text: [Themes: Historical, Mystery, Fantasy, magic, Lovecraft, England]
  
  > look around
  This is a large kitchen with wide windows on the east and north walls. Doors lead west and south. Counters hold various kitchen appliances, and of course there's a sink a large, oak icebox, and a modern Garland stove.
  
  On the Garland stove is a wok.
  
  You can also see Li Qiang here.
  
  > Thanks
  There is no reply.
  
  Li Qiang inspects the kitchen.
  
  > take wok
  (putting the set of ordinary clothes into the trenchcoat to make room) You take the wok from the Garland stove.
  
  > Go west
  This is a carpeted foyer. The walls bear portraits of famous stage magicians of the past and present. A small desk holds a visitors' book and doors lead in each of the cardinal directions. The front door of the home is to the west.
  
  Standing sentry by the visitors' book and watching over the four doors in this room is the servant, Zhang Wei.
  
  > go to the east
  This is a carpeted foyer. The walls bear portraits of famous stage magicians of the past and present. A small desk holds a visitors' book and doors lead in each of the cardinal directions. The front door of the home is to the west.
  
  Standing sentry by the visitors' book and watching over the four doors in this room is the servant, Zhang Wei.
  
  Zhang examines the visitors book.
  
  > wear the wok
  You can't wear that!
  
  Zhang eyes you curiously.
  
  > go to the north
  (first opening the lounge door)
  
  This room holds another Chippendale chair and another long sofa. A large, low coffee table sits in the center of the room. On it are current issues of magic journals and newspapers. The room resembles the smoking room of a gentlemen's club. A door to the entrance hall is to the south and doors also lead north and west.
  
  Smoking a pipe and perusing a newspaper is Virgil Wemyss, a member of the Brotherhood.
  
  Virgil turns the page of the newspaper he's reading.
  
  > examine virgil
  Virgil Wemyss is an older gentleman with a high brow and a big bushy beard.
  
  Virgil gives a little "hmm" in response to something he's
  reading in the paper.
  
  > Go east
  This is a large kitchen with wide windows on the east and north walls. Doors lead west and south. Counters hold various kitchen appliances, and of course there's a sink a large, oak icebox, and a modern Garland stove.
  
  You can see Li Qiang here.
  
  Li Qiang tugs at his cuffs.
  
  > go south
  (first opening the pantry door)
  
  This is a shallow room lined with shelves that are full of foodstuffs. The only door is to the north, back to the kitchen.
  
  > take the foodstuffs
  That's hardly portable.
  
  > Go north
  This is a large kitchen with wide windows on the east and north walls. Doors lead west and south. Counters hold various kitchen appliances, and of course there's a sink a large, oak icebox, and a modern Garland stove.
  
  You can see Li Qiang here.
  
  Li Qiang watches you carefully.
  
  > go to the west
  This is a carpeted foyer. The walls bear portraits of famous stage magicians of the past and present. A small desk holds a visitors' book and doors lead in each of the cardinal directions. The front door of the home is to the west.
  
  Standing sentry by the visitors' book and watching over the four doors in this room is the servant, Zhang Wei.
  
  Zhang straightens one of the portraits.
  
  > go to the north
  This room holds another Chippendale chair and another long sofa. A large, low coffee table sits in the center of the room. On it are current issues of magic journals and newspapers. The room resembles the smoking room of a gentlemen's club. A door to the entrance hall is to the south and doors also lead north and west.
  
  Smoking a pipe and perusing a newspaper is Virgil Wemyss, a member of the Brotherhood.
  
  Virgil turns the page of the newspaper he's reading.
  
  > look at the pipe
  It's fancy, but not too fancy.
  
  You catch Virgil looking at you from over his newspaper. He quickly returns his glance downwards.
  
  > Hello
  You say hello to Virgil Wemyss.
  
  Virgil gives a little "hmm" in response to something he's
  reading in the paper.
  
  (You could ask him about himself, Karl Weiss, Philip Leclair or Cheng Ling Shu.)
  
  > ask Virgil about himself
  "What's your story?" you ask.
  
  "My story?" Virgil asks in return. "I'm just a stage magician; a member of the Brotherhood, like yourself, I imagine."
  
  Virgil checks his pipe, then, seemingly satisfied, returns to puffing on it while reading his paper.
  
  > examine the coffee table
  It's a wide, low coffee table, giving ample room for journals, newspapers, and whatever else people wish to place on it.
  
  Virgil yawns.
  
  > examine journals
  among others, but none seem too important to this case.
  
  Virgil checks his pipe, then, seemingly satisfied, returns to puffing on it while reading his paper.
  
  > read the journals
  among others, but none seem too important to this case.
  
  Virgil gives a small cough.
  
  > look at the newspapers
  Which do you mean, the assorted newspapers or Virgil's newspaper?
  
  > Assorted newspapers
  None are even that recent.
  
  Virgil turns the page of the newspaper he's reading.
  
  > look at the virgil's newspaper
  The headline reads Tornado Hits D.C.
  
  Virgil sniffs.
  
  > Topics
  You could ask him about himself, Karl Weiss, Philip Leclair or Cheng Ling Shu.
  
  Virgil gives a little "hmm" in response to something he's
  reading in the paper.
  
  > ask Virgil about Cheng
  "What about this Cheng Ling Shu fellow?" you ask.
  
  "Well," Virgil answers, "He's an extraordinary magician. Some of his tricks are just plain impossible. Some say he is the simple man he conveys himself to be, but others think these Orientals are all up to something more sinister, but that might just be English hubris talking."
  
  Virgil turns the page of the newspaper he's reading.
  
  > ask Virgil about Karl
  "What can you tell me about Karl Weiss?" you ask.
  
  Conspiratorily, Virgil whispers to you, "He's a thief, and a lousy one at that. He steals others' tricks. I wouldn't trust him with anything. At the upcoming charity show, I'm sure the trick he is planning on performing is someone else's. There's a locked room at the top of the stairs that I think is proof of that."
  
  Virgil gives a small cough.
  
  > ask Virgil about Philip
  "You know anything about the missing magician, Leclair?" you ask Virgil. He smokes his pipe thoughtfully before answering.
  
  "I know of him but we've not met yet. I hope to still get the chance." he says.
  
  Virgil turns the page of the newspaper he's reading.
  
  > Topics
  You could ask him about himself.
  
  Virgil gives a small cough.