Page 64 of Inventing Vivian

Vivian was glad she’d brought Sophie. Her friend always knew the right thing to say, and it seemed Mr. Barnaby was quite taken with her.

He sealed the letter and called to the back of the store.

Instead of the boy Vivian had seen before, a burly man came through the door. He took the letter and leaned close as Mr. Barnaby muttered instructions for its delivery. They spoke too quietly for the women to hear. Apparently Mr. Barnaby was not willing to reveal all his secrets.

The burly man left, and Mr. Barnaby rose, motioning for Sophie to take the vacated seat. He came around to stand by Vivian. “Now, let’s talk about yer concealed camera.”

“Yes, well.” Vivian held the notebook flat. “You see the obvious flaw in the design.”

“Aye. The plate has to be exposed soon after coating, while the chemicals are still wet. How long does that give me?”

“I’d say no longer than fifteen minutes.”

“Hmm...” He tapped his finger to his lip. “Quite a lot could go wrong in such a short window of time.”

“I agree. If you might distract the man while you coated the plate? Or put it into the camera right before you go in to meet him?”

“No good.” He shook his head. “If he’s late, if there are other men with him, if he moves too quickly and blurs the image, if the lighting is poor...”

Vivian sighed. He was right. There were too many factors at play. Too many chances at failure.

“He’ll be suspicious already,” Mr. Barnaby continued. “And if he sees me fiddling with a contraption inside my hat...” He held his hand up as if to let her finish the thought.

Vivian nodded. “You’re right, of course. I’ve considered changing the chemical component of the nitrocellulose solution. Make its drying time slower. But I fear it will compromise the quality of the image. And we’ve not even discussed how the dark plate is to be removed from the camera right at the moment of exposure. Or how it needs to be developed immediately after.” She felt her shoulders slump, and she ached inside, feeling that she had been so close to saving Mr. Li but had failed. “I’m afraid the plan is doomed.”

“There is another way,” Mr. Barnaby said. “If the camera is operated by someone else—preferably you, miss—or someone else who understands the working of the chemicals...”

“If he is the man we think he is, he will recognize me,” Vivian said. “And even if he does not, I cannot operate the camera without attracting his attention.”

“Not if you’re hidden as well, miss.”

“Oh my.” Sophie leaned forward.

“But how—?” Vivian started.

“As I am arranging the meeting, I will set the site. ’Twill be a place I know, where I can be sure of the layout.”

“You must be very careful, Vivian,” Sophie said.

“Ah, Your Ladyship, I’d not dream of letting her do this alone.” Mr. Barnaby limped around the table and opened a chest. A dank smell came from inside.

Vivian recognized the smell. Minute fungal hyphae growing on organic matter produced the pungent musky odor of mildew.

Sophie raised her handkerchief to her face once more.

Mr. Barnaby rustled around in the chest, pulling out different articles and considering them before tossing some onto the table and returning others back to the chest. At last, he pulled out two pairs of holey boots and put them on the table with the piles. “Go on, then.” He motioned to the table. “See what ye think.”

After a moment of hesitation, Vivian and Sophie lifted pieces of cloth that looked as if they had once been clothing. The rags were filthy and their smell ghastly.

“Ye’ll need to dirty yer faces,” Mr. Barnaby said. He moved to a shelf and pulled down two hats. “These’ll help hide yer hair.”

“We’re meant to wear these?” Sophie asked.

“Aye, my lady,” he said, motioning toward her gown. “No offense to ye, but ye don’t quite look the part of a docker.”

Vivian held up the hat. She even wasn’t certain what material the item was made of. One side of the brim looked to have been chewed on by an animal, and the rest of it...

She looked up at Mr. Barnaby. He watched her with a wide grin that showed his missing teeth. “Now, off with ye, ladies. Ye’ve a hidden camera to build.” He motioned toward the door with his chin. “Tell Devon to find ye a crate. Sturdy to protect the camera, but it shouldn’t look too new.” He handed Vivian the notebook.

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