Play@YSDC

Posted: **Wed May 27, 2020 3:28 pm**

Tuesday 9th August, 1881

5.30 am

Forby House

Dawn breaks on a new day, even hotter than before. The bedsheets feel grimy to the touch; the heat lays like a moist, warm blanket upon the sleeping companions, causing them to stir restlessly. However, their sleep is uninterrupted, and they are not disturbed by any other unwelcome visitors during the night. But what of the day?

True to his commitment, Harry awakes early. Dressing and washing, he sets out towards the quarry. He creeps quietly downstairs.

Posted: **Wed May 27, 2020 3:43 pm**

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2020 2:12 am**

Alexander also wakes up early and joins Harry to go investigate the quarry.

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2020 4:08 pm**

As Harry and Alexander enter the kitchen, they encounter Bates, who is surprised to see them.

“Good morning! I wasn’t expecting to see you gentlemen up so early” he says, regarding them neutrally.

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2020 4:20 pm**

'Good morning Mr Bates' says Harry coolly. 'Dr Campbell and I are off to search the grounds again, there was another commotion last night and Lt Meddler believes he saw an intruder in a mask. I don't suppose you heard anything?'

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2020 6:41 pm**

Vic heard the creek of floorboards and faint voices downstairs. She yawned and lifted the pillow over her face, the cool underside giving a moment’s respite from the heat. She lay there a moment longer, then sighed and dropped the pillow on the floor.

Getting up, she pulled on a dressing gown and padded down the stairs. ”Good morning, gentlemen,” she said. “Are you going somewhere?”

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 1:53 am**

"Aye, lass," says Alexander. "We're off to the quarry to search for signs of the intruder."

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 4:24 am**

Harry shoots Alexander another look and sighs. He doesn't seem to have got the hang of being discrete around suspects.

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 4:08 pm**

Bates looks startled.

“Again? Oh my goodness. I must look in on the master.”

Without another word, he leaves in the direction of the stairs.

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 4:33 pm**

Harry shrugs his stiff shoulders, 'We should get going before the whole house is up and about'. He looks at Vic in her dressing gown, 'I'd invite you to come with us Miss Miller but I think we'd better get a move on. Could you keep an eye on Meddler and Bates while we're gone?'

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 6:03 pm**

Isolde languishes in bed, too lethargic to rise. But the heat is already unpleasant so she washes, dresses and makes her way down the stairs. She heads to the relative cool of the hallway and looks up at the ceiling to see if it is odd or just old and mouldy.

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 3:55 am**

"Aye, it is odd that he assumed that the intruder had returned," says Alexander, "rather than thinking we might still have been looking for evidence of his first appearance."

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 9:06 am**

”Will do!” replied Vic. “And if they look like wandering off, I’ll distract them with this...” She flicked open the lower left part of her dressing gown open to show that she was wearing a pair a blue and white-striped men’s pyjamas.

“That prig Meddler will have conniptions if he sees me in men’s clothes again!” she laughed.

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 9:30 pm**

Alexander instinctively tries to look away, but he doesn't react fast enough. It hadn't been what he had expected to see. "Aye, that ought to do it," he says with a chuckle.

Posted: **Mon Jun 01, 2020 3:41 pm**

Harry and Alexander head through the kitchen door into the courtyard outside. The air is already very muggy and close. Moving in the direction which will take them to the quarry, the scan their surroundings, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

Posted: **Mon Jun 01, 2020 5:10 pm**

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 1:32 am**

Alexander notices something.

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 4:07 pm**

There is a woodpile near the kitchen door. Something stuffed beneath it captures the attention of the two men.

Looking more closely, they see that it is a brace of rabbits, obviously recently killed, with their throats neatly slit.

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:01 pm**

Harry kneels down and looks at the rabbits, 'now who do you suppose has been out snaring rabbits this morning?'

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:34 pm**

"Aye, it's curious," says Alexander. "Let's see if he left any tracks." He looks around for footprints or some other sign of passage.

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2020 3:53 pm**

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2020 5:54 pm**

Posted: **Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:23 am**

Alexander shrugs, unable to identify any tracks.

Posted: **Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:39 pm**

Isolde hopes she is not missed at breakfast; she certainly doesn't miss the congealed fare. She heads out to the stables to feed the ferret and sees the two gentlemen peering at something on the floor, she wanders over and looks down at the rabbits. "Ugh, why hide the carcases there? The dogs might eat them. Strange way to kill them but I don't suppose it's a ritualistic killing; not like what we found in Dartmoor. I'd have pinned it on young George but he's been confined to bed." She shrugs.

Posted: **Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:52 pm**

Posted: **Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:57 pm**

Harry continues on towards the quarry but decides to have a little nose around the outside of Old Fred's quarters to see if he is up yet.

Posted: **Thu Jun 04, 2020 11:52 pm**

Vic hangs around the kitchen, having managed to scrounge a cup of tea, and keeps an eye out for Bates or Meddler.

Posted: **Fri Jun 05, 2020 2:19 am**

Alexander goes along with Harry.

Posted: **Sat Jun 06, 2020 7:00 pm**

Isolde goes, after feeding the ferret, for a short walk through the gardens while it is still cool enough.

Posted: **Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:57 pm**

If Fred is home, there is no sign. His cottage is silent and the dogs aren’t present.

The house and grounds seem quiet. Presently Betty and Connie appear and start preparing breakfast, making tea for anyone who is present.

Bates presently returns from seeing to his master, his face a mask of concern. He says nothing, but casts a worried glance at Betty.

Posted: **Tue Jun 09, 2020 7:42 pm**

Vic catches the worried look shared between the butler and the cook. When everyone else is busy preparing breakfast, she steps over to him and says quietly, "Is everything well with his lordship this morning, Mr Bates?"

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2020 12:54 am**

"Could be Fred who killed the rabbits if he was out and about," says Alexander.

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2020 8:32 am**

Bates hesitates.

“He’s not doing very well miss. I fear for his health if this continues much longer.”

He goes over to help his wife.

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2020 11:39 pm**

Vic muses on what she has been told, wondering if, whatever is causing the events at the Hall, the aim is the demise of Mr Forby.

She decides to go and catch up with the others so heads upstairs to change, before going to find the others outside.

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2020 5:18 pm**

Isolde drifts around the garden trying to collect her thoughts over the whole matter. Once she is sure breakfast is over, she returns to the house to find the others.

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2020 5:40 pm**

Finding no sign of Fred, Harry heads down towards the quarry keeping his eye out for signs that anyone else is out abroad this morning.

Posted: **Sat Jun 13, 2020 3:14 am**

Alexander accompanies Harry to the quarry.

Posted: **Sat Jun 13, 2020 7:51 am**

While Isolde potters around, the other three companions make their way to the quarry. The morning is still cool but is the sun is climbing and it is becoming progressively hotter. The tramp through the woods is tiring, but eventually the companions reach the quarry. To Harry it looks the same as before, with the ruined hut adjacent to the side.

Posted: **Sat Jun 13, 2020 8:38 am**

Harry looks into the hut, he tries to see if there is any sign someone else has been in there, in particular whether any of the items have been moved.

Posted: **Sat Jun 13, 2020 4:37 pm**

Alexander looks around outside the hut to see if there's any sign someone has been here recently.

Posted: **Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:10 am**

Posted: **Sun Jun 14, 2020 7:08 am**

The mask and sack are as Harry had left them. There's no way of telling for sure whether anyone has been here.

Posted: **Mon Jun 15, 2020 1:46 pm**

'I can't see any sign that the costume has been moved' says Harry as he points out the mask, gloves, and sack. 'Which suggests that there is either another costume, or Lt Meddler did not see what he has claimed.'

Posted: **Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:59 pm**

”Do you think Meddler is trying to scare his brother-in-law to death?” asked Vic. ”Bates was of the opinion that Mr. Forby can’t take much more. With him out of the way, I wouldn’t put it past Meddler to try to push his sister out and take over the house.”

Posted: **Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:45 pm**

Harry mops the sweat from his forehead. He stares out over the quarry, 'I don't know Miss Miller, but it is certainly something worth looking into. I was hoping for a more...supernatural explanation, but in my experience money makes men do funny things'.

Posted: **Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:12 am**

"Aye, it's possible," says Alexander. "I agree about money. That's far more likely than a supernatural explanation. In my personal experience, I've never encountered anything that could be conclusively said to be supernatural. I have seen a type of creature previously unknown to science once, but that may have a natural explanation."

Posted: **Tue Jun 16, 2020 12:52 pm**

”What did you see?” asked Vic as she looked around.

Posted: **Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:19 am**

"I saw nought myself," says Alexander, also looking around.

Posted: **Wed Jun 17, 2020 7:35 pm**

Isolde walks back into the house and heads to the library; she checks if there’s anything left unread.

Posted: **Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:13 pm**

Harry strolls back to the house as the day starts to warm further. He ponders what they've found by the quarry and the wisdom of challenging Meddler directly. In heat like this tempers can run to rather rash actions.

Posted: **Wed Jun 17, 2020 11:53 pm**

Vic follows Harry back to the house. It was so warm that she almost, but not quite, contemplated changing her trousers for a more comfortable skirt...

Posted: **Thu Jun 18, 2020 1:09 am**

Posted: **Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:20 am**

Alexander also returns to the house. "I suppose I can try searching more fireplaces for the treasure," he says. "Finding it may be the one thing that can put Harry Forby to rights."

Posted: **Thu Jun 18, 2020 10:44 am**

Isolde takes the last folio to the window seat, opens the window with difficulty and sits down to read.

Posted: **Fri Jun 19, 2020 4:11 pm**

Harry, Alexander and Vic arrive back at the house with enough time to refresh before breakfast. The day is promising to be even hotter than the last, and the halls of Forby House are like a hot, humid blanket, stifling the energy of those within.

At breakfast attention seems centered around Harry Forby. He seems weak and listless, often staring off into space and muttering to himself, and uninterested in his surroundings, not touching the food before him. Gertrude’s face is a mask of concern, while George mostly stares at his plate, although he manages a wink and a smile at Isolde, returning from her unsuccessful foray into the library. Meddler sips his morning tea, and while regarding the proffered porridge with a baleful eye, greets the companions and asks as to the morning’s investigations.

Posted: **Fri Jun 19, 2020 7:16 pm**

"We found very little," says Alexander. "I'll be resuming my search for the treasure after breakfast. We did notice that someone killed a brace of rabbits recently. Has anyone been out hunting?"

Posted: **Fri Jun 19, 2020 9:57 pm**

“Yes, it seems strange the rabbits were left where they were not dealt with properly; especially in this hot weather.” Isolde adds.

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:49 am**

Meddler scoffs.

“Hunting? Damned poaching, more like.”

“John!” snaps Gertrude. “Mind your language please!”

Meddler frowns but says nothing more.

The silence is broken by Forby.

“Very little, hmm?” he says, regarding Alexander coldly. “I’m beginning to wonder why I invited you here to help, you and your friends.”

His voice starts to rise.

“You’re enjoying my hospitality, my kitchen, the fruits of my earnings, and relaxing in the grounds, while all the time my life is threatened by whoever is out there, seeking to harm me! I demand answers! D’you hear me?”

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2020 5:40 pm**

"We've found very little this morning, I meant," says Alexander, "but it's only breakfast time. We have some theories and several avenues of investigation to pursue. Perhaps after breakfast we can discuss them privately with you."

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:26 pm**

“May I ask who prescribes your medicine, Mr Forby?” Asks Isolde. “And we will need a room available after breakfast for a private meeting. May I suggest the library?” She says imperiously. “It will be just for the seekers, you understand; we have to discuss our findings so far.” She finishes with a meaningful look to Viv.

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2020 8:07 pm**

At the mention of medicine Harry meets Isolde's gaze and nods. He had been having similar thoughts about poison.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2020 1:33 am**

Forby calms himself.

“Dr. Jeffries is my physician. His office is in the village. Certainly, you can use the library. You’re there anyway, aren’t you?”

Gertrude looks concerned.

“I hope you don’t have anything too… shocking to tell my husband” she says. “As she can see, he is not feeling himself.”

“Dammit woman!” roars Forby. “I’m no shrinking violet!”

“Steady on there, old chap” says Meddler evenly. “We only have your best intentions at heart. If you like, I’ll be with you when you talk with these chaps.”

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2020 2:11 am**

"I think Mr. Forby can handle the news," says Alexander. "You heard him just now. Your presence will not be necessary, Lieutenant. The library will do nicely."

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2020 5:20 am**

Meddler opens his mouth to speak, but thinks better of it.

“I think I should be present, though” says Gertrude, quietly but firmly.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2020 6:50 pm**

Well, to make it as painless as possible, the seekers will have a private meeting first to condense our findings; then We’ll talk to Mr and Mrs Forby. How long does it take to walk to the village by the way?” Asks Isolde.

Posted: **Mon Jun 22, 2020 10:45 pm**

Vic stood abruptly. ”May I be excused?” she said, holding her hand to her brow as if afflicted by a headache. Waving away any expressions of concern, she left the dining room, pulling the door closed behind her to obscure what she did next.

Checking no one was loitering, she quickly entered the library. Convinced that there were passages behind the walls and wanting to make sure they were alone when they met with Mr & Mrs Forby, Vic started carefully checking the panelling, looking for secret handles and tapping gently to try to detect hollow spaces behind... ...

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2020 12:16 am**

Harry assumes that Vic is deliberately creating an excuse to talk away from the family. 'I had better check on Miss Miller, she looks quite unwell' he barks, leaving the room quickly before anyone can say anything. Once out of the room he heads upstairs as quietly as he can looking for Vic.

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2020 1:24 am**

“The village is a thirty minute walk, Madam” says Bates.

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2020 1:29 am**

"Aye, that sounds good," Alexander says after Isolde speaks.

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2020 6:20 am**

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2020 11:19 am**

“Perhaps we could walk to the village together; we can talk on the way. And then meet Mr and Mrs Forby in the library when we get back. I’m afraid the library is in a bit of a mess because Vic and I are in the middle of things there.

Bates, please you you make sure no one goes in while I’m out? It would mess up our work. I think we should go to the village now before it gets any hotter, if we may be excused?” Isolde rises and looks at Alexander to do the same.

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:09 pm**

Vic looked up with a start as Harry entered the room. lOh, it’s you,” she sighed. “You weren’t followed were you?”

She turned back and looked at the wood-panelled walls. “I think there’s a secret passage somewhere behind here but I’ll be damned if I can find it. I’d like to be sure that we were alone when we spoke to the Forby’s but without being able to find it, we can’t be sure. It’s so infuriating!” She gave another desultory knock and then sprawled in a most unladylike fashion in a nearby chair with a heavy sigh.

Posted: **Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:33 pm**

'It is not likely we are going to find it before breakfast is over' says Harry as he strolls over to the fireplace. 'The only clue we have refers to a fireplace, this one overlooks the bay trees in the entrance so perhaps you could start here?' Harry puts his head under the mantle and pokes around inside the fireplace and the flue behind. 'I think we are just going to have to assume that we could be overheard.'

Posted: **Wed Jun 24, 2020 3:49 am**

Alexander nods and follows Isolde.

Posted: **Wed Jun 24, 2020 5:40 am**

With breakfast abruptly at an end, the participants excuse themselves. As Alexander and Isolde prepare to leave for the village, Isolde notices George furtively beckoning to her.

Posted: **Wed Jun 24, 2020 7:59 am**

Posted: **Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:37 am**

Posted: **Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:42 am**

Harry recalls Gertrude's mention of the andirons, or dog-irons as being the meaning of 'iron dog' and he searches the base of the fireplace.

Posted: **Wed Jun 24, 2020 11:47 am**

“Could you find the others and let them know? But perhaps Vic is too poorly to walk to the village. We will need parasols and umbrellas against the sun and water I suppose. Thank you, Alexander, I shall just have a Quickword with young George before we go and I need to do something in the library too.“
Isolde follows George to a quiet corner.

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:20 am**

"You're welcome. Aye, I'll do that," says Alexander, heading to the library to find Harry and Vic and let them know.

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2020 3:03 am**

Squatting in front of the fireplace, Harry tries manipulating the andiron. He twists one of the bars, and to his surprise it starts to turn, and a small section of the floor against the wall to his right lifts slowly up with an agonizing creak.

“Thanks awfully for feeding my ferret!” says George in a whisper.

He leans closer to Isolde, looking around for prying eyes as he does so.

“I say, would you like to see another secret?”

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2020 9:40 am**

Vic gave a low whistle then quickly looked around to make sure they weren’t being watched. ”Good work, Mr Brown!” she smiled. “Shall we have a look and see where it leads?”

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:01 pm**

Harry blushes, feeling rather pleased with himself for performing in front of a lady. He kneels by the section of floor and takes a look underneath.

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2020 3:32 pm**

Examining the opening, it’s quickly apparent that it doesn’t seem to lead anywhere. It’s a space of about 5 feet in height and almost 2 feet across, about enough room for a small man.

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2020 3:42 pm**

OOC: Priest hole?

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2020 7:01 pm**

“Perhaps.” Whispers Isolde to George,”Maybe in return for a little something from the village? I’m hoping to go to the post office shortly.”

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2020 7:56 pm**

Vic knelt down to have a closer look. Inwardly she was disappointed that it didn’t seem to lead to a secret warren of passages in the walls.

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2020 8:12 pm**

Harry starts to tap on the sides of the hole. 'I wonder what this was used for?'

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2020 3:43 pm**

George cocks his head, confused at Isolde’s words.

“You don’t want to see?” he asks, disappointed.

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2020 7:33 pm**

“Well, yes of course, lead the way!” Replies Isolde.

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:22 pm**

”I believe it is a priest’s hole,” replied Vic. “A hiding place for Catholics - and Jacobites - when being of either persuasion could lose you your life...”

She sat on the edge and dangled her feet in the hole. Holding up her hands, she said, “Can you help me down? I want to take a closer look.”

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2020 1:30 am**

“Great!” exclaims George enthusiastically, and then checks himself to make sure he wasn’t heard.

Beckoning to Isolde, he leads the way upstairs and to his bedroom. The enter and George heads to a sconce located on the wall at the back of the room. He pushes it down, and a small section of the wall slides open.

He turns around with a triumphant smile.

“It’s a secret passage!” he whispers. “Do you want to come in?”

Harry helps Vic into the hole, a claustrophobic space almost unbearable in this heat. Wedged into a crack in the wood is a small pile of what looks like folio papers, clipped and bundled together.

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2020 3:23 am**

"Aye, so it is," says Alexander. "My family has never had need for such things. We're Presbyterians, and we Campbells have always been Loyalists." He notes her find. "Ah, that must be the next clue in the trail to find the treasure. Of course the treasure itself wouldn't be that easy to find."

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2020 3:38 pm**

Vic wiped her hands on her trousers to make sure they dry, then carefully eased the papers out from the crack and passed them up to Harry, before holding up her hands to be helped out of the hole.

Once back at floor level, she took back the papers, spread them out on the library desk and began to read...

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:12 pm**

Vic recognizes the handwriting as Nicholas Forby’s – these must be the missing pages from the last folios. However the writing is much harder to decipher than the previous entries – it is jagged and disjointed , the words seeming to flow into each other. It will take some serious analysis to make headway of this find.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:38 pm**

Isolde is impressed,”Gosh! What a find; you are clever, George. Yes, lead the way. But go quietly!” She whispers. “Do we need a light?”

Posted: **Fri Jul 03, 2020 1:19 am**

George shakes his head. Although it is dim, enough light enters through various cracks and holes to light the passage.

It appears to run parallel between the bedrooms on one side, and the library on the other. George raises his finger to his lips, and points to a wooden foot pedal attached to weight and pulley, which must be used to open the doors from the inside.

The floor is very dusty, and Isolde can make out a set of small boot prints which look recent, and a set of three thin parallel wheel tracks, which must have been made earlier.

George opens a slit on the wall, and peering in, Isolde can see Harry, Vic and Alexander in the library, talking excitedly and poring over some papers.

“Every room has these peepholes” whispers George. “You can see and hear everything.”

Posted: **Fri Jul 03, 2020 5:03 am**

Though the text is confusing, Alexander has sufficient mastery of the English language that he can understand it.

Posted: **Fri Jul 03, 2020 6:22 am**

Alexander can make out the writing, and begins to read for the others.

It is obviously detailing the work on the statue “Icarus”, and there are many sketches. All except the last few show the traditional winged man from mythology, but the notes are incoherent. What is plain though is Nicholas is so sick that he thinks he will die. He asks Christopher to visit in order to help him finish the mold, and asks his friend to finish the work if he were unable to;

“For I care neither for Heaven or Hell” he writes, “only that my masterwork outlive me.”

Posted: **Fri Jul 03, 2020 1:44 pm**

Vic dusted herself down and pulled a cobweb from her hair with a shudder. She flicked it away into the fireplace and stepped over to join Alexander at the table. As he begins to read, she starts to follow the words written on the page.

Posted: **Fri Jul 03, 2020 4:00 pm**

Much of the writing is still intelligible, but Vic can make out most of the rest of the narrative.

It seems to consist of rantings directed at Christopher and Alice Forby, describing Nicholas’ growing hatred of them, and his pain and disgust of being betrayed. There is mention of a spyhole and a secret passage.

Posted: **Fri Jul 03, 2020 9:47 pm**

“Well, it is rather rude to peep, I suppose; we’d better head back.” Whispers Isolde slightly worried about what they may overhear and who may be in the bedrooms right now, “Well done, though, you’ll make a fine investigator, young George!”

Posted: **Sat Jul 04, 2020 12:31 am**

Vic frowned as she read the details of the scandalous behaviour. ”Do you think the affair has anything to do with what is happening now? she asked, with a note of doubt in her voice.

Posted: **Sat Jul 04, 2020 2:33 am**

"I dinna ken," says Alexander, "but anything's possible. There must be something in here that will point us to the treasure, or at least lead us to the next step on the trail. That spyhole and secret passage may be relevant."

Posted: **Sat Jul 04, 2020 3:47 am**

Reluctantly, George leads Isolde back the way they came, and into his bedroom.

Vic returns to the papers, and although the narrative has become even more incoherent and disjointed, she reads out the final words.

“If a cock crow in another’s nest, then let that rooster a cuckold be. Why should he inherit? I’faith I shall mimic Perseus, an amusing conceit, and with the gift of Prometheus dispel the night from Apollo’s bower. Where’er this light do shine, there I will conceal it. I shall conceal it, I mock you, my green ey’d rooster’s egg. For it is mine.”

There is also marginalia around this last part, in a hand different from Nicholas’. The writer indicates shock at his mother’s infidelity, and the jottings indicate that these events took place nine months before birth.

Posted: **Sat Jul 04, 2020 4:04 am**

"Aye, you were right lass," says Alexander. "This does give us a new clue. The gift of Prometheus is fire. We'll need to light the fireplace tonight and see where the light shines. I believe Perseus used his shield to reflect Medusa's gaze back at herself, so we'll need to reflect the firelight in order to find the emerald."

Posted: **Sat Jul 04, 2020 6:18 am**

Vic glanced around the room. ”In what do you think the firelight will be reflected?”

Posted: **Sat Jul 04, 2020 6:49 am**

Posted: **Sat Jul 04, 2020 9:47 am**

Isolde follows George back out, I’m sorry, George, you know I used to be a governess? And sometimes it gets the better of me. But it’s much more fun being an investigator isn’t it?” She winks at him. “Id like to go back in but I want to talk to you first without anyone hearing us through the walls.

Now you know we are here to help your father and this is a very important clue you have found; does anyone else know about the secret passage?” And did you see those lines on the floor? Like little tracks? We are going to go back in and follow the passage all the way to the end. We’ll investigate scientifically: look for anything interesting and we’ll try to guess what made those lines; try not to stand on them! You go first.”

Isolde lets George go first.

Posted: **Sat Jul 04, 2020 4:26 pm**

George shakes his head.

“It’s fine” he says. “Of course, I’ve followed the passage to the end. There’s a little staircase after the bedrooms which leads quite deep down, and ends up at a dead end. That’s it really. No-one but me knows about it, I’m pretty sure. At least I’ve never seen any sign of anyone else there. Those tracks I think come from that funny wheeled chair in the library.”

Posted: **Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:11 pm**

"A mirror would do nicely," says Alexander. "We're bound to find one about the house."

Posted: **Sat Jul 04, 2020 8:18 pm**

Harry looks closely at the sketches. 'Is this the Icarus of legend, with the wings? I wonder what led him to cast that strange figure outside instead?'

Posted: **Sun Jul 05, 2020 6:00 am**

Posted: **Sun Jul 05, 2020 8:19 am**

So it might have been Nicholas using this passage.” Murmurs Isolde, “ But then how did he get down the staircase? Let’s go and examine the end of the tunnel.” She says to George. She wonders if they pass Meddler’s bedroom too. She lifts her skirts, careful not to brush the markings on the floor.

Posted: **Sun Jul 05, 2020 9:54 am**

“There’s nothing there” George shrugs. “But you can look if you like. You’ll need a light on the stairs. I should go back before Mother comes looking for me.”

Posted: **Sun Jul 05, 2020 10:32 am**

Vic looked at the library shelves, scanning the titles for anything that related to Icarus or Greek mythology.

Posted: **Sun Jul 05, 2020 12:32 pm**

Vic can see that Nicholas’ collection contains many books on classic Greek mythology. She finds a couple of volumes which describe the story of Icarus, which just affirm what they already know.

Posted: **Sun Jul 05, 2020 4:31 pm**

Vic pulled a couple of the books of Greek mythology from the shelves but soon realised she was going over old ground as read once again the story of Icarus and his doomed flight to near to the sun.

She sighed and pushed the books away. She was sure there must be something in the library that would help to solve the mystery. She looked around once again, hoping inspiration would strike...
[dice]0[/dice]

Posted: **Sun Jul 05, 2020 5:46 pm**

Alexander isn't sure what to look for, so he just peruses the bookshelves for anything of interest.

Posted: **Sun Jul 05, 2020 7:52 pm**

Harry strolls along the shelves taking down books at random and leafing through them if they look interesting. He doesn't find anything that particularly catches his eye.
'Are we looking for anything in particular?'

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2020 1:58 am**

Scanning the shelves beyond Nicholas’ collection, Vic and Alexander come up with an interesting find. It is a series of small bound books, revealed to be the diaries of Aleister Forby. There are several of them though, and on examination the prose is flowery and somewhat turgid. It will take a long time to read them all.

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:03 am**

“Well, I might take a quick look, while the coast is clear. May I borrow your candle?” Isolde will take the candle, if she can safely pull the door closed she will. “Thank you, George, if I don’t come back you’ll have to send a search party!” She jokes in a whisper.

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:39 am**

Vic opened one of the books, read the first page and sighed. It was going to be a chore...

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:49 am**

Isolde sets off back along the passage. In each wall, she can see a peephole to observe inside each room. Gertrude’s bedroom is empty – in Forby’s room that unfortunate is lying on the bed and loudly complaining about his headaches, while Gertrude listens patiently.

Soon Isolde finds a narrow staircase leading down. As she traverses it, it is plain that it does not stop at ground level but continues onward, as the grows noticeably cooler and the walls begin to sweat. Lighting the candle, she can see that George was right so far, and that there is nothing of note here.

Eventually the passage finishes in a dead end. Looking above her, Isolde can see that the exit is some kind of trapdoor. It’s easy to see how George was unable to move it – he simply isn’t strong enough. But with a lot of heaving, Isolde manages to push aside the barrier.

Blinking in the dim light, Isolde is greeted by the back end of a horse. That and the smell, and the piles of straw, tell her that she is probably in the stable.

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:41 pm**

Alexander also looks through the diaries. "I'll look for the time period surrounding the end of Nicholas Forby's life first," he says. "That would be 1842."

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:31 pm**

Isolde wrinkles her nose against the smell and in wry resignation. “I suppose it my have been an escape route for Caveliers long ago. I’d better get back to the others.” She carefully closes the hatch The hatch after climbing out, checks on the ferret and walks back into the house to the library.

Posted: **Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:15 pm**

Not finding much luck browsing the shelves Harry tries to see if he can find any books with bindings that suggest they might be diaries or other personal notebooks.

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2020 4:06 am**

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2020 5:01 am**

The diaries seem to start when Aleister was well into adulthood and living the life of a country gentlemen. They don't cover the period of Nicholas' death.

Vic starts at the beginning of the diaries. She can see that Aleister was a jolly, blameless soul, leading the life of a country gentleman. He records being ably guided through his early years by Bains – “more than servant, an honest guardian and friend”.

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2020 4:38 pm**

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:43 pm**

Isolde enters the library and walks close to the others. “You”lo never guess Where I’ve been- in a secret passage!” She whispers. “Just about here. Vic, did you tell the gentlemen about our theory? That Lehman was having an affair with Nicholas’ wife and that Nicholas might have used the passage to spy on them?”

Posted: **Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:49 pm**

Harry gives a shrug, 'not particularly surprising, but what did Nicholas Forby do with what he found? Do we know the ultimate fate of Lehman or his wife?' He thinks for a moment. 'Does Harry Forby know about the passage? How about Meddler? Does it lead outside? Because I've had some suspicions about the good lieutenant'.

Posted: **Wed Jul 08, 2020 5:12 am**

"We've confirmed the theory," says Alexander, showing her the papers. "Look what was in a hidden compartment in the fireplace. It also tells us how to find the emerald." He fills her in on what they've discovered.

Posted: **Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:36 pm**

”We should perhaps try to find out what happened Mrs. Forby,” said Vic quietly. Now that the secret passages had been confirmed, they couldn’t discount someone using them to listen in...

“Is there a family bible in here? That might have records of births and deaths.” She glanced around the room, looking to see if there was one on the library shelves.

Posted: **Wed Jul 08, 2020 4:25 pm**

Posted: **Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:11 pm**

“We really need to discuss our findings so far but I’m not sure this is the best place; it’s too easy to eavesdrop. I’m also worried about leaving all these papers around for others to read; especially Meddler.”

Isolde looks at Harry, “The passageway leads to the stables but the only signs of people using it were George’s footprints and that old wheelchair; but I suppose anyone could have sat in it and wheeled it along except not down the stairs of course.”

Posted: **Thu Jul 09, 2020 2:57 am**

"It can't be a room off the secret passageway," says Alexander. "Otherwise we could be observed by anyone in there. Which rooms does it go to? If we eliminate those, we'll have a better idea where we can meet."

Posted: **Thu Jul 09, 2020 4:37 pm**

"Well, we do need to walk to the village to see the doctor and send a telegram. We could discuss our findings on the way. We'll have to start now before it gets too hot though." Says Isolde, excited to hear the emerald is nearly at hand.

She starts to tidy the folios, arranging them carefully in order of research. "I don't want anyone perusing these while we are away - this way, we can see if they've been disturbed but remind me to ask Bates to lock the library door."

Posted: **Thu Jul 09, 2020 10:53 pm**

Vic gathered up the papers she had found in the priest hole and tucked them inside her blouse. ”Better that no else sees these,” she said.

Posted: **Thu Jul 09, 2020 11:03 pm**

Harry looks at the old wheelchair, 'Forby was using this yesterday, you don't suppose he has been in the passageway?'

Posted: **Fri Jul 10, 2020 1:17 am**

Posted: **Fri Jul 10, 2020 4:02 am**

"Aye, he might have been," says Alexander. "It would make sense that he knows about it. His grandfather did."

Posted: **Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:03 pm**

Isolde looks out of the window, “But it might be too hot already.” She leans over Alexander’s shoulder as he looks at the diaries, “Well, what else have you found?” She whispers.

Posted: **Sat Jul 11, 2020 6:48 pm**

Alexander shows Isolde what they found in the diaries and quietly summarizes their findings.

Posted: **Sat Jul 11, 2020 11:47 pm**

”If we’re going to send the telegram, we need to go soon,” said Vic. “It might help if we can find out more about this Lehmann fellow so let’s not delay any further.”

She wasn’t in a rush to walk to the village in the stifling heat but it seemed like an important part of the jigsaw that they were trying to put together.

Posted: **Sat Jul 11, 2020 11:59 pm**

'I'm not really one for this book work' says Harry, 'I'm happy to take a walk to the village, perhaps after lunch'. He takes the diary and starts skimming through it to try and find something relevant to their investigations.

Posted: **Sun Jul 12, 2020 1:32 am**

Posted: **Sun Jul 12, 2020 7:38 pm**

Someone with medical knowledge should speak to Forby’s physician and send the telegram too; this morning will be slighter cooler perhaps. I’m happy to continue on the books, after all I used to do it for a living.” Says Isolde.

Posted: **Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:09 pm**

"Not my field, I'm afraid," says Alexander, "though I'll go if nobody else is qualified. Otherwise I'll stay here and keep going through the diaries."

Posted: **Sun Jul 12, 2020 11:07 pm**

”Well, you’re a medical man so you seem to be the best qualified,” Vic said to Alexander. She glanced around at the walls, knowing that someone might be there, listening in. She carried on in a quieter tone. “I’m happy to pop along to the post office while you attend to the other matter, if you like?”

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2020 1:13 am**

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2020 5:28 am**

"Nae, lass, I'm a doctor of science, not of medicine," says Alexander. "My speciality is physics. Still, I have scientific knowledge, so I'd be the best choice to talk to him. You're welcome to go to the post office."

Posted: **Mon Jul 13, 2020 11:21 pm**

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2020 6:45 pm**

“I suppose we should finish here first.” Says Isolde. “Let me check these other shelves; I haven’t looked here yet.”

Posted: **Wed Jul 15, 2020 7:27 pm**

'I don't think I'm your man for chatting to doctors' grumbles Harry.

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2020 1:30 am**

The companions decide to remain in the library to continue their investigations. While Isolde scans the shelves, Vic, Alexander and Harry continue to examine Aleister’s diaries.

Alexander surmises that more relevant information might be found towards the end of Aleister’s life. With the help of Harry, who can make more sense of Aleister's flowery scrawl, he finds some interesting entries.

Aleister's last summer was a very hot one; he records that “such a drought has not been recorded in this parish since my father’s death”. The heat seems to have steadily eroded his nerves, as he begins to record a series of small incidents which fill him with a sense of anxious foreboding.

His wife, Rhoda, had frequent consultations with the “young doctor” Jeffries over trivial concerns. He finally feels obliged “for morality’s sake, and prudence, and to forestall the gossip of the neighbourhood” to forbid any further attendance of the doctor at the house.

Aleister suffered a series of dreadful headaches “that have kept me wakeful, together with the oppressive heat, until I truly wished for death to relieve me.”
The night before his death he records that all the dogs in the district were restless and uneasy, keeping him awake with their baying.

The final entry: on the night of what would turn out to be his death, he records that he walked around the house propping open the windows to try to relieve the heat. He then retired to the library and records a last, excited entry, for he has just discovered a hitherto overlooked cache of documents and has immediately embarked on reading them.

While the others are poring over the significance of these descriptions, Isolde has located another set of volumes which could potentially be relevant. These, she discovers, are the diaries of Rhoda Forby.

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2020 3:31 am**

"Well spotted!" says Alexander. "I think we'd best read these before going to see Doctor Jeffries, so that we have as much information as we can get before we speak to him."

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2020 4:35 am**

The morning has stretched on as the companions have been engrossed in the efforts, and they are surprised to hear an announcement from Bates that lunch will be served shortly.

Posted: **Thu Jul 16, 2020 8:32 pm**

Posted: **Fri Jul 17, 2020 1:17 am**

Posted: **Fri Jul 17, 2020 3:27 am**

"The documents Aleister found must be the ones in the hidden compartment," says Alexander. "Rhoda's diaries may have more details about her relationship with Doctor Jeffries, but we'll have to look through them later."

Posted: **Fri Jul 17, 2020 11:07 am**

“I’ll start reading the diaries after lunch. “ says Isolde. “Don’t you think it strange that all three generations died of some strange malaise?” She stops as she realises what she had said. “Oh dear; I didn’t mean that. But this strange hot weather and Mr Forby’s illness, it does seem rather a coincidence.”

Posted: **Fri Jul 17, 2020 11:35 am**

”It’s as if there’s a curse on the family,” said Vic quietly. “The husband’s die early whereas the female’s...” She coloured slightly as she trailed off, not wanting to voice her suspicions out loud while there was a chance they could be overheard.

“Do you think recovery of the emerald will lift this ‘curse’?” she asked.

Posted: **Fri Jul 17, 2020 1:07 pm**

'I don't know about a curse but there's something fishy about this monster that suggests someone has more human motives' says Harry, 'love and money being the most common in my experience.'

Posted: **Sat Jul 18, 2020 3:57 am**

"Aye, it reminds of the case we investigated last year," says Alexander. "That involved a family curse, though I think the only power a curse has is in the minds of those who believe in it. Harry Forby's behaviour does remind me of what I saw in his grandfather's diary. It makes me reluctant to share that particular aspect of what we saw in the documents with him, for fear it may push him over the edge."

Posted: **Sat Jul 18, 2020 9:51 pm**

“Indeed it is similar to last year’s case; only this time we still have a chance to save the family. But if this generation is following the same pattern As the previous ones then does that mean Gertrude is quite as dutiful as she seems?” Isolde seems doubtful.

Posted: **Tue Jul 21, 2020 3:00 am**

Posted: **Tue Jul 21, 2020 3:42 am**

Posted: **Tue Jul 21, 2020 7:30 pm**

“Come on, let’s go and partake of yet another dismal luncheon. I really don’t understand why the food is so bad; it’s never going to cure an invalid. I’m going to see if there’s any fruit in the garden, I’ll meet you at the table.”
Isolde walks out around the garden to see if there are any raspberries, currants or even a peach. She’ll take this to the dining room after a quick rinse under a tap.

Posted: **Tue Jul 21, 2020 11:28 pm**

Posted: **Wed Jul 22, 2020 2:54 am**

After a fruitless search for some more delectable morsels, Isolde makes her way to the dining room, where she meets the disapproving gaze of those present who have already started eating. Lunch today is beef broth with bread and butter; while limited, it is tasty and nourishing.

Harry Forby sips his soup sullenly. He is still pale and listless, seemingly uninterested in the conversation going on around him.

Meddler seems more cheerful, and attempts to question the companions as to their deductions so far.

The maid Connie slips into the room, quietly announcing to Gertrude that she will be stepping out for the afternoon, to which Gertrude smilingly acquiesces.

Posted: **Wed Jul 22, 2020 5:23 am**

"I'd prefer not to reveal our theory in front of everyone until we can confirm some more facts," says Alexander, "but we have made significant progress."

Posted: **Wed Jul 22, 2020 7:10 am**

“I hope so” says Forby desperately. “I must have that treasure!”

Posted: **Wed Jul 22, 2020 1:14 pm**

Vic’s ears pricked up at Connie saying she would stepping out for the afternoon. It wasn’t like a servant to be given time off during the week - normally they would only be able to get away at weekends..

Posted: **Wed Jul 22, 2020 1:55 pm**

Harry is also struck by how unusual it would be to approach the lady of the house during a meal to get leave.

Posted: **Thu Jul 23, 2020 1:43 am**

"We can fill you in on our discoveries after luncheon," says Alexander. "I think you'll be pleased." He too has noted the unusual behavior of the maid. He suspects that she is on her way to a rendezvous, of which Gertrude is aware and approving, but he keeps this to himself.

Posted: **Thu Jul 23, 2020 2:58 am**

"You have some news for us?" Gertrude asks hopefully.

Posted: **Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:04 am**

"Aye," says Alexander. "We'll tell you and your husband at our private meeting this afternoon."

Posted: **Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:09 am**

"Harry will need to rest in the afternoon. What time are you thinking of?" asks Gertrude.

Posted: **Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:01 am**

"Whenever's convenient for both of you," says Alexander. "I think the earlier, the better."

Posted: **Thu Jul 23, 2020 5:34 am**

Gertrude looks at her husband.

"Well, perhaps after lunch then. After, Harry will need to rest."

Harry nods silently in agreement.

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2020 3:41 am**

"Aye, after lunch, then," says Alexander.

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2020 3:45 am**

"Where should we meet?" asks Gertrude.

"I assume I'll be present too" says Meddler.

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2020 4:10 am**

"We previously arranged this meeting to be in the library," says Alexander, "and we had agreed that the meeting would be with just Mr. and Mrs. Forby."

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2020 4:25 am**

Meddler grimaces in anger but says nothing.

"Of course" says Gertrude. "We'll meet there".

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2020 10:42 am**

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2020 11:03 am**

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2020 1:18 pm**

Posted: **Fri Jul 24, 2020 7:17 pm**

Posted: **Sat Jul 25, 2020 3:04 am**

Posted: **Sat Jul 25, 2020 3:11 am**

Posted: **Sat Jul 25, 2020 11:58 am**

Posted: **Sat Jul 25, 2020 10:09 pm**

Posted: **Sat Jul 25, 2020 10:31 pm**

Posted: **Sun Jul 26, 2020 8:22 am**

Posted: **Sun Jul 26, 2020 9:18 pm**

Posted: **Sun Jul 26, 2020 9:26 pm**

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2020 1:48 pm**

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2020 2:33 pm**

Posted: **Mon Jul 27, 2020 6:48 pm**

Play@YSDC

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