Helga (Letter)

Your Eminence:

We regret to inform you that our efforts at procuring the requisite item had been hampered by circumstances beyond our utmost abilities. The guards and the valets of the hangman had taken a most naked interest in the item and thus made thorough use of it before we arrived in our mission. Because these officers of the law were appointed by the city's most noble council, they were pleased to do whatever they wished with the witch before we were able to make our claim. In the light that you are reading this we each would like to swear to you and to the Lord that the foul seeds and grim work upon that voided face are not our own but the works of those villains alone. 

And having observed the condition of the spent item, ruined by their intrusive excesses, we thought to do away with the item and humbly refund you of your full payment. However, your man K, who was also present at the scene informed us that the wretched condition of the particular item was still distinctly suitable for your gracious attention. 

We must say that it is good that there is a kind force, as magnanimous as Your Eminence's who would still be so noble as to render respects to such a wreched helpless sinner and also still have the patience to think of the service of us lowly servants. We understand that in light of the condition of the said item, we will happily trim of the cost of our services. The cost of disposal of course are also remitted in light of your generosity.

Happy are we to think of keep working for you in the future, Your Honor.

Yours, and no one else's,  M