Dr. X

Dr. X is a mysterious publisher with spidery handwriting and a wheezy voice. He is a portly gentleman who wears a diamond pinky ring, a blood-red tie, and a blood-red cummerbund. His publishing business was run by his father and his father before him. Dr. X is brutal and puts workers through difficult tests. He did a bit of freelancing as a young man. All proposals must be written and no more than three hundred words. Dr. X responds in four to six weeks.

## Tally Ho

### Chapter 4

The Servant may find two letters from Dr. X in Colonel Firesnuff's briefcase. The first letter is a note under a rough sketch of a woman being thrown off a cliff that simply reads, "Your contract is clear. I don't care how. Make it happen. — Dr. X."

The second note, hidden in a secret flap in the lining of the brief case, says

> *I have received your most recent communication. You do not have to be hasty, but yes, she must die. And remember: slow, lingering pain is ever so much more effective.*
>
>
> *Be patient, Colonel Firesnuff. Do not tip your hand too soon. There is great profit to be made if you wait.*
>
>
>
> *We will meet soon. I look forward to your success.*
>
>

If confronted, Colonel Firesnuff may reveal that he has never met Dr. X. The Servant may later tell Regina Wilhelmina about the letter(s) they have found.

### Chapter 6

Colonel Firesnuff delivers the manuscript of *Tawdry Lace* by Fifi Buttercup (a.k.a. Colonel Firesnuff) to Dr. X at Miavaldi Manor. Dr. X at a desk in an alcove in the ballroom. Joey Knuckles stands at his side, and Colonel Firesnuff's briefcase rests on the desk. There is a line of people waiting to talk to Dr. X, who is in a bad mood. He is upset with Desmond Stiletto's sloppy work in the kidnapping of Mrs. Castafiore. He has punished Desmond for his bad work. Dr. X is also angry with a Mr. Quisling, who has written a "rubbish" manuscript. He complains to Joey that their art is dying and expresses his need for traditional professionals who will submit.

In the library are a number of rather incriminating documents, in which Dr. X refuses to pay a "kill fee" to a hired gun because he did a "hack job" that was "cheap and dirty" rather than professionally done. There is also a letter that written to Col. Firesnuff, scoffing at Firesnuff's previous jobs and saying that if he wants to be paid, he'd better deliver on his promise to "provide something devastatingly powerful, but also elegant and clean."

Dr. X argues with Colonel Firesnuff, insisting that Countess Irene's murder should be done slowly and painfully. Colonel Firesnuff, on the other hand, wants it done quickly, saying it will be more artful.

Dr. X makes a toast to Miss Diana Fogwest, who is retiring after forty years. The Servant may interrupt him with their own toast as a distraction as distraction to help Trina Wilhelmina steal the briefcase containing the manuscript of *Tawdry Lace*. If the manuscript is successfully stolen, it may be burned, edited, or returned.

### Chapter 7

If the Servant returned the manuscript to Dr. X and is arrested, Dr. X may send Joey Knuckles to help the Servant escape from the police station.

### Chapter 8

After the boat race, the Servant may ring up Dr. X for a position in publishing.

### Epilogue

If the Servant is working for Dr. X, he assigns them to work with Blaise Viola on *The Umbrella Stand Mystery*, which he describes as "a self-indulgent, flabby, shapeless thing that has the germ of a best-selling novella inside."