text: > look at your surroundings
  The study is a well-proportioned, rectangular room. The door, of finely polished oak, leads back onto the landing, to the west; a broad sash window in the opposite wall looks out over Cadogan Square. The heavy velvet curtains are drawn back and a pale moonlight falls into the room, illuminating a heavy mahogany desk in its centre. To the right of the window is a small table.
  
  On the north side of the room is a stone fireplace with a dull red glow still coming from the remains of the coals, burning among the ashes: a shadowy oil painting hangs above it. To the left of the fireplace is a wooden stand, supporting an ornate porcelain pot, in which a leafy plant is growing. The south wall is covered, floor to ceiling, with bookshelves, laden with hundreds, if not thousands, of leather-bound volumes, in neat rows.
  
  > examine the stand
  It is a simple wooden stand for supporting a plant pot.
  
  On the simple wooden stand is a china pot.
  
  > examine the pot
  It is a china pot, about two feet high, decorated with Chinese designs.
  
  In the china pot is a leafy house plant.
  
  > look at the plant
  The plant consists of a dense clump of dark green, rather fleshy leaves sprouting from a decorative china pot, and reaching almost to your head height. You think it is the sort of house plant known as an aspidistra.
  
  > take the pot
  That's hardly portable.
  
  > examine the curtains
  You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the window.
  
  The dark blue velvet curtains hang from floor-to-ceiling on either side of the window. They are opened or closed by means of a cord which hangs down at the side of the curtains and passes over a pulley mechanism, incorporated into the curtain rail, above the window.
  
  > pull the cord
  You pull the cord and the heavy curtains draw smoothly across the window, plunging the room into darkness.
  
  It is now pitch dark in here!
  
  > pull the cord
  You pull the cord and draw back the heavy curtains. The room is once again lit by the pale light from outside.
  
  The study is a well-proportioned, rectangular room. The door, of finely polished oak, leads back onto the landing, to the west; a broad sash window in the opposite wall looks out over Cadogan Square. The heavy velvet curtains are drawn back and a pale moonlight falls into the room, illuminating a heavy mahogany desk in its centre. To the right of the window is a small table.
  
  On the north side of the room is a stone fireplace with a dull red glow still coming from the remains of the coals, burning among the ashes: a shadowy oil painting hangs above it. To the left of the fireplace is a wooden stand, supporting an ornate porcelain pot, in which a leafy plant is growing. The south wall is covered, floor to ceiling, with bookshelves, laden with hundreds, if not thousands, of leather-bound volumes, in neat rows.
  
  On the table is a cardboard grocery box with some papers in it.
  
  > open the window
  As cautiously and quietly as you can, you open the window and look out. The sill is quite low - below your waist height - and you suppose it would be possible to fall out. You look down into the street below and are not sure if that is just a shadow on the pavement or is it a dark stain? You give an involuntary shudder.
  
  > look at the papers
  It is an ordinary cardboard box, of the type used by grocers for deliveries. A handwritten scrawl on its side says "Father's old papers - for disposal".
  
  In the cardboard grocery box are a leather-bound diary and an ink bottle.
  
  > read the diary
  You reach out and take the leather-bound diary.
  
  You examine the book. It seems to be a desk diary for the previous year. You flick through and notice that there are occasional entries in it, written in a distinctive, rather scholarly handwriting, and using green ink. The entries all seem to be mundane notes of when bills were paid. You pause for a moment at the entry for Tuesday 21st October 1862, which is heavily ringed in green ink, then you remember, this was old Lord Bellwater's birthday - he always gave each of the servants sixpence on this day.
  
  As you flick through the diary, a newspaper cutting falls out and flutters to the floor.
  
  > read the newpaper
  (the newspaper cutting)
  You examine the newspaper cutting - it seems to have been neatly cut from a recent copy of "The Times".
  
  You read it carefully:
  
  Readers of this newspaper will be aware of the recent case in the Court of Chancery, regarding the last will and testament of Sir Archibald Ramswell of Dorchester. We reported yesterday that Sir Archibald's will (in which he divided his entire estate between his housekeeper and his favourite horse) was being contested by his eldest son, the Honourable Percy Ramswell, who was not mentioned in the will.
  
  After due consideration, the judge (Mr Justice Williams) has now delivered his judgement. In summary, he has stated that under English law, a man may leave his property to any living person and is certainly under no obligation to leave anything to his children if he does not wish to do so. However, a horse is not a living person and is ineligible to be a beneficiary of a will. His ruling is therefore that in this case, the entire estate is to be given to the only living person mentioned in the will, namely the housekeeper. The judge informed the housekeeper that she is entitled to use her newly-acquired fortune as she wishes, but that she might see fit to make arrangements for the comfort of the horse. This comment caused a ripple of mirth in the courtroom, shared by all except The Honourable Percy Ramswell.
  
  On a separate legal point which had been raised on behalf of Sir Archibald's son, the judge ruled that the naming of a horse in one's will was not, in itself, evidence of insaninty, and that the terms of the will could not be contested on those grounds. "If everyone who preferred their horse to their son was to be certified insane," declared Judge Williams, "There should not be asylums enough to house them all."
  
  The article has been ringed with green ink and a handwritten note in the margin reads "Capital idea. Maybe leave everything to a horse rather than to James!"
  
  > Spin dial
  You leave the window, and walk towards the fireplace.
  
  The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 4.
  
  > turn dial to 62
  The dial settles on the number 62 with a slight "clunk!"
  
  > turn the dial to 10
  The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "clunk!"
  
  > turn the dial to 21
  The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "clunk!"
  
  > Spin dial
  The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 47.
  
  > examine bottle
  You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the window.
  
  It is an old ink bottle. It looks almost empty, with dried ink caked around the lid. Even in this light, you can see that the ink was green in colour.
  
  > examine the desk
  You leave the window, and walk over to the desk.
  
  The desk is made of a dark wood - perhaps mahogany. It is very solidly built and its surface is polished to a high gloss.
  
  You pause for a moment and wonder how many hours Elsie spent polishing this desk.
  
  On the mahogany desk are an envelope, a copy of "The Times" newspaper and a wooden tray full of cards.
  
  > read the diary
  You examine the book. It seems to be a desk diary for the previous year. You flick through and notice that there are occasional entries in it, written in a distinctive, rather scholarly handwriting, and using green ink. The entries all seem to be mundane notes of when bills were paid. You pause for a moment at the entry for Tuesday 21st October 1862, which is heavily ringed in green ink, then you remember, this was old Lord Bellwater's birthday - he always gave each of the servants sixpence on this day.
  
  > examine the envelope
  You examine the envelope. It is addressed to "George Sutherland Esq., Phillips and Sutherland Merchant bank, Cheapside, London EC." It is freshly written in black ink and in a handwriting which you take to belong to the younger Lord Bellwater. The envelope is not yet sealed.
  
  > open the envelope
  You open the envelope, revealing a letter.
  
  > read the letter
  You cautiously pick up the letter.
  
  Knowing that you are seriously breaching your employer's trust, you read the letter. It says:
  
  Dear Sutherland,
  I write with regard to my temporary financial embarrassment and the substantial loan which you have extended to me in recent years.
  
  I now find myself in a position to repay you in full. If you would care to call on me at my residence in Cadogan Square on Friday next at 10:30am I shall have the money ready for your receipt.
  
  I trust that you will now accept that your threats of bailiffs and bancruptcy were somewhat premature and I look forward to your full apology before I consider doing further business with your firm.
  
  Yours sincerely,
  
  > look at the cards
  It is a wooden tray full of index cards. You look through them and see that each card has got details of a book and its author. The cards are in alphabetical order so you could look up the name of a book in the card index.
  
  > Spin dial
  You step away from the desk and walk towards the fireplace.
  
  The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 79.
  
  > turn the dial to 91
  The dial settles on the number 91 with a slight "clunk!"
  
  > turn the dial to 10
  The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "clunk!"
  
  > Search desk
  You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the desk.
  
  On the mahogany desk are an envelope, a copy of "The Times" newspaper and a card index.
  
  > Examine index
  It is a wooden tray full of index cards. You look through them and see that each card has got details of a book and its author. The cards are in alphabetical order so you could look up the name of a book in the card index.
  
  > examine table
  You step away from the desk and walk over to the window.
  
  A heavy oak table stands beside the window. Its surface has been polished to a gleaming finish.
  
  On the table is a cardboard grocery box.
  
  > Examine box
  It is an ordinary cardboard box, of the type used by grocers for deliveries. A handwritten scrawl on its side says "Father's old papers - for disposal".
  
  In the cardboard grocery box is an ink bottle.
  
  > examine the ink bottle
  It is an old ink bottle. It looks almost empty, with dried ink caked around the lid. Even in this light, you can see that the ink was green in colour.
  
  > take the ink bottle
  Taken.
  
  > put the letter in the envelope
  You leave the window, and walk over to the desk.
  
  You put the letter to Sutherland the banker into the envelope.
  
  > put the envelope in the box
  You step away from the desk and walk over to the window.
  
  You put the envelope into the cardboard grocery box.
  
  > examine sill
  You examine the window. It is a sash window looking out over Cadogan Square. It is currently open.
  
  This was where Elsie must have been standing and was the last view she saw before....
  
  > go outside
  You climb out through the window onto the sill.
  
  You are standing balanced on the narrow ledge. To keep yourself from falling, you have to cling on to the ivy which grows on the house wall. It is a long way down to the pavement below!
  
  > examine the ivy
  You carefully examine the ivy growing around the window and find a woman's purse, nestling among the leaves. Leaning out cautiously from the ledge, you make a grab for the purse and take it from the ivy.
  
  > look at the purse
  You recognise the purse as one belonging to Elsie. It is about three inches square - just big enough to hold a few coins - and is made of a soft fabric. It is drawn closed by a ribbon around its top edge. Perhaps it was caught in the ivy when Elsie fell from the window!
  
  > Open purse
  You open the purse, revealing a shiny silver sixpence, a stubby pencil and a scrap of paper.
  
  > examine the scrap
  You reach for the paper.
  
  With mounting excitement, you carefully smooth out the screwed-up piece of paper. The following is written on it in Elsie's spidery handwriting:
  
  Dear Bert. We may not get a chanse to talk privitly for a few days so Im righting this note and hope to give it to you in the garding. Last week I sined a paper for old lord B. He said you will get a lot of mony when he died. But the new lord B. is very angery about it. I dont now why he is angery with me but i fear he means to do me harm. If you are to get some mony maybe we can get marrid and I can give my notis to leave. I am a bit afrayd of new lord B. Try to meet me in the...
  
  At this point there is a heavy mark as though the pencil broke and, although there are some scratch marks, as though the writer tried to continue, nothing further can be read.
  
  > go in
  You clamber back through the window into the study.
  
  The study is a well-proportioned, rectangular room. The door, of finely polished oak, leads back onto the landing, to the west; a broad sash window in the opposite wall looks out over Cadogan Square. The heavy velvet curtains are drawn back and a pale moonlight falls into the room, illuminating a heavy mahogany desk in its centre. To the right of the window is a small table.
  
  On the north side of the room is a stone fireplace with a dull red glow still coming from the remains of the coals, burning among the ashes: a shadowy oil painting hangs above it. To the left of the fireplace is a wooden stand, supporting an ornate porcelain pot, in which a leafy plant is growing. The south wall is covered, floor to ceiling, with bookshelves, laden with hundreds, if not thousands, of leather-bound volumes, in neat rows.
  
  On the table is a cardboard grocery box (in which is an envelope (in which is a letter to Sutherland the banker)).
  
  You can see a newspaper cutting here.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a scrap of paper
  a purse (open)
  a shiny silver sixpence
  a stubby pencil
  an ink bottle
  a leather-bound diary
  a slightly charred instruction leaflet
  a heavy iron key
  
  > examine the pencil
  It is a stub of a pencil, about an inch long. The point has broken off so it would need sharpening before it could be used.
  
  > look at the coal
  You leave the window, and walk towards the fireplace.
  
  You reach out to touch the ashes. Although the fire has almost burnt out, the ashes are still too hot to handle.
  
  > look at the sixpence
  It is a small silver coin.
  
  > examine the stand
  It is a simple wooden stand for supporting a plant pot.
  
  On the simple wooden stand is a china pot.
  
  > take the coin
  Taken.
  
  > open the door
  You swing the door open and stand on the threshold, peering into the cool darkness of the landing.
  
  > go to the west
  You pause on the threshold and consider abandoning your task. But then you remember Elsie. No, you owe it to her to continue...you turn and step back resolutely into the study.
  
  > eat the key
  That's plainly inedible.
  
  > look at the desk
  You leave the door and walk over to the desk.
  
  The desk is made of a dark wood - perhaps mahogany. It is very solidly built and its surface is polished to a high gloss.
  
  On the mahogany desk are a copy of "The Times" newspaper and a card index.
  
  > look behind the sash
  You step away from the desk and walk over to the window.
  
  You find nothing of interest.
  
  > look under the desk
  You leave the window, and walk over to the desk.
  
  You find nothing of interest.
  
  > Search ashes
  You step away from the desk and walk towards the fireplace.
  
  You find nothing of interest.
  
  > Spin dial
  The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 7.
  
  > Continue
  The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 1.
  
  > turn the dial to 91
  The dial settles on the number 91 with a slight "clunk!"
  
  > turn the dial to 10
  The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "clunk!"
  
  > turn the dial to 21
  The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "clunk!"
  
  > Spin dial
  The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 59.
  
  > Spin dial
  The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 19.
  
  > Newspaper
  Which do you mean, a copy of "The Times" newspaper or the newspaper cutting?
  
  > Spin dial
  You step away from the desk and walk towards the fireplace.
  
  The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 24.
  
  > turn the dial to 63
  The dial settles on the number 63 with a slight "clunk!"
  
  > turn the dial to 6
  The dial settles on the number 6 with a slight "clunk!"
  
  > Spin dial
  The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 44.
  
  > look at the diary
  Restore failed.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a shiny silver sixpence
  a scrap of paper
  a purse (open)
  a stubby pencil
  an ink bottle
  a leather-bound diary
  a slightly charred instruction leaflet
  a heavy iron key
  
  > examine diary
  You examine the book. It seems to be a desk diary for the previous year. You flick through and notice that there are occasional entries in it, written in a distinctive, rather scholarly handwriting, and using green ink. The entries all seem to be mundane notes of when bills were paid. You pause for a moment at the entry for Tuesday 21st October 1862, which is heavily ringed in green ink, then you remember, this was old Lord Bellwater's birthday - he always gave each of the servants sixpence on this day.
  
  > Spin dial
  You step away from the desk and walk towards the fireplace.
  
  The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 86.
  
  > turn the dial to 90
  The dial settles on the number 90 with a slight "click!"
  
  > turn the dial to 10
  The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "click!"
  
  > turn the dial to 21
  The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "click!"
  
  > turn handle
  The handle turns smoothly and with a solid "clunk" the safe door swings open.
  
  > examine safe
  The safe has a heavy iron door. On it is a dial which turns freely either way. As it does so, the numbers engraved around its rim, line up with a pointer. The numbers are from 1 to 100. There is also a brass handle which looks as though it can be turned. The safe is open.
  
  In the safe are a sheet of crisp cream paper, a red pocketbook and a leather bag.
  
  > eat the paper
  (the scrap of paper)
  That's plainly inedible.
  
  > examine paper
  (the scrap of paper)
  The following is written on it in Elsie's spidery handwriting:
  
  Dear Bert. We may not get a chanse to talk privitly for a few days so Im righting this note and hope to give it to you in the garding. Last week I sined a paper for old lord B. He said you will get a lot of mony when he died. But the new lord B. is very angery about it. I dont now why he is angery with me but i fear he means to do me harm. If you are to get some mony maybe we can get marrid and I can give my notis to leave. I am a bit afrayd of new lord B. Try to meet me in the...
  
  At this point there is a heavy mark as though the pencil broke and, although there are some scratch marks, as though the writer tried to continue, nothing further can be read.
  
  > examine crisp paper
  You reach out and take the sheet of crisp cream paper.
  
  You examine the paper - it is a letter. You read it:
  
  Purdy and Jowett (Solicitors)
  3 Holborn Court
  London WC
  16th June 1863
  
  We talked last night over a few brandies at your club about your father's last will and testament.
  
  As we discussed, he asked me to draw up a new (and rather surprising) will, shortly before his sad decease. As I indicated to you, the will was properly drawn up by myself, was signed by your father and was witnessed by his butler and one of his chambermaids. There were two copies, one of which was kept by your father (and therefore came into your possession, as you explained to me) and the other retained by me as an office copy. This new will revoked your father's previous will, made some years ago, in which he had left everything to yourself.
  
  You have made a strong case to me that your father was losing his mind towards the end of his final illness and that this new will was therefore invalid. I have to say that I saw no sign of your father's loss of mental powers when I was with him, but I accept that you have been a good deal closer to him than me and that you are better placed to make that judgement. I also accept that some of the wording of the will could be taken to indicate an unbalanced mind. I fully understand your reluctance to challenge the will through the legal process, which would require giving evidence in court of your father's worsening mental state. I appreciate that you do not wish to dishonour his memory by dragging these details through the courts.
  
  In view of all the above considerations I have decided to accept your account of your father's dementure and that it will be for the best for us to destroy all copies of the recent will and to abide by the terms of the earlier will. I therefore enclose the office copy of the recent will and leave it for you to dispose of it as you see fit. I have no further record of the will and will treat its existence as a matter of client confidentiality between the two of us.
  
  You also mentioned to me that you have some sort of hold over the butler which will guarantee his absolute silence and loyalty. However, I am more concerned about the an unhappy "accident", which occurred to the chambermaid, who was the other witness to the will. You indicated that her fortuitous death was not quite so accidental as you would like people to believe. I cannot help but draw the conclusion that you had some part in her death. Whilst I would find such behaviour personally unacceptable, I shall, of course, be bound by my professional confidentiality in my dealings with you as a client.
  
  On a separate matter, you kindly mentioned in our conversation that I have performed a great many services for your family over the years, often without any direct remuneration from your father and that you intended to pay me a modest sum in recompense for these services. I think you mentioned a sum in the region of 5000 pounds, which I consider to be most generous and look forward to receiving.
  
  Your solicitor and loyal friend.
  
  Although this letter makes mention of an enclosed copy of a will, there is nothing of that sort attached to the letter.
  
  > take pocketbook
  Taken.
  
  > Examine pocketbook
  You flick through it and realise it is a diary for this year. A number of the daily entries have been filled in in black ink. You could look up a particular date in the pocketbook. - "Look up dd/mm in the red pocketbook".
  
  > take the bag
  Conscious that you are picking up more money than you have ever seen in your life, you take the leather bag.
  
  > open the bag
  You open the leather bag, revealing a hundred guineas.
  
  > look up tristram shandy in index cards
  You find a card with the entry:
  
  Shelf number: 715.
  
  > Examine volume 715
  You step away from the desk and walk over to the bookshelves.
  
  You select volume number 715 and notice that its title is "Tristram Shandy". As you pull the book out from the shelf, you realise that it is connected to some sort of mechanism: there is a mechanical "click" and a part of the shelf swings open to reveal a secret compartment.
  
  > examine the compartment
  A section of the bookshelf has swung open to reveal a secret compartment.
  
  In the secret compartment are a sheet of heavy legal paper and a roll of parchment.
  
  > look at the legal paper
  You reach out for the crisp sheet of paper.
  
  You read the paper:
  
  This is the last will and testament of Lord Horace Bellwater.
  
  I Horace Bellwater of Cadogan Square London hereby revoke all former wills made by me. I appoint the firm of Purdy and Jowett (solicitors) as the executors of this my will. With regards to my wastrel of a son, James Bellwater, he has received a great deal of my fortune during my lifetime and has squandered it on drinking and gambling. It is therefore my wish that he receives a legacy of exactly one penny of English money and I hope he spends it wisely. The entire residue of my property, including real estate, possessions, investments and cash, I leave to my groom Bert Smith on condition that he promises to take good care of my horse. Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of George Dewhurst and Elsie Browning. Signed: Horace Bellwater.
  
  > examine the parchment
  You unroll the parchment and examine it. It loooks like the one depicted in the background of the painting of Lord Bellwater, above the fireplace. At the top is a picture of the coat of arms of Bellwater similar to the one carved above the fire. Below is a brief family tree of the Bellwaters, then a kind of poem:
  
  When the true-hearted lion's hard-pressed;
  Twice the same for the star of your dreams;
  The bell just once, it is stressed,
  And the water the same, as it seems.
  The name of Bellwater, under the shield,
  Will give way to whatever you must have revealed.
  
  > look at the painting
  You turn from the bookshelves and walk towards the fireplace.
  
  It is a full length portrait of Lord Horace Bellwater in his younger days, depicted as standing in front of this fireplace in his study. A couple of golden retrievers are curled up at his feet. In the background of the picture is some sort of scroll, showing a family pedigree. The painting is currently hinged out from the wall.
  
  > look at fireplace
  The fireplace consists of a stone surround, surmounted by a carved family crest of the Bellwaters. In the hearth a few embers glow a dull red amongst the pile of ashes. Above the fireplace hangs a painting of Lord Horace Bellwater.
  
  > look at the crest
  The coat of arms is carved into the stone lintel above the fireplace. It consists of a shield, divided into four quarters. In the quarters are heraldic depictions of a bell, waves (perhaps representing water), a lion, and a star, respectively. Above the shield is carved a knight's helmet: below, is a carved scroll with the name "Bellwater".
  
  > Press lion
  You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny movement of the stone under your fingers.
  
  > press Bellwater
  (Lord Bellwater's will)
  Nothing obvious happens.
  
  > press the water
  As you press the waves, You feel a definite movement of the stone beneath your finger and the scroll section, below the shield springs open, leaving a narrow slot in the stonework.
  
  > look at the slot
  A narrow horizontal slot has opened up in the stone of the fireplace.
  
  In the narrow horizontal slot are a flimsy sheet of paper and a sheet of grey notepaper.
  
  > take flimsy
  A little hesitantly, you take the flimsy sheet of paper.
  
  > read the flimsy
  It appears to be a rough copy of a letter, scribbled in pencil on cheap paper. Presumably a neat copy was later made from it.
  
  Thank you for your letter and your acceptance of our arrangement. I have decided not to destroy the two copies immediately but I have put them where they cannot be found. I have also placed your letter in an extremely safe place. That, too, I am keeping, just in case you should get cold feet about our arrangement. I believe that what we have done is honest and reasonable but, if you should suddenly decide to view it otherwise, the letter would make your part very plain. Once the formalities have been completed for my inheritance and assuming that goes unchallenged, I shall destroy both the letter and the copies of the will.
  
  Regarding my part in the death of the servant, I have to inform you that you are much mistaken. A rogue and a cad I may be, but a murderer I am not. Indeed I fear I may have given you too much of my favourite brandy on Monday evening, leaving you not quite in command of your senses. In case you doubt my veracity, the exact situation is that I entered my study to see Dewhurst, my butler trying to force his attentions on the girl. He had his back to me and didn't see me enter the room. The girl was struggling to get away from him and he seemed to lose his temper and giver her an almightly shove. She fell back against the open window and toppled over the sill.
  
  I was very consoling to poor Dewhurst and agreed that I would not call in the police, so long as he signed a confession, on the undertanding that if I am completely satisfied with his service for the next five years, I shall destroy the confession.
  
  With regard to the other matter that you mention, as soon as I have received the benefit of my inheritance, I shall be in a position to pay you for the past services that we discussed. The sum you mentioned would indeed be generous but I think I can offer something approaching that amount.
  
  James.
  
  > read the notepaper
  It reads as follows:
  
  16th June 1863.
  
  I, Robert William Dewhurst do make this sworn statement to Lord James Bellwater. On 15th June 1863, I came into my Lord's private study, where I found Elsie Browning, a female servant, polishing the windows. I have long held an affection for this girl and I tried to press my attentions on her. She struggled in my arms and I thought she was teasing me and I was all the more keen to embrace her. However, she then proceeded to slap my face, at which point I lost my temper and pushed her away from me. I did not know my own strength and she fell back, against the open window with such force that she lost her balance and fell out. I was filled with remorse and ran downstairs and out of the door to the front steps where she had landed, but it was all in vain, for she was quite dead from the fall.
  
  R. Dewhurst.
  
  Well you think that now you have amassed the evidence to avenge Elsie's murder and inherit a possible fortune for yourself, into the bargain! Scotland Yard is only about a mile away - a brisk walk will get you there in no time, and you can hand over your evidence to the Police.
  
  > open the door
  You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the door.
  
  In your indignation at the terrible events that you have uncovered, you move across the room rather hastily and somehow manage to barge against the pot with the aspidistra in it. It teeters on its stand...you try to steady it...it slips through your fingers. With a collossal CRASH, the pot smashes on the floor.
  
  There is a distant shout from the direction of Lord Bellwater's bedroom, across the landing and you hear it answered from somewhere else in the house.
  
  > go outside
  There is nowhere to go in that direction.
  
  You can hear the sound of heavy feet hastening up the staircase.
  
  > close door
  That's already closed.
  
  You hear another set of footsteps coming down the staircase from the upper parts of the house, and somebody shouting about a burglar.
  
  > lock the door
  (with the heavy iron key)
  
  The key turns smoothly in the lock and you hear a faint but satisfying click as the lock engages.
  
  The sounds of running footsteps converge outside the door of the study. You recognise Dewhurst's voice saying "He's in there, my Lord."
  
  > open the window
  You leave the door and walk over to the window.
  
  That's already open.
  
  You hear Lord Bellwater's voice, outside the door, saying "Dewhurst, you guard the door! My father used to keep his old service revolver in a drawer in the library. I'll go and get that, then we'll flush the rat out!"
  
  > go outside
  You climb out through the window onto the sill.
  
  You are standing balanced on the narrow ledge. To keep yourself from falling, you have to cling on to the ivy which grows on the house wall. It is a long way down to the pavement below!
  
  You hear the sound of someone rattling the door handle and saying "He's got a key and has locked it from the inside!"
  
  > climb the ivy
  You grab a handful of the ivy in each hand and test its strength. It doesn't feel stong enough to allow you to climb up.
  
  You can hear some muted discussion outside the door.