text: [Themes: Mystery, detective, mystery, hard-boiled]
  
  > About yourself
  You are a bit worse for wear, but you are still the best detective in town.
  
  > examine the shadows
  Shadows gather in all corners of the office, like dark pools of oil.
  
  > look at the embers
  A few glowing pieces of coal are left at the camp site.
  
  > examine the lamp
  The old dirty desk lamp struggles valiantly to light up the office, like an elderly knight fighting to keep the forces of darkness at bay.
  
  > look at the knight
  The knight seems weary. His armor is old and dirty. How much longer can he keep fighting, you wonder?
  
  > talk to the knight
  The knight stands to attention. "Don't worry, sir. I have been doing this for years. I am not going to abandon you."
  
  > talk to the knight
  What are you going to say? A bunch of platitudes about how everything is going to be okay? Better to stay silent for now.
  
  > take the embers
  You carefully pick up one of the embers from the camp fire.
  
  There is a knock at the door.
  
  > open the door
  It takes effort to push the chair away from the desk so you can get off. You really should fix the wheels some day.
  
  The door opens and a tall man in a tuxedo enters the room. He looks like a butler of some kind.
  
  > talk to the butler
  "How may I help you?", you ask.
  
  "My name is Allan Jameson." His voice is as hard as his face. "I represent the Baron Ahrend von Bülow. You are Douglas Reilly, the private investigator?"
  
  You lean back into your chair, hoping to look relaxed and self-assured. "That's right. What does a Baron want with me?"
  
  "The Baron, for some reason beyond my understanding, has decided that a Private Investigator is the most discreet way of dealing with a current problem. He has allowed me the courtesy of selecting one."
  
  "And I take it that you have selected me?"
  
  He raises an eyebrow. "I haven't selected anyone, Mr. Reilly. Perhaps you could tell me why you would be the right man for the job?"
  
  > look at the man
  Tall, thin, and impeccably dressed in a tuxedo with a black bow tie. His face looks like it has been cut out of marble. No emotion is visible at all.
  
  > examine the marble
  Exquisite white creole marble with black coloration. Its perfection is sublime.
  
  > take the marble
  Taken.
  
  > look at what you're carrying with you
  You are carrying:
  some figurative white marble
  a figurative smoldering ember (providing light)
  
  > look at the man
  Tall, thin, and impeccably dressed in a tuxedo with a black bow tie. His face is ordinary; he seems like a kind, if somewhat reserved, person.
  
  > talk to the butler
  "I assure you that you will not regret hiring me. I will serve the interests of the Baron to the utmost of my abilities."
  
  A smile lights up his face. "I am very glad to hear that, Mr. Reilly. You sound just like the person we need. Unfortunately, I can't just take your word for it, you understand. I just need some kind of assurance."
  
  > examine tuxedo
  Not a speck of dust is visible. It's either brand new or he just picked it up from the cleaners.
  
  > examine the bow tie
  Perfectly tied. You never could figure out those things yourself.
  
  > look
  Shadows huddle in the corners, like dark pools of oil; the sickly yellow light from the desk lamp does little to dispel the darkness. An old cigarette butt lies in the ashtray. Your desk is covered with old case files - reminders of past glories. Apart from the desk, the only other furniture is an old office chair.
  
  The office door to the north leads to the corridor outside.
  
  You see Allan Jameson here.
  
  > read the files
  You haven't had much work lately, so you have been reviewing some old case files, remembering old times. You never know if you might learn something.
  
  > examine the chair
  The rust has long since caused the wheels on the chair to get stuck. It would be much more comfortable if you fixed them.
  
  > examine the wheels
  The wheels are covered with crimson rust, like coagulated blood.
  
  > examine blood
  The blood has long since turned into a reddish brown substance, almost like rust.
  
  > take the blood
  Taken.
  
  > show knight to the butler
  (first taking the holy knight)
  I don't suppose the holy knight would care for that.
  
  > show the marble to the butler
  For some reason, you seem to be only one capable of seeing these things.
  
  > examine the desk
  Countless cups of coffee have been spilled across what was once an impeccable wooden surface. It's not pretty, but it serves its purpose well enough. It is currently covered with old case files. The desk contains a single drawer.
  
  > look at the files
  You haven't had much work lately, so you have been reviewing some old case files, remembering old times. You never know if you might learn something.
  
  > open the drawer
  You open the desk drawer, revealing a revolver.
  
  > examine revolver
  A .38 revolver. It has served you well for many years, like a trusty servant never leaving your side.
  
  > examine servant
  Mr. Smith Wesson, your trusty servant, is at your side as always. He is dressed in a grey suit and a tie.
  
  > take the gun
  Taken.
  
  > talk to the servant
  "Good evening, sir," says Mr. Wesson. "If you need me to do anything, just say something like 'Wesson, take the ball' or 'Wesson, attack the man'. I will do my very best to fulfill your wishes. If you can't figure out what to do, you can always talk to me. I might be able to give you some hints."
  
  > talk to the butler
  Mr. Wesson has better things to do.
  
  > take the gun
  You already have that.
  
  > show the gun to the butler
  Allan Jameson is unimpressed.
  
  > talk to the butler
  "Mr. Jameson, how can I convince you that I am the right man for the job?"
  
  He thinks for a few seconds. "I am not certain. You seem like a pretty decent person, but perhaps I should investigate some other options before I decide."
  
  > take the file
  You are tired of living in the past.
  
  > show the files to butler
  (first taking the case files)
  You are tired of living in the past.
  
  > check what you're carrying
  You are carrying:
  a revolver
  some figurative coagulated blood
  some figurative white marble
  a figurative smoldering ember (providing light)
  
  > put the ember on the butler
  His eyes light up with a friendly glow.
  
  > talk to the butler
  "Mr. Jameson, I think this might be the beginning of a beautiful business relationship."
  
  He laughs heartily. "Please, call me Allan. It's really been a pleasure talking to you, Douglas. I am so glad I decided to visit you, instead of going with one of the other people. They were all so glum and cynical."
  
  "The pleasure is entirely mine," you say with a smile. "Now, shall we go see the Baron?"
  
  "Of course. Follow me."
  
  The stately mansion of the Baron von Bülow looms in front of you,
  like
  a sleeping giant. Light seeps out from a single window on the second floor to the right; all the others are dark. Two large mahogany doors guard the entrance to the north. The path to the south leads to the gate, away from the mansion.
  
  "Here we are, sir," says Jameson. "If you will just follow me."
  
  He opens the doors and disappears into the mansion.
  
  > examine the doors
  Two massive dark mahogany doors.
  
  > look at the giant
  The giant seems to have been asleep for some time. His face is serene; his breath, calm and rhythmic.
  
  > wake giant
  You poke the giant, but there is no reaction. Figures; your tiny fingers would hardly be noticeable on his massive hide.
  
  > Go south
  Where would you like to go?
  
  > put the marble on the fingers
  You do not normally need to refer to specific parts of the body.
  
  (retrying as if you'd typed "put marble .")
  What do you want to put the white marble around?
  
  > look
  The stately mansion of the Baron von Bülow looms in front of you,
  like
  a sleeping giant. Light seeps out from a single window on the second floor to the right; all the others are dark. Two large mahogany doors guard the entrance to the north. The path to the south leads to the gate, away from the mansion.
  
  > go north
  It almost seems like a waste for such a massive entrance hall to be used to welcome a single person. The floor is a frozen lake of grey marble. Two sets of stairs lead up to a balcony above. French doors in the north side of the room lead to the back garden. To the south, the mahogany doors lead back out.
  
  You see Allan Jameson here.
  
  Mr. Jameson ascends the stairs.
  
  > examine the lake
  The lake seems to have been frozen forever. You can feel the cold through your shoes.
  
  > Go upwards
  From here you can see the hall beneath you. An iron railing prevents you from falling to the floor far below. Massive oak wood doors block the paths to the east and the west.
  
  You see Allan Jameson here.
  
  Mr. Jameson opens the east door and enters.
  
  > go to the east
  Bookshelves line every wall, allowing only a small space for the door to the west and another one for the small window in the north wall. The floor is covered in a thick luxurious red carpet. The air smells of dust.
  
  You see Allan Jameson here.
  
  The Baron sits in a black leather easy chair on the east side of the room. He has been reading a book, but when you enter he puts it away on a small table next to the chair. A hint of something that might one day grow into a smile is briefly visible on his face.
  
  "Ah, Mr. Jameson. You have brought the detective. Excellent; you may leave us."
  
  Mr. Jameson leaves through the door, closing it behind him.
  
  > talk to Baron
  Maybe you should check him out first?
  
  > look at Baron
  Thin, as though his skin had been draped over his skeleton with nothing in between. Dark blue eyes, like deep lakes carved into his face. What little is left of his hair is entirely grey, like strands of steel embedded into his scalp.
  
  > examine the steel
  The strand seems to have been cut from a roll of steel wire. It is long, thin, and sharp. It might be useful as a weapon.
  
  > look at the lakes
  The lakes are deep and dark. What secrets hide beneath the surface of the water, you wonder? Perhaps you should take a swim and find out?
  
  > swim in lakes
  You dive. The surface of the lake approaches quickly, until it fills your entire field of vision. Then the cool water surrounds you.
  
  It is dark under the water and you can't see much more than a few yards in any direction. Above you, the sun shines through the surface. Below, the darkness gets thicker.