The Letters

The correspondence of Katherine Morris and Eugenia Lewis:

June 30, 1793
Paris, France

My dearest E,

Forgive my lack of courtesy in this message, but caution and fear has forced me to forgo some civilities to protect all of us should this message fall into the wrong hands. Our good friend Capt. M.
Has assured me that this letter will be consigned to flame, ere it be taken by men working for the "glorious Republic." But fortune is a fickle mistress and I would not have you or your family, including S.
fall victim to fate's misstep.

The need for this caution will become evident as you read this. I fear that the adventure you have often sought has arrived on your doorstep. In Time you may come to curse my name for this, but in this hour of need you are the only one I can turn to. I know this follows fast on your father's death. I would not seek to intrude on your mourning or add to your burdens. I was shocked to hear that your father's death may not have been natural. I pray that is not the case, but in these wretched days I have had ample proof of the black deeds that many
men are capable of. And though I do not have the experience to act as your mother or even a learned older sister, I would ask, that for the sake of our friendship, you take the utmost care in your actions,
should your fears prove to be true. From your correspondence, I believe your friend the Lord may be a great ally in both your quest for truth and in this serious task I ask of you.

Oh E, the past month since your letter has been a disastrous one for us in Paris. The situation degrades daily. Confusion and anarchy reign in the city and father's immunity from suspicion and threats is at a
breaking point. I fear we may have to abandon our home. The looming anniversary of the storming of the Bastille promises to be a day of bloody celebration for the mobs of Paris and perhaps perdition for us. We have lost a number of our contacts. One or two, we could consign to the tumultuous fortunes of war. But now, the possibility that our friends have fallen to the secret arm of France has father worried that
someone is actively seeking to destroy us. I can unfortunately find no fault with his reasoning. Too many people have gone missing and unaccounted for. There have been too many accidents.

And so I have come to this point. My dear friend, it is a heavy task I ask of you. I would spare you this dangerous duty, but I have no one to turn to. I cannot even ask father about this. He has forbad me to take on any more supplicants until our position is safer, but how can I refuse another student of science? For Thomas MacDonald is truly a fellow devotee of the scientific arts. I know S, will find a kindred spirit
in him just as I have. For behind that heavy Scottish accent of his, is a keen intellect. It is Thomas' mind that has unfortunately brought him to the attention of certain agents of France. For he has made an enormous discovery, one that I dare not detail here, save to
say that it could change everything. I have entrusted Capt. M with certain schematics. S. will understand their significance. I have included some notes of my own on how these can be refined.

But France is no longer safe for Thomas. He must leave here and I have no other place to send him, but to you. My dearest friend, I know this will be a great hardship and place you in harms way, but for our
friendship I ask you to find a safe place for Thomas. For everyone's safety, I have sent the Captain to you with the letter and the plans. Thomas will make his way to you via another route, for the Captain would arouse much suspicion if he suddenly took a passenger
on what has always been a cargo ship.

I have entrusted Thomas with a memento and told him a great secret, which only you know the truth of. You will know it when you see it, so that he can prove his identity to you. My dear friend, be careful and thank you. I do not know when I will next be able to write you. Take care. My best wishes to you and your family in these troubled times.

Your devoted friend,
K