This, despite the whole concept being an original idea of mine and the stirring ‘Flight of the Birds of Paradise’ overture my own composition. By the time you receive this letter, both Langton Lovell, the theatre impresario, and his business partner Charles Lemon, the actor will be dead – murdered in customary fashion. I am living in a warehouse district of New York harbour. At night I am unable to resist the lure of the water and go for long contemplative swims round the bay to the Statue of Liberty, wondering what fate holds in store for me. Yours ever, Ethby Sands Extract from the New York Times Mister Stacey Davidoff Harbour Master, only confirmed what Captain Szyliowicz of the N.Y.P.D. had told the press earlier. The propeller of a New York harbour steam ferry became fouled up yesterday evening, causing the vessel to partly capsize. Nobody was injured and the passengers were all accounted for. Using a searchlight, it was determined that a rodent of unusual size had become tangled with the propeller after swimming out into the bay. New Yorkers are amazed that large vermin are allowed to flourish and, presumably, proliferate in the vicinity of the harbour. Sanitation Officer Stephen Bonetti assured the public that similar to the ongoing argument over giant alligators inhabiting New York sewers, a giant rat is nothing more than a myth. Note: Both Langton and Lemon, then in New York, were unaware that any attempt was to be made on their life, and it appears Ethby Sands died before he was able to implement his plan to murder the impresario and actor respectively. S.H.