I've just
bought a fine cheese at the market. Won't you have a bit of it?" He partially unwrapped the
cheese, and with his pocket knife began to slice off a generous chunk.

"I..." Anna stared at the cheese, not sure how to answer; although her mouth was watering
at its buttery fragrance.

"Now, now...I know you're hungry, so no sense acting proud. Pray take it, my dear," the
doctor insisted, pressing the cheese into her tiny paws.

"Danke schön, mein Herr!" Anna cried, curtseying again; and the doctor watched with a smile
as the starving girl happily tucked in. But hardly had she finished when Frau Wagner, who had
been watching through the shoppe window, came running out at her, brandishing a large wooden
spoon.

"You lazy little minx! Stop bothering the gentleman and get back to work!" she snarled.

Frau Wagner stood staring at him a bit awkwardly, but managed to recover her pride. "I am
Frau Wagner, mein Herr," she grumbled. "These flowers happen to be mine. And this---"
she gestured angrily at Anna---"this wretched little idiot is supposed to be earning her keep,
and she's doing a sorry job of it. I'll teach you to do your work, you stupid little guttersnipe!"

She grabbed Anna by the arm and roughly dragged her into the flower shoppe, intending to beat
her with the wooden spoon, as she sometimes did. Just as she raised her arm to strike, however,
someone grabbed it and firmly pulled it back. Surprised, Frau Wagner spun around to find herself
facing the doctor, who was glowering at her with such fury in his eyes that the florist was quite startled.

"Woman," he said between clenched teeth, "you leave that girl alone, do you hear me? You touch her
again, and I'll beat you with that thing!"

Frau Wagner, stupidly retreating into her pride, glared up at him defiantly. "And just who are
you, sir?" she demanded angrily. "And how dare you to tell me how to run my business?"

"I am Dr. Heinrich Von Seyss, Madam," the doctor answered stiffly, as he continued to glare down
on the florist. "And I don't have to tell you how to run your business---because as of now, Fräulein
Heinstoffer is no longer in your employment!"

Frau Wagner's jaw dropped; but before she could argue with him, Dr. Von Seyss took out his
purse and extracted three gold coins. At the sight, the greedy florist suddenly forgot her rage.

"That should be enough to purchase your entire stock, madam ," he informed her, smiling slyly
as he led Anna, still frightened but relieved, away from the flower shoppe. "And you can keep your
wretched weeds---I don't need them!"

"But wait, Herr Doktor!" Frau Wagner called irritably. "What am I to do with them?"

Von Seyss told Anna to wait for him on the corner, then strode up to the florist with an insidious
leer on his face.

"My good Frau Wagner," he informed her icily, "I'll tell you exactly what you can do with them..."

And Anna, who could not hear the conversation, wondered at the horrified expression on Frau Wagner's
face as Von Seyss finished his sentence.

"What a pretty house you have," Anna remarked, as she and Von Seyss approached his estate.

"But wait until you see the inside, Fraülein," replied the doctor. "Or, may I call you Anna?"

"All right, Anna," Von Seyss said, smiling himself as he opened the front door; and Anna gasped
in delight at the richly furnished rooms.

The doctor laughed good-naturedly. "In a manner of speaking, my dear...my very own castle. Would
you care to see more?"

He gently took her arm and led her through his home; he also showed Anna the grounds, dotted with
shady trees and perfumed with flowers; a fish pond and a large marble fountain stood in a fragrant
rose garden nearby. Seeing such a different world, Anna thought for a moment that she had entered
Paradise.

There was one place, however, that Von Seyss did not allow Anna to see: a cellar at the far end of
the estate, bearing a thick wooden door reinforced with an iron bar. It led to a room deep in the
lowest level of the house, and what took place there was known only to the doctor and certain of
his unlucky "guests". No one else, including the servants, was ever allowed near the area.

When they returned to the house, Von Seyss told Anna that he would be dining shortly, and would
be honoured if the young lady would stay and enjoy a meal with him. Anna, still quite hungry, needed
no second invitation, though she was ashamed to be in such a fine home in her ragged clothes. But
Von Seyss, who had planned to bring Anna there for some time, had thought of everything. Giving
her a beautiful dress he had bought the day before, he now instructed the maid to draw a bath for
his visitor.

"Go upstairs and make yourself pretty, Anna liebling," he told her cheerfully. "I'll get
dressed for dinner, and see you shortly."

Anna enjoyed the hot water and fragrant soap very much, and could have stayed in the tub all
evening. But she didn't want to keep the good doctor waiting, and Von Seyss whistled with approval
as Anna came down to the dining room in a lovely blue and white dress, a wreath of flowers around
her golden hair.

"Ach, mein Schöne!" Von Seyss exclaimed, holding out her chair. "How like a little princess
you look, Anna dear!"

Anna blushed and smiled happily, feeling quite like a princess herself in her fine dress. But her
thoughts soon turned from clothes to food as dinner was served. As it often was in the doctor's
well-paid household, the menu was a lavish one, and Anna was most overwhelmed. She had enjoyed
fine meals when her parents were alive (life with Frau Wagner had been quite a different matter);
but never in her life had she eaten caviar and turtle soup, nor such luscious things as the roast
duck, red cabbage and noodles that filled her plate. Then Von Seyss introduced her to something
else she had never had...

"What is that, Herr Doktor?" Anna asked him, as he poured a bubbling gold liquid into her glass.

"Why, that's champagne, my dear," he replied smoothly. "You simply must have some---it's a
most delightful drink. And please, call me Heinrich---we're friends now, aren't we?"

"Yes, surely!" Anna answered happily, sipping her champagne. "Oh, but it tastes lovely!" she
exclaimed in delight, and quickly drained the glass. "May I have some more, Heinrich?"

"Certainly, liebchen," Von Seyss chuckled as he filled her glass. "But be careful, my dear---
I wouldn't want you to get sick."

But Anna had never before tasted wine, and it wasn't long before the drink went to her head. Soon,
both she and the doctor were laughing merrily at the table; but all the while Von Seyss was keeping
a careful eye on his young guest, who had begun gazing dreamily around her and away from him. It
was exactly what Von Seyss wanted; and now his hand went to his pocket, to the little vial of sedative
that he always kept filled---ready to empty it into Anna's glass at the slightest opportunity.

"Who is that?" Anna asked suddenly, turning to look straight at him. Von Seyss was startled,
for Anna was pointing to the photograph of Hilda Von Seyss on the doctor's mantelpiece. He did
not answer at first, but could only stare as the girl left the table and walked over to the fireplace.

"Who is that lady, Heinrich?" she asked again. "That beautiful lady in the picture. What a sweet
face she has!"

As if in a trance, Von Seyss rose slowly and joined Anna, who turned to face him and was surprised
at his stricken expression.

"Yes...she does have a sweet face, doesn't she?" he commented softly, his eyes fastened on the
picture. "You see, that's my mother. And she was a beautiful lady...very beautiful indeed."

"Your mother?" repeated Anna, gazing at him in concern, for there were tears in the doctor's eyes.

"Why are you so sad?" she asked gently.

Tears sprang to Anna's own eyes as she remembered her own loss. She reached out and took the
doctor's hand, squeezing it tenderly.

Startled at her touch, Von Seyss looked down into Anna's pretty white face and deep violet-blue eyes.
He found himself lost in those sweet bright eyes, with the vial in his pocket suddenly forgotten.

Von Seyss reached out and touched the soft, pretty face. "I know," he whispered. "I'd heard about that..."

For a few moments, they stood gazing into each other's eyes; then he smiled and walked over to a
grammaphone standing beside the settee.

"Let's not waste this evening being sad, my dear," he suggested. "I'll play some music for us."
Anna listened, enchanted, as Johann Strauss' Blue Danube began to play, and Von Seyss sat watching
with a grin as the half-tipsy girl minced and whirled in time to the music.

"Why not?" he said jauntily. He rose and bowed gallantly to Anna; then taking her hands, proceeded
to waltz with her. They laughed, all care apparently forgotten, as they whirled about together.

Then after some minutes, Von Seyss became strangely quiet, slowing down the pace of their dance
and holding Anna more firmly. He began nuzzling her hair, kissing her forehead and whispering how
pretty she was...but it didn't frighten her; for in her pitiful naiveté, she could not know that this was
the time to leave, to run far, far away from him.

But she wondered why he suddenly stopped their waltz, though she was getting dizzy anyway.

"Let's have some more wine, shall we?" Von Seyss suggested, filling their glasses again.

He did something else that seemed rather odd: he took Anna's glass and held it to her lips,
gently kissing her hand as she drank. Then, still holding her tiny paw, he brought the glass to
his own lips, sipping the last of the champagne.

When he had finished, he gazed deeply into the young maiden's eyes, remarking how beautifully
blue they were. "Like the Danube," he said breathlessly, caressing her small white hand. "And
what pretty hands you have, mein Liebe...so soft and white, like angels' wings..."

Anna listened rapturously, for no one had ever said such things to her before. She was now hopelessly
in love with this kind (she thought) and seductive gentlemouse, whose sad green eyes were as mesmerizing
as his soft voice, and the unfamiliar compliments he showered upon her.

Suddenly, the clock struck ten, and Anna jumped up, quite startled. How had the time gone by so
quickly?

"It's so late!" she cried anxiously. "Where am I going to stay, Heinrich? I don't want to live with
Frau Wagner anymore."

"You don't have to," the doctor told her. "You like it here, don't you? You can stay with me...

"I'm so lonely, Anna," he explained sadly, when Anna gave him a puzzled look. "I've no one to care
for me, and neither do you." He looked into Anna's eyes and stroked her hair. "Please stay with me,"
he begged. "I'll take good care of you. You'll never be hungry, and you'll always have fine things...but
don't leave me. I need you, Anna...I need you."

Anna, completely taken in by his charms, smiled lovingly and gently touched his face. "Oh, my
poor Heinrich," she said. "I need you, too---and I don't want you to be sad anymore. I'll do anything
to make you happy..."

Von Seyss smiled , and drew Anna into his arms. "I know you will, little one," he whispered.
"I know you will..."

Anna's heart almost stopped as Von Seyss embraced her and kissed her passionately on the mouth. It
was the first time anyone had kissed her that way; it was a glorious feeling, though Anna thought she
would surely faint. Then, as Von Seyss gently took her hands and led her upstairs, Anna followed him
as if hypnotised; too innocent, too much under his spell to realise that a crime worse than murder was
in the doctor's heart...

It all seemed like a dream now...from that night until the night he had tried to kill her and the baby.
But until that horrific event, despite some bad times, her life with Von Seyss had been a reasonably
happy one.

She could still recall that first morning when she awakened in his chamber, bewildered at what had passed
between them. Yet a strange joy had filled her heart as she thought of how Heinrich had afterwards held
her close, kissing her tenderly and drying her tears...telling her not to be frightened, that he loved her; they
had done nothing wrong, he assured her, because they cared about each other. She had a fine home with
him now, and would never want for anything...he would make her very happy, he said. All he asked of her
was that she be loyal to him and do her best to please him.

Thus began her life with the handsome physician who had saved her from the streets. Anna loved and
adored Von Seyss, who cared for her well, protected her and bought her fine things. In return, she gave
him her trust, her loyalty...and her affections. But her sudden prosperity had come at too high a price.

What it was, Anna didn't know at first; for her pure and simple heart were completely guileless of
the ways of the world. Yet somehow she felt that there was something---well, not exactly right about
their living arrangement. Anna had seen weddings, even attended them; and if Heinrich loved her so
much, then shouldn't they have had one?

"But we are married," Von Seyss explained. "In the eyes of God, we're married. There's no need for
all that formality, and that's all it really is, Anna: just silly people wasting their money to impress the
public."

And that had been the end of it, for awhile. Yet, while Anna accepted Von Seyss' excuse, she often
wished in her heart that she could have walked down a church nave in a white wedding gown...that
Heinrich would have slipped a gold ring around her finger, as it happened with other people. Besides
needing to be loved, it was what she had wanted for so long---to be like other people.

They would be together always, he promised her; and people could think whatever they wanted to.
There was nothing to be ashamed of, and it was no one else's business anyway. Yet Anna thought it
strange that whenever they went out, Heinrich asked her to put on makeup and wear clothes that made
her look a little older than she was. It was as if he were trying to hide her in some fashion...but why, if
they had nothing to be ashamed of? Indeed, there was so much about the world that she didn't understand,
and probably never would.

There were other things she didn't understand; Heinrich's work, for example. He never allowed her to
visit Heidelberg Sanitarium---though that was partly for her own safety, and the patients there would
have frightened her anyway. But it was his work at home that perplexed Anna the most...

Von Seyss often brought people to the house for meals; usually they were beggars and mudlarks, but some
were street vendors---Anna even knew some of them. Yet whenever he had a guest, for some reason he
would make Anna stay in her room to eat, insisting that she remain there all night. By morning, Von
Seyss would be alone, and the mysterious visitor gone from the house...never to be seen in public again.
When Anna asked where the person had gone, the doctor would only smile enigmatically and reply that
he or she was hopefully in a better place. Then he would give that odd little laugh that mystified Anna
so...but she gave it no further thought, feeling that as long as Heinrich was happy, all was well.

For all was not well when Von Seyss' temper would flare, and sometimes Anna would be the unfortunate
target of the doctor's wrath. She eventually learned to hide herself when she saw Von Seyss in one of
his moods; until then, she bore many a mark from the occasional slaps and blows he gave her. But once
he calmed down, he would kiss Anna's bruised, tear-stained face, giving her a sweet or something pretty.
He hadn't mean to hurt her, he would swear almost tearfully; it was only that he was out of sorts...and
always, Anna would forgive him, believing that he loved her and only meant well toward her.

In spite of his violent episodes, however, Von Seyss never forced his attentions upon his young mistress.
Even in the darkness of his pitifully twisted mind, there were shreds of decency still surviving in his
soul; moreover, he sensed that it was to his advantage to keep Anna happy and secure. With the poor
innocent girl so tragically duped, and dependent upon him in every way, Von Seyss could count on her
willing company...and he did his best to make sure that Anna never, ever, knew of his criminal experiments.

There was one night, however, that Anna almost discovered his dreadful secret...