Beginning, Section II
Jump to new as of July 14, 2001
Posted on Thursday, 26 April 2001
We puzzled over the message for several more hours before stumbling blindly into our rooms and to bed. Inspector Quigley had decided to make another search of the house the next day and promised to come and get us at six o'clock in the morning, so we must be ready. Early the next morning a bleary-eyed Tina shook me awake and we stumbled down to the sitting room we'd used the day before. Sam soon arrived but the Inspector did not come.
"Where is the Inspector?" we asked.
Sam shrugged. "Still sleeping," said he.
We waited for two hours, occasionally dozing, until at last the Inspector made his appearance. "Well," he cried, "Let us be off, it is getting late!" None of us had the strength to make any sort of sarcastic remark and so we followed obediently.
Again we started from the cellar and made our way up. Tina was soon called away to perform her duties as maid, but the three of us diligently continued our search. This time the Inspector came up with a new strategy. We were to press against all of the walls in search of hidden doors and passages. This search took longer than the first. We had only made it up one floor in four hours. I was ready to faint from lack of sleep and Sam was growling like a bear about food.
At length we came to a very interesting room. It was unused and everything was covered in what used to be white sheets. The clock on the mantelpiece stood still at the hour of 6:47. Dust and cobwebs were everywhere. The Inspector swept a glance around the room.
"This is too obvious a place for a clue to be," he said. "The criminal would want to put the clue in an obvious place so that it wouldn't be so noticeable."
"Are you sure, Father?" Sam asked, getting down onto the floor to feel the boards. "You search the walls, Kitty, I have a feeling about something."
I, like the good girl that I am, did exactly as I was told. I felt along the walls extremely carefully, feeling a sort of thrill. Sam was right, the air fairly crackled with excitement. The room was not large but also not small. After having gone over three walls the excitement died down. The Inspector was sitting in an armchair, yawning, occasionally checking his own pocket watch. I pressed the last part of the wall. It did not budge, not an inch.
I became filled with a blind rage. We were never, ever going to find any clue in this horrid mansion! With all of my might I struck against the wall with both fists. In a split second the wall came apart and I was falling forward into darkness. I did not even have time to scream, although I wanted to desperately. I did not fall far at all and landed on something soft. Darkness surrounded me but I could see. I looked up and saw the opening I had fallen through with light streaming in. I saw the outline of Sam's and the Inspector's faces.
"Kitty!" cried Sam, "you are the smartest girl I know!"
"Most peculiar," marveled Quigley. "So there really is a passage way!"
"Kitty, can you hear us? Are you all right?" Sam called.
"Fine," I called as I stood up. My shoulder hurt badly but I did not think it was broken. "Can you come down here?"
Sam lowered himself carefully out of the opening and then jumped down onto the soft thing I was on, which turned out to be a sack. "Hello," he said brightly. "Come down, Father, and close the door behind you!" I don't know how he did it, but the Inspector somehow swung out on the door, swung it back shut and dropped heavily to the ground, missing the sack.
"Well, let's go!" said Sam.
"Where?" I asked.
"Why, down the passage way, of course!"
"How? We don't have any light at all now that the door is shut," Inspector Quigley stated.
Even though it was dark I could almost see Sam's look of sheer shock. "A good detective is never found without the proper tools for a case, well, usually. I have a candle and flint." He expertly lighted the large candle and we blinked for a few moments, looking at our surroundings.
It was a large room with a door to our right. Father and son eagerly rushed over and tried to open it. The door was firmly locked. There was no way out of the horrible place. "Oh, what are we to do?" I cried, looking at Sam.
He gave a shrug of his shoulders. "I don't know, I don't know."
"Never fear!" Inspector Quigley cried. "I always was good at picking locks."
Sam and I looked at him in astonishment. "You, Father?" the boy asked skeptically. "You can pick locks?"
The Inspector did not appreciate our lack of faith and answered our questioning looks by taking out a lady's hairpin and unlocking the door's four locks. Sam and I were very impressed but we said nothing and followed the Inspector into the passage. There were many passages joining into the one we were following and many twists and turns. We went as straight as we possibly could and followed the passage for a long time.
"I believe we are definitely out of the house and somewhere in the Diamonde grounds," Inspector Quigley said.
"How long will it go on?" I asked just as we came to stairs.
"Oh, not much longer," said the Inspector as we bravely walked up the steps and reached a large stone directly above our heads. "I believe this is the opening," he said and we all pushed up and forward. The stone moved and with another mighty push came up and we were able to scramble up into the room above.
It was dim inside the room which was made completely out of stone. It seemed to be an entire building and in the middle of the room stood a great stone structure. Upon closer examination we saw that it was a stone coffin. On the top there was a statue laid with his hands over his chest and eyes closed. I had seen such graves only once before in a church. One of the great priests had been laid under it. I did not like the room at all.
"Do you know where we are?" Sam asked of no one in particular.
"I do. We are in Lord Diamonde's burial place," I said. "And that is where he was laid to rest. I saw this building from afar once. We are a great distance from Diamonde Hall. Oh let us leave, please!"
"Wait!" The Inspector said, "There must be a reason for the passage. We must find out what that reason is."
So we made our way slowly towards the stone statue and gazed upon the image of Lord Diamonde. Slowly, Sam reached out and touched the Diamonde crest ever so slightly. A part of the stone swung up, and there was the Astria diamond, right in front of our eyes.
Suddenly Inspector Quigley grabbed it and threw it on the ground. "What are you doing?" I shrieked, but he kept picking it up and smashing it on the stone floor again and again. Soon a large scratch appeared on the floor. Inspector Quigley picked up the diamond and whipped out a magnifying glass. He examined the diamond closely.
"This must be it," he said gravely. "Not a scratch, not a chip. It must be it."
"We have to make absolutely sure," Sam said as he put the stone crest back in its place.
"You are right, let's go back."
We went down the stairs and tried to pull the stone door shut. It was much harder to close than to open and we did it with great difficulty. At last, however, the task was done but it had taken up too much of our time. Sam's large candle sputtered and waved a few more times before going out completely and leaving us surrounded in absolute darkness.
Posted on Sunday, 29 April 2001
The darkness was overwhelming. I began to shake. "What are we to do?" I cried.
"I don't know," Sam said. "I haven't got another candle."
"Well, perhaps this is for the best," the Inspector began. "After all, we haven't thought this out properly. Why don't we just go back into the tomb and cross the grounds to the house?"
"It's pouring rain," said Sam.
"Yes, we should all catch a dreadful cold. Besides, I'm supposed to be under house arrest," I said.
"Oh yes. Then we must go through the passage. But once we reach the room, if we do, how on earth will we climb up to the secret door? We don't have a rope - unless you carry one about with you all day, Sam."
"No, I forgot to bring it along."
"Here is what I suggest: Sam and I will go back to the house through the rain and you, Kitty, can go back through the passage. We'll meet you in that room and open the door for you," Inspector Quigley said.
"Have you gone mad? Do you expect me to find my way through pitch dark, all the way back to the house?" I cried.
"I think I remember the way back, perhaps," Sam said slowly.
"Good! Excellent! That solves all problems!" the Inspector cried. "Sam, you and Kitty will go back through the passage while I run to the house through the rain and open up the door for you."
"What if something happens to us? And it will take much longer for us to reach the house while groping through the dark." Sam said.
"If you are not back in exactly one hour I will find ten candles, bring a rope and find you, all right?"
"All right," we said in unison. Inspector Quigley opened the stone again, got out and shut it behind him. We took one last look at the dim light and then everything was again dark.
Sam took my left hand and we made our way through the darkness down the passage, groping with my right hand on the wall. We walked and walked for a long time. We did not speak, there was no need. We knew not where we were going, which direction we had taken nor if it was the right one. It was quite evident that we were completely lost. But it is human nature to continue to hope even in the darkest of situations and so we went on.
At length Sam hit a wall in front of him and I bumped into him. After feeling over the wall it turned out to be a large wooden door. The door, unfortunately, was locked. After some searching we found the lock. Sam and I both picked at it until the hairpin broke into several different pieces. In despair, the only course of action left open to us was to knock the door down. Stepping back a few paces we rammed into the door with all of our might. It crashed down immediately, with us on top of it. We were in another long passageway and streaming up from the floorboard cracks was glorious light.
The door was very thick but the wood was rotten and the hinges broken. Dust lay everywhere. We cautiously stood up and stepped into the passage. The floorboards squeaked and cracked loudly, the wood there evidently old and rotten as well. We still went on a few paces and came to stairs. We climbed up many stairs until we came to yet another passageway. The door opening to it was completely rotted away and so we had no difficulty getting inside. We walked carefully on the old wood until we thought that we heard voices coming from below.
"Is everything ready?" a woman's voice asked. We quietly lay down across the boards, pressing our ears against them to hear better.
"Everything. The express was sent this morning, I am sure. The diamond is well hidden and another fake being made. It was very annoying when the first fake was discovered. That so called Inspector is really quite a nuisance." The voice sounded strangely alike to Mr. Wolcott's.
"He is but at least he has done one thing in our favor. That little Miss Kitty is still the main suspect and that goes in accordance to the plan." The woman's voice was familiar.
"It was quite brilliant of you to actually show her where the diamond, well, the fake was only a little while before it was supposedly stolen. She was the only one to suspect!"
"Of course! And once we sell the fake to Napoleon we may have enough money, at last."
Sam and I exchanged looks. "Who is talking?" I asked.
"Why, that's Lady Diamonde and Mr. Wolcott!" Sam whispered.
"Lady Diamonde! It can't be!" I cried, much too loudly. Everything was silent.
"Did you hear something, Wolcott?" the Lady asked.
"I thought I did, coming from above us."
"Well, use my cane to bang a little on the ceiling. We can't take any chances!" Lady Diamonde cried almost frantically. Mr. Wolcott let out an exasperated sigh but did as the Lady wished. We soon felt and heard the banging of the cane.
"We've got to get out of here," I whispered.
"Yes, come on," Sam said, lifting himself up a little and beginning to crawl slowly forward to the passage in front of us. I began to follow but the board creaked loudly.
"I heard it again," the Lady cried.
"Kitty, come on!" Sam whispered urgently. Mr. Wolcott began banging more fiercely with his stick. I began to stand up and was taking a step towards Sam when I caught my foot on the hem of my dress and fell.
The impact was too much for the rotten wood. I crashed through the passageway and into the arms of Mr. Wolcott. He fell to the ground and I with him. My head was aching, my dress torn and my leg bleeding from scraping it on some piece of the wood. The next thing I knew both Mr. Wolcott and Lady Diamonde were standing over me. For an instant I looked up past them to where Sam had been sitting. He was gone and I was left alone with the thieves.
"Well, Miss Kitty," Lady Diamonde sneered. "Isn't this a pleasant surprise?"
Posted on Sunday, 29 April 2001
If I hadn't been so frightened I would have fainted. Lady Diamonde was the thief? Working with Mr. Wolcott? "You, you brought me here on purpose! To blame me for stealing the diamond!" I burst out, on the verge of tears.
"Kitty, Kitty, you always were so naive. The perfect person to bring." Lady Diamonde looked positively evil.
"Why him? What has Wolcott got to do with any of this?" I asked.
"I don't like to answer questions like that, Kitty. Have you ever read a mystery novel? Have you ever thought up a brilliant plan, as I have? No, certainly not. I am not about to reveal all of my secrets to you so that, if you possibly escape or are rescued, although that is highly unlikely, you will go and tell the police all of my little secrets. But I can tell you only this; Mr. Wolcott is in charge of everything, he is the manager, since I am too old to do it myself." Lady Diamonde had a furiously calm voice, taunting me with it.
"Whatever shall we do with her?" Mr. Wolcott said impatiently.
"Perhaps you should take her with you. Wouldn't that be a delicious scandal?" Lady Diamonde laughed.
"We don't want a scandal. Besides, what on earth could I do with a baby like that?"
"She has heard us, Wolcott. She has to be taken someplace where she won't talk. Do you think we could threaten her with something?"
"Never. Her mouth is much too big for her own good. She would give it all away."
"Well then, if you can't take her with you and she can't be threatened, there is only one alternative. We shall have to put her down the well," Lady Diamonde said.
"A well! Oh, you can't!" I cried.
"Can't we?" The Lady smiled. "Wolcott, tie her hands and put something in her mouth. We'll take her immediately and we can't have her screaming for help."
In an instant my hands were tied and a large scarf wrapped so tightly around my mouth that I could not breathe through it or move my mouth. Mr. Wolcott roughly yanked me to my feet and pulled me towards another passage door that the Lady Diamonde had opened. We walked down it, the Lady leading the way with a lantern. We walked far enough for us to have gone so far from the house that we were even past the tomb. Suddenly we came to stairs that we went up and then the Lady opened the door.
We walked out onto the grounds. Everything was dripping wet from the rain and the sky was a grayish color, as if the sun was soon to rise. I slipped on the slick grass and was again yanked up and pushed towards a lone and ancient well standing near some large trees. The tomb was so far away that I could hardly see it and the house wasn't even visible.
We came to the well. Mr. Wolcott drew up a very large bucket and prepared to put me in it by dumping out the moldy water. Lady Diamonde undid the gag around my mouth. "Oh, please, please don't put me down there! I can't swim, I shall surely drown!" I begged.
"You won't drown. I've spent many days in there myself. But you will starve, that is certain, unless of course you are rescued, which will not happen. No one knows of this place but us and it is very well hidden. Perhaps, if you agree, we will say that you ran off and fix things up perfectly. That way we can come back for you someday, in about a week or two, when there is a reward for whoever finds you. By that time if you say anything about us people will think you are mad," the Lady said and Mr. Wolcott set me in the bucket, tying my feet together as well.
"I would rather die than be helped by you," I cried defiantly.
For an instant I thought that there was a gleam of anger in Lady Diamonde's eye, but then it was gone and she only shrugged, laughed and said: "It is your choice. And I most definitely do not want you to go telling tales about me. Good bye, Kitty." Mr. Wolcott replaced the gag, pushed the bucket off the side of the well and slowly lowered me down, down, down to the bottom of the well.
I waited for the gigantic splash of water which was surely to come. This was, after all, a well and I should reach water some time. No water came, however. I just kept on going down into more darkness until the round opening of the well seemed a million miles away. Then I hit the bottom. There wasn't any water, the well was absolutely dry.
I was astonished, to say the least. Now I knew what the evil Lady had meant. I would surely not drown, that was impossible, but I would definitely starve. As my eyes began to adjust a little to the dark, I could see dim shapes of what looked like furniture. Someone had used this place as a room once. My eyes however could only adjust so much in such darkness and I couldn't make anything out without getting closer.
I sat for at least an hour and wondered if anyone was coming to rescue me. I did not know how they would, no one knew where I was. As I sat and thought, I became more depressed. No one would ever think to look for me at the bottom of a dry well. For an instant I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all but found that I couldn't because my mouth was gagged. Instead I cried.
I didn't cry for very long because I realized that my sobbing wasn't helping the situation at all. Since there was no possible way for me to be rescued, I would have to find my own way out of the hole or die in the attempt. The first thing I needed to do was untie the hands that were behind my back. Once my hands were free then I could un-gag my mouth and untie my feet. I soon found a sharp part of metal on the bucket. I spent hours rubbing my hands up and down on the jagged piece of metal. By the time my hands were free everything was very dark and my back and arms ached... but my hands were free.
I freed my mouth from the gag and then I slept, too tired to bother with untying my legs. Of course, in such an uncomfortable position it is impossible to sleep for long and so I woke up in only a few hours. Everything was pitch black, the round shape of light was completely gone. Clumsily, I untied my legs and stood up, tripping over the bucket and landing on the floor of the well. My hands brushed against three things: A candle, a piece of flint and a spoon.
Posted on Saturday, 14 July 2001
I had never been very handy with flint and so it took me a long time to get the candle successfully lighted. I, however, was in no hurry and so took my time about doing everything. On the other hand, there was a nagging thought at the back of my mind, reminding me that if I did not find a way out soon, then the results following would be most disastrous. For the first time in my life I had to rely on myself, my own judgment, my own ability.
When the candle was finally lit, light flooded the space. Unless a person has spent many hours in a completely dark place, he can never truly appreciate light. Instead of not being able to see anything in front of you, everything is visible and clear. As I blinked around my prison, I saw that the dry well I was in was not an ordinary dry well, (at least I thought so, even though I'd never been down one before).
An old, broken chair and table were pushed against the wall of the large well. Several books lay strewn across the floor. Someone, a very long time ago, had used this old well as a room - perhaps a hiding place. I reached for one of the books and opened it to the first page. On it was written: 'Property of Belle Diamonde'. Every book I opened had the same inscription. Lady Diamonde had said that she had been down here before. Why would she come down here? To be alone, to escape from something? Nothing made sense.
After having examined my surroundings I again thought about ways to get out of the well. First I thought that somehow, I could tie myself to the rope that was on the bucket and climb out, but then I discovered that Mr. Wolcott had cut the rope. I thought of all sorts of good ideas but didn't have the right materials for any. Finally, I just sat down in the middle of the well with my back against that horrid bucket and admitted that I was defeated.
At that moment I remembered the spoon. Hope surged through my body as I grasped it and knew what I must do. I had to dig my way out. That was the only possible course of action left to me. Of course, I knew that it would take weeks, perhaps months. I began working vigorously, but as the hours passed my progress slowed considerably. Then the candle sputtered and went out and the spoon broke in two, and I knew that I was at the end of all things. For a moment I actually wondered if it was the end of the world; it certainly felt like it.
I fell into a troubled sleep. I seemed to keep on waking up. Faintly, I thought that I heard a voice calling my name. Perhaps I was hallucinating.
"Kitty!" The voice called.
'Am I dead?' I wondered.
"Kitty!" The voice called again, and was joined by another voice calling, "Miss Bennet!"
I became confused. I knew now that I was not dead, but why did those people keep calling my name? With a start, I realized that I could be rescued if they were close enough to hear me. I opened my mouth to shout but no sound came out. My throat was parched and the only sound I managed to make was a soft croak. The voices began to grow fainter. In desperation, I remembered that Sam had once whistled by putting two fingers in his mouth and blowing. A very loud and shrill sound had emerged. At long last, I produced a loud enough whistle that it echoed up the walls of the well. Then my voice came back and I began shouting as loudly as I could for help.
Three faces appeared above me at the hole. One of the persons began lowering himself down by a rope. As he grew closer and closer, I could not recognize him, but his face seemed oddly familiar. Once at the bottom he quickly tied the rope around my waist, took hold of the rope himself with one arm, and with the other held tightly to me. With the words, "Pull us up, Mr. Quigley!" the rope began slowly inching its way upward.
"Kitty!" Sam shouted joyously once I reached the top. Too tired to cry and too parched to speak, I wordlessly hugged Sam and the Inspector at the same time. Just then, Mr. and Mrs. Bents came running up with Tina close by, followed by the cook. I was hugged by all of them and then practically carried into the house where I was washed and put to bed.
The next morning I woke up to see the two very concerned faces of Jane and Lizzy. After much hugging and tears on Jane's side, I got dressed and we went downstairs. I don't believe I've ever eaten so much at one sitting as I did that morning. I was famished. Jane, Lizzy and their husbands watched me gobble down food with amusement. After breakfast, I excused myself and hurried down to the kitchen where everyone was waiting for me.
"Kitty, you're a hero!" Sam cried. He was surrounded by seven other children of all ages and they all agreed with him. "Kitty, meet my brothers Tom, Joe and Bill, and sisters Sally, Sarah, Susan and Mary. And this is my mother." I turned to see the tall, beautiful woman who was the Inspector's wife. I knew we would be friends as she drew me into an embrace.
Then, for a reason I did not quite understand, I searched the room for my rescuer. "Where is the man who got me out of the well?" I asked.
"He and my father are taking care of Lady Diamonde and Mr. Wolcott. While you were lost for the day and night, he caught them and now has to make sure they are in prison and going to trial. When he comes back he'll know all of the particulars to tell us."
Just then the very man of whom we'd been speaking walked into the kitchen. "Miss Bennet!" he cried, coming over to me. "Have you yet bought a new bonnet for yourself?" He asked, his eyes twinkling.
For I moment I was puzzled, but then gasped in astonishment. "Why, you are the man I bumped into on the street so long ago!"
"The very same," he said cheerfully. "My name is Tobias Hart." I smiled and he smiled back.
"Well, what of Lady Diamonde?" Sam asked.
"Oh yes," I said. "Tell us the particulars. Start from the very beginning."
"All right," he replied and we all sat down. "To begin with, the Diamonde's have been involved in the diamond trade for years. Lord Diamonde made a fortune in his younger years but, when he was older and investing in more mines than ever, his investments failed. Mine after mine went out of business and left the Diamondes virtually penniless. The shock was too much for Lord Diamonde, he died about three years ago. Lady Diamonde, left alone and without money, decided to try and make money by selling fake copies of the Astria to foreign countries. The Astria is worth millions of pounds and the Lady made quite a bit of money in a very short amount of time, aided by her friend, Mr. Wolcott. No one knew that the real Astria Diamond had been buried with her husband when he died."
"If you knew all of this, then why didn't you stop her before?" Kitty asked.
"Miss Bennet, we knew that someone was selling fake diamonds overseas under the name of Barty, but we couldn't discover who it was - until now," Tobias explained. "Lady Diamonde was quite clever, I've been tracking this case for the past three years. She had us all fooled."
"Not me!" Sam cried. "I had my suspicions from the very beginning!"
"Then I am sure you will make an excellent detective someday!" Tobias said and Sam swelled up with pride. "Well, Miss Bennet, will you come with me to join the Darcys and Bingleys?" We rose and I took his arm.
Soon afterwards I left for London with Jane and Lizzy. It was very hard for me to leave all of my now close friends. Mr. and Mrs. Bents along with Tina would be leaving England for the United States to start over with their share of the reward money. Inspector Quigley and his family went back to their home but I kept in touch with them through Mrs. Quigley.
After my adventure, life in London had lost its glamour. I saw through the men's and ladies' finely crafted masks, not finding a sincere person in anyone. I grew unhappy with the extremely evident divide between social classes. My only comfort was Jane and Lizzy, who understood my distress. Of course, there was Tobias. We talked often. He was actually leaving the Intelligence and becoming a clergyman. I was overjoyed to discover that he was to be, in fact, the new clergyman at Pemberley!
After only two weeks in London, we departed for Pemberley. Tobias and I courted for a year before becoming man and wife. Soon afterwards he took Sam Quigley as an apprentice. Not many people knew it, but my husband was one of the best detectives that ever lived. Sam, when he grew up, became a legendary detective himself, solving more cases than any other inspector of the day. We always kept close contact with the Quigleys, often visiting each other and corresponding regularly. The Bents and Tina did very well in the New World. I never saw them again but each year I received a letter from them.
I was very happy with my station as a clergyman's wife. I was able to visit anyone I wished and do all sorts of good deeds without being looked down upon. Jane and Lizzy lived happily ever after with their husbands and many children.
Tobias and I had ten children; the youngest became famous Sam Quigley's assistant and apprentice. Tobias never again was involved in crime fighting. We were content to stay at home among children, friends and family.
This was my story; the story about how I found myself and found my place in the world. I am grateful for that fateful day when I heard the Lady's scream that the diamond was stolen (when in fact it had not been). All because of the Astria Diamond.