Marcus Aurelius Stimpson

Marcus Aurelius "Chalky" Stimpson was the resident tailor for the Royal American Mounted Police in their headquarters in Victoria. He was a tall, thin, pale, slightly stooped man of indeterminate age somewhere between sixty-five and eighty-five although Thomas Bushell joked he had been around since at least William the Conqueror. The nickname of "Chalky" came from his ever present tailor's chalk.

Bushell and Capt. Samuel Stanley fell into Stimpson's clutches during their investigation of the theft of The Two Georges. The information Bushell had brought led General Sir Horace Bragg to authorize a series of raids on suspected Sons of Liberty but he also decided that Bushell and Stanley would accompany him to a reception that night at the Russian Embassy. As such, the two needed formal dress uniforms fitted to perfection and so he took them to see "Chalky".

Stimpson grumbled that Bragg hadn't given him enough time but then fell to it. He took two tunics and pairs of trousers from the rack and had the two put them on. He then went at it with tape measure, pins and chalk working with his ancient foot-powered sewing machine. A braver man than Bushell would suggest he switch to a more modern electric model.

Finally, after spending the afternoon with the pair, Stimpson was satisfied. However, as Bushell relaxed and lit a cigar, Stimpson said he had one more thing for them. Stanley exclaimed in horror that he had already done enough but Stimpson, with a twinkle in his eye, asked innocently whether they wanted clubs to beat off all the lovely ladies their new uniforms would attract.