ClubFloyd Transcript: Lord Bellwater's Secret by Sam Gordon
As played on ifMUD on December 2, 2007

The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each week at a pre-arranged time, a group of people meet online to cooperatively play a game of interactive fiction. You can see the full list of ClubFloyd transcripts by clicking here.

Below is a transcript of Lord Bellwater's Secret by Sam Gordon. Lord Bellwater's Secret was originally released as part of the 2007 IF Competition, where it took third place. You can learn more about the game, including how to download it, by visiting Baf's Guide.

A Special Note: Floyd, at the time of posting, is still having some random issues with crashing, hence the obsessive saving and a few unexpected restarts. This is being looked into.

WARNING! Below you will find a transcript of people playing this game, and it goes without saying that the transcript is full of spoilers. So, if you've never played it, and think you might like to at some point, I do not recommend reading any further. Instead, you might want to return to the interactive fiction page.

Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | As an aspiring groom in Lord Bellwater's household, recklessness has
Floyd | not been one of the qualities for which you, Bert Smith, would wish to
Floyd | be noted. However, desperate times call for desperate measures, and
Floyd | here you are in the early hours of the morning of Saturday 20th June
Floyd | 1863, undertaking the most reckless venture of your life. Instead of

Floyd | retiring to your bed, in your lodgings in the mews at the back of Lord
Floyd | Bellwater's town house, you sneaked into the house and hid in the
Floyd | cellar until the household had gone to bed. You sidled into the
Floyd | butler's pantry and took the key to the master's study and now find
Floyd | yourself creeping about like a common thief. You hear the clock in the
Floyd | hall strike one o'clock as you carefully pull the study door closed

Floyd | behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Lord Bellwater's Secret
Floyd | An Interactive Fiction by Sam Gordon

Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 070929 / Inform 7 build 4X60 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/11N)
Floyd |
Floyd | Lord Bellwater's study
Floyd | The study is a well-proportioned, rectangular room. The door, of finely
Floyd | polished oak, leads back onto the landing, to the west; a broad sash

Floyd | window in the opposite wall looks out over Cadogan Square. The heavy
Floyd | velvet curtains are drawn back and a pale moonlight falls into the
Floyd | room, illuminating a heavy mahogany desk in its centre. To the right of
Floyd | the window is a small table.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the north side of the room is a stone fireplace with a dull red glow

Floyd | still coming from the remains of the coals, burning among the ashes: a
Floyd | shadowy oil painting hangs above it. To the left of the fireplace is a
Floyd | wooden stand, supporting an ornate porcelain pot, in which a leafy
Floyd | plant is growing. The south wall is covered, floor to ceiling, with
Floyd | bookshelves, laden with hundreds, if not thousands, of leather-bound
Floyd | volumes, in neat rows.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a heavy iron key
Floyd |
Floyd | It has been a difficult time, with the two deaths happening in one

Floyd | week. Old Lord Bellwater had been ill for some time and no-one was
Floyd | really surprised when he passed peacefully away last Friday or even
Floyd | when his son, who had been noticeably absent throughout the old man's
Floyd | illness, suddenly turned up the following day and took over the role of
Floyd | master of the house. Of course he inherits the title, and presumably
Floyd | everything else, as his father's only son.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are Bert Smith, a groom in the service of Lord Bellwater. You are
Floyd | currently wearing a brown jacket and corduroy trousers.
Floyd |
Floyd | The real blow was the tragic death of your sweetheart, Elsie Browning,
Floyd | on Monday. She was one of Lord Bellwater's housemaids, and she
Floyd | inexplicably fell from the study window in broad daylight and landed on

Floyd | the pavement outside. They say she must have died instantly and felt no
Floyd | pain; that it was a terrible accident; that no-one will ever know for
Floyd | sure how she managed to fall out of a window. For you it has just been
Floyd | a terrible shock: you were young and in love, and you planned to marry
Floyd | as soon as you had saved enough money. the strange thing was that you
Floyd | had seen her briefly on the morning of her death. She had been shaking

Floyd | out some dusters in the back garden and whispered to you that she had
Floyd | some important news to tell you, but she'd wait until you were alone.
Floyd | That was the last time you saw her alive.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the door and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |
Floyd | You examine the painting carefully. It is a full length portrait of
Floyd | Lord Horace Bellwater in his younger days, depicted as standing in
Floyd | front of this fireplace in his study. A couple of golden retrievers are
Floyd | curled up at his feet. In the background of the picture is some sort of

Floyd | scroll, showing a family pedigree.
Floyd |
Floyd | Despite all the talk of tragic accidents, you are sure that there is
Floyd | something sinister about Elsie's death. Somehow, it has to be connected
Floyd | with the Bellwaters - either the old man or his son - and if the answer
Floyd | is anywhere, it is probably in this study, the room from which she

Floyd | fell.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the oil painting)
Floyd | It is a full length portrait of Lord Horace Bellwater in his younger
Floyd | days, depicted as standing in front of this fireplace in his study. A

Floyd | couple of golden retrievers are curled up at his feet. In the
Floyd | background of the picture is some sort of scroll, showing a family
Floyd | pedigree.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a full length portrait of Lord Horace Bellwater in his younger
Floyd | days, depicted as standing in front of this fireplace in his study. A
Floyd | couple of golden retrievers are curled up at his feet. In the
Floyd | background of the picture is some sort of scroll, showing a family

Floyd | pedigree.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the bookshelves.
Floyd |
Floyd | The entire wall is lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves, stacked with
Floyd | books - there must be over a thousand volumes here, all arranged neatly

Floyd | on the shelves, in groups of similarly-sized books. Looking along the
Floyd | shelves, you can see that each volume has a tiny hand-written label on
Floyd | its spine, with a number on it. The entire set of books seems to be
Floyd | numbered from 1 to 1200. You could select a particular book - "take
Floyd | volume 200", for instance.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to store:

Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | This is the key that you took from Mr Catchpole's butler's pantry. It
Floyd | was easy to identify because it was hanging on a hook labelled "Study".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You select volume number 374 and carefully take it down from its shelf.
Floyd | It is a book called Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Floyd |

Floyd | You open the book and read the first few sentences. A tear comes to
Floyd | your eye as you think of yourself with no fortune and now no prospect
Floyd | of marriage. However, the book does not seem to help with the task in
Floyd | hand and you return it to its place on the shelf.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn from the bookshelves and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |
Floyd | You try to move the painting and find that it is hinged to the wall so
Floyd | that it swings out like a door, revealing what is evidently a safe, set

Floyd | into the wall behind it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The safe has a heavy iron door. On it is a dial which turns freely
Floyd | either way. As it does so, the numbers engraved around its rim, line up
Floyd | with a pointer. The numbers are from 1 to 100. There is also a brass
Floyd | handle which looks as though it can be turned.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The fireplace consists of a stone surround, surmounted by a carved
Floyd | family crest of the Bellwaters. In the hearth a few embers glow a dull
Floyd | red amongst the pile of ashes. Above the fireplace hangs a painting of
Floyd | Lord Horace Bellwater.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It looks as though someone has been burning papers in the fireplace.
Floyd | However, they are all completely burnt beyond recognition with the
Floyd | exception of a slightly charred printed leaflet, which you rescue from
Floyd | the fire.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The leaflet is a bit charred, but still readable:
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |           Acme patented wall safe. Instructions for use.
Floyd |
Floyd | The safe will have been set up with a code consisting of three numbers
Floyd | (each between 1 and 100). These numbers should NEVER be written down
Floyd | but must be committed to memory. When the safe is first installed, it

Floyd | is advisable to select three numbers that are easily memorable. For
Floyd | instance, they might be selected for a memorable date. Someone who
Floyd | remembers the Battle of Waterloo (which took place on 18th June 1815)
Floyd | might choose the numbers 15, 6, 18, which are the year, month and day
Floyd | of the battle.
Floyd |

Floyd | To open the safe, proceed as follows:
Floyd |
Floyd |  1. Spin the dial so that the mechanism is reset.
Floyd |  2. Turn the dial to the first number (eg 15)
Floyd |  3. Turn the dial to the second number (eg 6)
Floyd |  4. Turn the dial to the third number (eg 18)

Floyd |  5. Turn the handle
Floyd |
Floyd | The door will now open.
Floyd |
Floyd | After closing the door, spin the dial once again to ensure that the
Floyd | safe is locked.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 15 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 6 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 18 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 86.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 15 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 6 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 18 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a full length portrait of Lord Horace Bellwater in his younger
Floyd | days, depicted as standing in front of this fireplace in his study. A
Floyd | couple of golden retrievers are curled up at his feet. In the

Floyd | background of the picture is some sort of scroll, showing a family
Floyd | pedigree. The painting is currently hinged out from the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a full length portrait of Lord Horace Bellwater in his younger
Floyd | days, depicted as standing in front of this fireplace in his study. A
Floyd | couple of golden retrievers are curled up at his feet. In the
Floyd | background of the picture is some sort of scroll, showing a family
Floyd | pedigree. The painting is currently hinged out from the wall.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a full length portrait of Lord Horace Bellwater in his younger
Floyd | days, depicted as standing in front of this fireplace in his study. A
Floyd | couple of golden retrievers are curled up at his feet. In the

Floyd | background of the picture is some sort of scroll, showing a family
Floyd | pedigree. The painting is currently hinged out from the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the oil painting)
Floyd | It is a full length portrait of Lord Horace Bellwater in his younger
Floyd | days, depicted as standing in front of this fireplace in his study. A
Floyd | couple of golden retrievers are curled up at his feet. In the
Floyd | background of the picture is some sort of scroll, showing a family
Floyd | pedigree. The painting is currently hinged out from the wall.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the bookshelves.
Floyd |
Floyd | You select volume number 200 and carefully take it down from its shelf.

Floyd | It is a book called Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott.
Floyd |
Floyd | It seems to be a story of love and honour. You feel a sense of pride
Floyd | that you are embarking on a similar adventure. However, the book does
Floyd | not seem to help with the task in hand and you return it to its place
Floyd | on the shelf.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn from the bookshelves and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |
Floyd | You reach out to touch the ashes. Although the fire has almost burnt
Floyd | out, the ashes are still too hot to handle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Lord Bellwater's study
Floyd | The study is a well-proportioned, rectangular room. The door, of finely
Floyd | polished oak, leads back onto the landing, to the west; a broad sash

Floyd | window in the opposite wall looks out over Cadogan Square. The heavy
Floyd | velvet curtains are drawn back and a pale moonlight falls into the
Floyd | room, illuminating a heavy mahogany desk in its centre. To the right of
Floyd | the window is a small table.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the north side of the room is a stone fireplace with a dull red glow

Floyd | still coming from the remains of the coals, burning among the ashes: a
Floyd | shadowy oil painting hangs above it. To the left of the fireplace is a
Floyd | wooden stand, supporting an ornate porcelain pot, in which a leafy
Floyd | plant is growing. The south wall is covered, floor to ceiling, with
Floyd | bookshelves, laden with hundreds, if not thousands, of leather-bound
Floyd | volumes, in neat rows.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a simple wooden stand for supporting a plant pot.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the simple wooden stand is a china pot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a china pot, about two feet high, decorated with Chinese designs.

Floyd |
Floyd | In the china pot is a leafy house plant.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The plant consists of a dense clump of dark green, rather fleshy leaves
Floyd | sprouting from a decorative china pot, and reaching almost to your head
Floyd | height. You think it is the sort of house plant known as an aspidistra.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The plant consists of a dense clump of dark green, rather fleshy leaves
Floyd | sprouting from a decorative china pot, and reaching almost to your head
Floyd | height. You think it is the sort of house plant known as an aspidistra.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You rummage among the leaves but find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is well-rooted in the pot and you can't get it out.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [moon -> noon]
Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's hardly portable.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | The dark blue velvet curtains hang from floor-to-ceiling on either side
Floyd | of the window. They are opened or closed by means of a cord which hangs
Floyd | down at the side of the curtains and passes over a pulley mechanism,

Floyd | incorporated into the curtain rail, above the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You pull the cord and the heavy curtains draw smoothly across the

Floyd | window, plunging the room into darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is now pitch dark in here!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is pitch dark, and you can't see a thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You pull the cord and draw back the heavy curtains. The room is once
Floyd | again lit by the pale light from outside.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lord Bellwater's study
Floyd | The study is a well-proportioned, rectangular room. The door, of finely

Floyd | polished oak, leads back onto the landing, to the west; a broad sash
Floyd | window in the opposite wall looks out over Cadogan Square. The heavy
Floyd | velvet curtains are drawn back and a pale moonlight falls into the
Floyd | room, illuminating a heavy mahogany desk in its centre. To the right of
Floyd | the window is a small table.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the north side of the room is a stone fireplace with a dull red glow
Floyd | still coming from the remains of the coals, burning among the ashes: a
Floyd | shadowy oil painting hangs above it. To the left of the fireplace is a
Floyd | wooden stand, supporting an ornate porcelain pot, in which a leafy
Floyd | plant is growing. The south wall is covered, floor to ceiling, with
Floyd | bookshelves, laden with hundreds, if not thousands, of leather-bound

Floyd | volumes, in neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a cardboard grocery box with some papers in it.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | As cautiously and quietly as you can, you open the window and look out.
Floyd | The sill is quite low - below your waist height - and you suppose it

Floyd | would be possible to fall out. You look down into the street below and
Floyd | are not sure if that is just a shadow on the pavement or is it a dark
Floyd | stain? You give an involuntary shudder.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is an ordinary cardboard box, of the type used by grocers for
Floyd | deliveries. A handwritten scrawl on its side says "Father's old papers
Floyd | - for disposal".

Floyd |
Floyd | In the cardboard grocery box are a leather-bound diary and an ink
Floyd | bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You reach out and take the leather-bound diary.
Floyd |
Floyd | You examine the book. It seems to be a desk diary for the previous

Floyd | year. You flick through and notice that there are occasional entries in
Floyd | it, written in a distinctive, rather scholarly handwriting, and using
Floyd | green ink. The entries all seem to be mundane notes of when bills were
Floyd | paid. You pause for a moment at the entry for Tuesday 21st October
Floyd | 1862, which is heavily ringed in green ink, then you remember, this was
Floyd | old Lord Bellwater's birthday - he always gave each of the servants

Floyd | sixpence on this day.
Floyd |
Floyd | As you flick through the diary, a newspaper cutting falls out and
Floyd | flutters to the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [newpaper -> newspaper]
Floyd | (the newspaper cutting)
Floyd | You examine the newspaper cutting - it seems to have been neatly cut

Floyd | from a recent copy of "The Times".
Floyd |
Floyd | You read it carefully:
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |              Judge's ruling in the Court of Chancery

Floyd |
Floyd | Readers of this newspaper will be aware of the recent case in the Court
Floyd | of Chancery, regarding the last will and testament of Sir Archibald
Floyd | Ramswell of Dorchester. We reported yesterday that Sir Archibald's will
Floyd | (in which he divided his entire estate between his housekeeper and his
Floyd | favourite horse) was being contested by his eldest son, the Honourable

Floyd | Percy Ramswell, who was not mentioned in the will.
Floyd |
Floyd | After due consideration, the judge (Mr Justice Williams) has now
Floyd | delivered his judgement. In summary, he has stated that under English
Floyd | law, a man may leave his property to any living person and is certainly
Floyd | under no obligation to leave anything to his children if he does not

Floyd | wish to do so. However, a horse is not a living person and is
Floyd | ineligible to be a beneficiary of a will. His ruling is therefore that
Floyd | in this case, the entire estate is to be given to the only living
Floyd | person mentioned in the will, namely the housekeeper. The judge
Floyd | informed the housekeeper that she is entitled to use her newly-acquired
Floyd | fortune as she wishes, but that she might see fit to make arrangements

Floyd | for the comfort of the horse. This comment caused a ripple of mirth in
Floyd | the courtroom, shared by all except The Honourable Percy Ramswell.
Floyd |
Floyd | On a separate legal point which had been raised on behalf of Sir
Floyd | Archibald's son, the judge ruled that the naming of a horse in one's
Floyd | will was not, in itself, evidence of insaninty, and that the terms of

Floyd | the will could not be contested on those grounds. "If everyone who
Floyd | preferred their horse to their son was to be certified insane,"
Floyd | declared Judge Williams, "There should not be asylums enough to house
Floyd | them all."
Floyd |
Floyd | The article has been ringed with green ink and a handwritten note in

Floyd | the margin reads "Capital idea. Maybe leave everything to a horse
Floyd | rather than to James!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the window, and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |
Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 4.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 62 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 47.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 62 with a slight "clunk!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is an old ink bottle. It looks almost empty, with dried ink caked

Floyd | around the lid. Even in this light, you can see that the ink was green
Floyd | in colour.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the window, and walk over to the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The desk is made of a dark wood - perhaps mahogany. It is very solidly
Floyd | built and its surface is polished to a high gloss.
Floyd |
Floyd | You pause for a moment and wonder how many hours Elsie spent polishing

Floyd | this desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the mahogany desk are an envelope, a copy of "The Times" newspaper
Floyd | and a wooden tray full of cards.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You examine the book. It seems to be a desk diary for the previous

Floyd | year. You flick through and notice that there are occasional entries in
Floyd | it, written in a distinctive, rather scholarly handwriting, and using
Floyd | green ink. The entries all seem to be mundane notes of when bills were
Floyd | paid. You pause for a moment at the entry for Tuesday 21st October
Floyd | 1862, which is heavily ringed in green ink, then you remember, this was
Floyd | old Lord Bellwater's birthday - he always gave each of the servants

Floyd | sixpence on this day.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You examine the envelope. It is addressed to "George Sutherland Esq.,
Floyd | Phillips and Sutherland Merchant bank, Cheapside, London EC." It is
Floyd | freshly written in black ink and in a handwriting which you take to
Floyd | belong to the younger Lord Bellwater. The envelope is not yet sealed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You open the envelope, revealing a letter.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You cautiously pick up the letter.
Floyd |

Floyd | Knowing that you are seriously breaching your employer's trust, you
Floyd | read the letter. It says:
Floyd |
Floyd | Cadogan Square
Floyd | 19th June 1863
Floyd |

Floyd | Dear Sutherland,
Floyd | I write with regard to my temporary financial embarrassment and the
Floyd | substantial loan which you have extended to me in recent years.
Floyd |
Floyd | I now find myself in a position to repay you in full. If you would care
Floyd | to call on me at my residence in Cadogan Square on Friday next at

Floyd | 10:30am I shall have the money ready for your receipt.
Floyd |
Floyd | I trust that you will now accept that your threats of bailiffs and
Floyd | bancruptcy were somewhat premature and I look forward to your full
Floyd | apology before I consider doing further business with your firm.
Floyd |

Floyd | Yours sincerely,
Floyd |
Floyd | James Bellwater
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a wooden tray full of index cards. You look through them and see
Floyd | that each card has got details of a book and its author. The cards are
Floyd | in alphabetical order so you could look up the name of a book in the
Floyd | card index.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You examine the newspaper. It is a copy of "The Times" from earlier
Floyd | this week (Monday 15th June 1863). You scan through it and find nothing
Floyd | interesting, except there is a notice in the "Deaths" section:

Floyd |
Floyd | We regret to announce the death of Lord Horace Bellwater of Cadogan
Floyd | Square, London. Lord Bellwater, who had been ill for some time, passed
Floyd | peacefully away on Friday 12th June 1863, at the age of 72. He is
Floyd | succeeded by his only son, Lord James Bellwater.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to store:

Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You step away from the desk and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |

Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 79.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 91 with a slight "clunk!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [kick -> pick]
Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | [scream -> cream]
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the mahogany desk are an envelope, a copy of "The Times" newspaper
Floyd | and a card index.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a wooden tray full of index cards. You look through them and see
Floyd | that each card has got details of a book and its author. The cards are
Floyd | in alphabetical order so you could look up the name of a book in the
Floyd | card index.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [small -> smell]
Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step away from the desk and walk over to the window.
Floyd |

Floyd | A heavy oak table stands beside the window. Its surface has been
Floyd | polished to a gleaming finish.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a cardboard grocery box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is an ordinary cardboard box, of the type used by grocers for
Floyd | deliveries. A handwritten scrawl on its side says "Father's old papers
Floyd | - for disposal".
Floyd |

Floyd | In the cardboard grocery box is an ink bottle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is an old ink bottle. It looks almost empty, with dried ink caked
Floyd | around the lid. Even in this light, you can see that the ink was green

Floyd | in colour.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | There's nothing suitable to drink here.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the window, and walk over to the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | You put the letter to Sutherland the banker into the envelope.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | If you go to the cardboard grocery box, the envelope will no longer be
Floyd | within your reach.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [what -> that]
Floyd | [are -> area]
Floyd | [for? -> for]
Floyd | [murder? -> murder]

Floyd | You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step away from the desk and walk over to the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | You put the envelope into the cardboard grocery box.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You examine the window. It is a sash window looking out over Cadogan
Floyd | Square. It is currently open.

Floyd |
Floyd | This was where Elsie must have been standing and was the last view she
Floyd | saw before....
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You jump up and down, but to no avail.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to store:
Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to jump.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look out.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to climb the outside.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You climb out through the window onto the sill.

Floyd |
Floyd | Window sill
Floyd | You are standing balanced on the narrow ledge. To keep yourself from
Floyd | falling, you have to cling on to the ivy which grows on the house wall.
Floyd | It is a long way down to the pavement below!
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You carefully examine the ivy growing around the window and find a
Floyd | woman's purse, nestling among the leaves. Leaning out cautiously from
Floyd | the ledge, you make a grab for the purse and take it from the ivy.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You recognise the purse as one belonging to Elsie. It is about three
Floyd | inches square - just big enough to hold a few coins - and is made of a
Floyd | soft fabric. It is drawn closed by a ribbon around its top edge.

Floyd | Perhaps it was caught in the ivy when Elsie fell from the window!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You open the purse, revealing a shiny silver sixpence, a stubby pencil

Floyd | and a scrap of paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You smell nothing unexpected.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You reach for the paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | With mounting excitement, you carefully smooth out the screwed-up piece
Floyd | of paper. The following is written on it in Elsie's spidery

Floyd | handwriting:
Floyd |
Floyd | Dear Bert. We may not get a chanse to talk privitly for a few days so
Floyd | Im righting this note and hope to give it to you in the garding. Last
Floyd | week I sined a paper for old lord B. He said you will get a lot of mony
Floyd | when he died. But the new lord B. is very angery about it. I dont now

Floyd | why he is angery with me but i fear he means to do me harm. If you are
Floyd | to get some mony maybe we can get marrid and I can give my notis to
Floyd | leave. I am a bit afrayd of new lord B. Try to meet me in the...
Floyd |
Floyd | At this point there is a heavy mark as though the pencil broke and,
Floyd | although there are some scratch marks, as though the writer tried to

Floyd | continue, nothing further can be read.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You clamber back through the window into the study.

Floyd |
Floyd | Lord Bellwater's study
Floyd | The study is a well-proportioned, rectangular room. The door, of finely
Floyd | polished oak, leads back onto the landing, to the west; a broad sash
Floyd | window in the opposite wall looks out over Cadogan Square. The heavy
Floyd | velvet curtains are drawn back and a pale moonlight falls into the

Floyd | room, illuminating a heavy mahogany desk in its centre. To the right of
Floyd | the window is a small table.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the north side of the room is a stone fireplace with a dull red glow
Floyd | still coming from the remains of the coals, burning among the ashes: a
Floyd | shadowy oil painting hangs above it. To the left of the fireplace is a

Floyd | wooden stand, supporting an ornate porcelain pot, in which a leafy
Floyd | plant is growing. The south wall is covered, floor to ceiling, with
Floyd | bookshelves, laden with hundreds, if not thousands, of leather-bound
Floyd | volumes, in neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the table is a cardboard grocery box (in which is an envelope (in

Floyd | which is a letter to Sutherland the banker)).
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a newspaper cutting here.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | I didn't understand that number.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a scrap of paper
Floyd |   a purse (open)
Floyd |     a shiny silver sixpence

Floyd |     a stubby pencil
Floyd |   an ink bottle
Floyd |   a leather-bound diary
Floyd |   a slightly charred instruction leaflet
Floyd |   a heavy iron key
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a stub of a pencil, about an inch long. The point has broken off
Floyd | so it would need sharpening before it could be used.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the window, and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |
Floyd | You reach out to touch the ashes. Although the fire has almost burnt

Floyd | out, the ashes are still too hot to handle.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a small silver coin.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It is a simple wooden stand for supporting a plant pot.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the simple wooden stand is a china pot.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [lot -> slot]
Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You need to be holding the shiny silver sixpence before you can put it
Floyd | into something else.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Those can't contain things.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to rub the scrap of paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You achieve nothing by this.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't, since the oak door is in the way.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You swing the door open and stand on the threshold, peering into the
Floyd | cool darkness of the landing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You pause on the threshold and consider abandoning your task. But then
Floyd | you remember Elsie. No, you owe it to her to continue...you turn and
Floyd | step back resolutely into the study.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You shut the door slowly, careful not to make any noise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You swing the door open and stand on the threshold, peering into the
Floyd | cool darkness of the landing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You shut the door slowly, careful not to make any noise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | This is the key that you took from Mr Catchpole's butler's pantry. It
Floyd | was easy to identify because it was hanging on a hook labelled "Study".
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to store:
Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the door and walk over to the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | The desk is made of a dark wood - perhaps mahogany. It is very solidly
Floyd | built and its surface is polished to a high gloss.

Floyd |
Floyd | On the mahogany desk are a copy of "The Times" newspaper and a card
Floyd | index.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step away from the desk and walk over to the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the window, and walk over to the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | You find nothing of interest.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step away from the desk and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |

Floyd | You find nothing of interest.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 7.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 1.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 91 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 59.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 91 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 19.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 91 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "clunk!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Which do you mean, a copy of "The Times" newspaper or the newspaper
Floyd | cutting?
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | [lions -> lion]

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the desk.

Floyd |
Floyd | You examine the newspaper. It is a copy of "The Times" from earlier
Floyd | this week (Monday 15th June 1863). You scan through it and find nothing
Floyd | interesting, except there is a notice in the "Deaths" section:
Floyd |
Floyd | We regret to announce the death of Lord Horace Bellwater of Cadogan

Floyd | Square, London. Lord Bellwater, who had been ill for some time, passed
Floyd | peacefully away on Friday 12th June 1863, at the age of 72. He is
Floyd | succeeded by his only son, Lord James Bellwater.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step away from the desk and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |
Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 24.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 63 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 6 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 15 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 44.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 91 with a slight "clunk!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle begins to turn but seems to meet some resistance.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (a copy of "The Times" newspaper)
Floyd | You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | You examine the newspaper. It is a copy of "The Times" from earlier

Floyd | this week (Monday 15th June 1863). You scan through it and find nothing
Floyd | interesting, except there is a notice in the "Deaths" section:
Floyd |
Floyd | We regret to announce the death of Lord Horace Bellwater of Cadogan
Floyd | Square, London. Lord Bellwater, who had been ill for some time, passed
Floyd | peacefully away on Friday 12th June 1863, at the age of 72. He is

Floyd | succeeded by his only son, Lord James Bellwater.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | As an aspiring groom in Lord Bellwater's household, recklessness has
Floyd | not been one of the qualities for which you, Bert Smith, would wish to

Floyd | be noted. However, desperate times call for desperate measures, and
Floyd | here you are in the early hours of the morning of Saturday 20th June
Floyd | 1863, undertaking the most reckless venture of your life. Instead of
Floyd | retiring to your bed, in your lodgings in the mews at the back of Lord
Floyd | Bellwater's town house, you sneaked into the house and hid in the
Floyd | cellar until the household had gone to bed. You sidled into the

Floyd | butler's pantry and took the key to the master's study and now find
Floyd | yourself creeping about like a common thief. You hear the clock in the
Floyd | hall strike one o'clock as you carefully pull the study door closed
Floyd | behind you.
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Lord Bellwater's Secret

Floyd | An Interactive Fiction by Sam Gordon
Floyd | Release 1 / Serial number 070929 / Inform 7 build 4X60 (I6/v6.31 lib
Floyd | 6/11N)
Floyd |
Floyd | Lord Bellwater's study
Floyd | The study is a well-proportioned, rectangular room. The door, of finely

Floyd | polished oak, leads back onto the landing, to the west; a broad sash
Floyd | window in the opposite wall looks out over Cadogan Square. The heavy
Floyd | velvet curtains are drawn back and a pale moonlight falls into the
Floyd | room, illuminating a heavy mahogany desk in its centre. To the right of
Floyd | the window is a small table.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the north side of the room is a stone fireplace with a dull red glow
Floyd | still coming from the remains of the coals, burning among the ashes: a
Floyd | shadowy oil painting hangs above it. To the left of the fireplace is a
Floyd | wooden stand, supporting an ornate porcelain pot, in which a leafy
Floyd | plant is growing. The south wall is covered, floor to ceiling, with
Floyd | bookshelves, laden with hundreds, if not thousands, of leather-bound

Floyd | volumes, in neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to load:

Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   an ink bottle

Floyd |   a leather-bound diary
Floyd |   a slightly charred instruction leaflet
Floyd |   a heavy iron key
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to load:

Floyd | Restore failed.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to load:

Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You are carrying:
Floyd |   a shiny silver sixpence
Floyd |   a scrap of paper
Floyd |   a purse (open)
Floyd |     a stubby pencil

Floyd |   an ink bottle
Floyd |   a leather-bound diary
Floyd |   a slightly charred instruction leaflet
Floyd |   a heavy iron key
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You examine the book. It seems to be a desk diary for the previous
Floyd | year. You flick through and notice that there are occasional entries in
Floyd | it, written in a distinctive, rather scholarly handwriting, and using

Floyd | green ink. The entries all seem to be mundane notes of when bills were
Floyd | paid. You pause for a moment at the entry for Tuesday 21st October
Floyd | 1862, which is heavily ringed in green ink, then you remember, this was
Floyd | old Lord Bellwater's birthday - he always gave each of the servants
Floyd | sixpence on this day.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the door and walk over to the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | You examine the newspaper. It is a copy of "The Times" from earlier

Floyd | this week (Monday 15th June 1863). You scan through it and find nothing
Floyd | interesting, except there is a notice in the "Deaths" section:
Floyd |
Floyd | We regret to announce the death of Lord Horace Bellwater of Cadogan
Floyd | Square, London. Lord Bellwater, who had been ill for some time, passed
Floyd | peacefully away on Friday 12th June 1863, at the age of 72. He is

Floyd | succeeded by his only son, Lord James Bellwater.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step away from the desk and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |
Floyd | The dial spins round randomly. Now it points to 86.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 90 with a slight "click!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 10 with a slight "click!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The dial settles on the number 21 with a slight "click!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The handle turns smoothly and with a solid "clunk" the safe door swings
Floyd | open.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The safe has a heavy iron door. On it is a dial which turns freely
Floyd | either way. As it does so, the numbers engraved around its rim, line up
Floyd | with a pointer. The numbers are from 1 to 100. There is also a brass
Floyd | handle which looks as though it can be turned. The safe is open.

Floyd |
Floyd | In the safe are a sheet of crisp cream paper, a red pocketbook and a
Floyd | leather bag.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to store:
Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | (the scrap of paper)
Floyd | That's plainly inedible.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't take multiple objects like that.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the scrap of paper)
Floyd | The following is written on it in Elsie's spidery handwriting:
Floyd |
Floyd | Dear Bert. We may not get a chanse to talk privitly for a few days so

Floyd | Im righting this note and hope to give it to you in the garding. Last
Floyd | week I sined a paper for old lord B. He said you will get a lot of mony
Floyd | when he died. But the new lord B. is very angery about it. I dont now
Floyd | why he is angery with me but i fear he means to do me harm. If you are
Floyd | to get some mony maybe we can get marrid and I can give my notis to
Floyd | leave. I am a bit afrayd of new lord B. Try to meet me in the...

Floyd |
Floyd | At this point there is a heavy mark as though the pencil broke and,
Floyd | although there are some scratch marks, as though the writer tried to
Floyd | continue, nothing further can be read.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You reach out and take the sheet of crisp cream paper.
Floyd |
Floyd | You examine the paper - it is a letter. You read it:
Floyd |

Floyd | Purdy and Jowett (Solicitors)
Floyd | 3 Holborn Court
Floyd | London WC
Floyd | 16th June 1863
Floyd |
Floyd | Personal and in confidence

Floyd |
Floyd | Dear James
Floyd |
Floyd | We talked last night over a few brandies at your club about your
Floyd | father's last will and testament.
Floyd |

Floyd | As we discussed, he asked me to draw up a new (and rather surprising)
Floyd | will, shortly before his sad decease. As I indicated to you, the will
Floyd | was properly drawn up by myself, was signed by your father and was
Floyd | witnessed by his butler and one of his chambermaids. There were two
Floyd | copies, one of which was kept by your father (and therefore came into
Floyd | your possession, as you explained to me) and the other retained by me

Floyd | as an office copy. This new will revoked your father's previous will,
Floyd | made some years ago, in which he had left everything to yourself.
Floyd |
Floyd | You have made a strong case to me that your father was losing his mind
Floyd | towards the end of his final illness and that this new will was
Floyd | therefore invalid. I have to say that I saw no sign of your father's

Floyd | loss of mental powers when I was with him, but I accept that you have
Floyd | been a good deal closer to him than me and that you are better placed
Floyd | to make that judgement. I also accept that some of the wording of the
Floyd | will could be taken to indicate an unbalanced mind. I fully understand
Floyd | your reluctance to challenge the will through the legal process, which
Floyd | would require giving evidence in court of your father's worsening

Floyd | mental state. I appreciate that you do not wish to dishonour his memory
Floyd | by dragging these details through the courts.
Floyd |
Floyd | In view of all the above considerations I have decided to accept your
Floyd | account of your father's dementure and that it will be for the best for
Floyd | us to destroy all copies of the recent will and to abide by the terms

Floyd | of the earlier will. I therefore enclose the office copy of the recent
Floyd | will and leave it for you to dispose of it as you see fit. I have no
Floyd | further record of the will and will treat its existence as a matter of
Floyd | client confidentiality between the two of us.
Floyd |
Floyd | You also mentioned to me that you have some sort of hold over the

Floyd | butler which will guarantee his absolute silence and loyalty. However,
Floyd | I am more concerned about the an unhappy "accident", which occurred to
Floyd | the chambermaid, who was the other witness to the will. You indicated
Floyd | that her fortuitous death was not quite so accidental as you would like
Floyd | people to believe. I cannot help but draw the conclusion that you had
Floyd | some part in her death. Whilst I would find such behaviour personally

Floyd | unacceptable, I shall, of course, be bound by my professional
Floyd | confidentiality in my dealings with you as a client.
Floyd |
Floyd | On a separate matter, you kindly mentioned in our conversation that I
Floyd | have performed a great many services for your family over the years,
Floyd | often without any direct remuneration from your father and that you

Floyd | intended to pay me a modest sum in recompense for these services. I
Floyd | think you mentioned a sum in the region of 5000 pounds, which I
Floyd | consider to be most generous and look forward to receiving.
Floyd |
Floyd | Yours sincerely
Floyd |

Floyd | Roger Jowett
Floyd | Your solicitor and loyal friend.
Floyd |
Floyd | Although this letter makes mention of an enclosed copy of a will, there
Floyd | is nothing of that sort attached to the letter.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You flick through it and realise it is a diary for this year. A number

Floyd | of the daily entries have been filled in in black ink. You could look
Floyd | up a particular date in the pocketbook. - "Look up dd/mm in the red
Floyd | pocketbook".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Conscious that you are picking up more money than you have ever seen in
Floyd | your life, you take the leather bag.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Thursday 21st October
Floyd | Father's birthday. Worth trying to touch him for a few quid.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You open the leather bag, revealing a hundred guineas.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | You examine the newspaper. It is a copy of "The Times" from earlier
Floyd | this week (Monday 15th June 1863). You scan through it and find nothing

Floyd | interesting, except there is a notice in the "Deaths" section:
Floyd |
Floyd | We regret to announce the death of Lord Horace Bellwater of Cadogan
Floyd | Square, London. Lord Bellwater, who had been ill for some time, passed
Floyd | peacefully away on Friday 12th June 1863, at the age of 72. He is
Floyd | succeeded by his only son, Lord James Bellwater.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Monday 15th June
Floyd | Fate seemed to hand me opportunity with servant girl. Meet Roger at

Floyd | club tonight at 8. Maybe do a deal.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Friday 12th June

Floyd | Well, the old man has died at last! Another stroke of luck!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Saturday 13th June

Floyd | Bit of a shock to find will. Wonder who else knows about it? Dewhurst
Floyd | the butler? Servant girl?
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Sunday 14th June
Floyd | Cleared out study. Must remember the secret of the bookcase! "Tristram
Floyd | Shandy" is the book to read. Almost forgot the thing in the fireplace.
Floyd | The old man was always gleeful that the poem gives it away. Took me
Floyd | ages to remember you have to press the helmet first, though.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to look up.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You find a card with the entry:
Floyd |

Floyd | Tristram Shandy
Floyd | by Jonathan Swift
Floyd | Shelf number: 715.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You step away from the desk and walk over to the bookshelves.
Floyd |
Floyd | You select volume number 715 and notice that its title is "Tristram
Floyd | Shandy". As you pull the book out from the shelf, you realise that it

Floyd | is connected to some sort of mechanism: there is a mechanical "click"
Floyd | and a part of the shelf swings open to reveal a secret compartment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A section of the bookshelf has swung open to reveal a secret
Floyd | compartment.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the secret compartment are a sheet of heavy legal paper and a roll

Floyd | of parchment.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You reach out for the crisp sheet of paper.

Floyd |
Floyd | You read the paper:
Floyd |
Floyd | This is the last will and testament of Lord Horace Bellwater.
Floyd |
Floyd | I Horace Bellwater of Cadogan Square London hereby revoke all former

Floyd | wills made by me. I appoint the firm of Purdy and Jowett (solicitors)
Floyd | as the executors of this my will. With regards to my wastrel of a son,
Floyd | James Bellwater, he has received a great deal of my fortune during my
Floyd | lifetime and has squandered it on drinking and gambling. It is
Floyd | therefore my wish that he receives a legacy of exactly one penny of
Floyd | English money and I hope he spends it wisely. The entire residue of my

Floyd | property, including real estate, possessions, investments and cash, I
Floyd | leave to my groom Bert Smith on condition that he promises to take good
Floyd | care of my horse. Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of George
Floyd | Dewhurst and Elsie Browning. Signed: Horace Bellwater.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You unroll the parchment and examine it. It loooks like the one
Floyd | depicted in the background of the painting of Lord Bellwater, above the
Floyd | fireplace. At the top is a picture of the coat of arms of Bellwater
Floyd | similar to the one carved above the fire. Below is a brief family tree

Floyd | of the Bellwaters, then a kind of poem:
Floyd |
Floyd | When the true-hearted lion's hard-pressed;
Floyd | Twice the same for the star of your dreams;
Floyd | The bell just once, it is stressed,
Floyd | And the water the same, as it seems.

Floyd | The name of Bellwater, under the shield,
Floyd | Will give way to whatever you must have revealed.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to store:
Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn from the bookshelves and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |
Floyd | It is a full length portrait of Lord Horace Bellwater in his younger
Floyd | days, depicted as standing in front of this fireplace in his study. A

Floyd | couple of golden retrievers are curled up at his feet. In the
Floyd | background of the picture is some sort of scroll, showing a family
Floyd | pedigree. The painting is currently hinged out from the wall.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The fireplace consists of a stone surround, surmounted by a carved
Floyd | family crest of the Bellwaters. In the hearth a few embers glow a dull
Floyd | red amongst the pile of ashes. Above the fireplace hangs a painting of
Floyd | Lord Horace Bellwater.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The coat of arms is carved into the stone lintel above the fireplace.
Floyd | It consists of a shield, divided into four quarters. In the quarters

Floyd | are heraldic depictions of a bell, waves (perhaps representing water),
Floyd | a lion, and a star, respectively. Above the shield is carved a knight's
Floyd | helmet: below, is a carved scroll with the name "Bellwater".
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny
Floyd | movement of the stone under your fingers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny
Floyd | movement of the stone under your fingers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny
Floyd | movement of the stone under your fingers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny
Floyd | movement of the stone under your fingers.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny
Floyd | movement of the stone under your fingers.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Sunday 14th June
Floyd | Cleared out study. Must remember the secret of the bookcase! "Tristram
Floyd | Shandy" is the book to read. Almost forgot the thing in the fireplace.

Floyd | The old man was always gleeful that the poem gives it away. Took me
Floyd | ages to remember you have to press the helmet first, though.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (Lord Bellwater's will)
Floyd | Nothing obvious happens.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny
Floyd | movement of the stone under your fingers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny
Floyd | movement of the stone under your fingers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny
Floyd | movement of the stone under your fingers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny
Floyd | movement of the stone under your fingers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You press the coat of arms and think you might have felt a tiny
Floyd | movement of the stone under your fingers.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | As you press the waves, You feel a definite movement of the stone
Floyd | beneath your finger and the scroll section, below the shield springs
Floyd | open, leaving a narrow slot in the stonework.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A narrow horizontal slot has opened up in the stone of the fireplace.
Floyd |
Floyd | In the narrow horizontal slot are a flimsy sheet of paper and a sheet
Floyd | of grey notepaper.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A little hesitantly, you take the flimsy sheet of paper.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to store:

Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It appears to be a rough copy of a letter, scribbled in pencil on cheap

Floyd | paper. Presumably a neat copy was later made from it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Dear Roger
Floyd |
Floyd | Thank you for your letter and your acceptance of our arrangement. I
Floyd | have decided not to destroy the two copies immediately but I have put

Floyd | them where they cannot be found. I have also placed your letter in an
Floyd | extremely safe place. That, too, I am keeping, just in case you should
Floyd | get cold feet about our arrangement. I believe that what we have done
Floyd | is honest and reasonable but, if you should suddenly decide to view it
Floyd | otherwise, the letter would make your part very plain. Once the
Floyd | formalities have been completed for my inheritance and assuming that

Floyd | goes unchallenged, I shall destroy both the letter and the copies of
Floyd | the will.
Floyd |
Floyd | Regarding my part in the death of the servant, I have to inform you
Floyd | that you are much mistaken. A rogue and a cad I may be, but a murderer
Floyd | I am not. Indeed I fear I may have given you too much of my favourite

Floyd | brandy on Monday evening, leaving you not quite in command of your
Floyd | senses. In case you doubt my veracity, the exact situation is that I
Floyd | entered my study to see Dewhurst, my butler trying to force his
Floyd | attentions on the girl. He had his back to me and didn't see me enter
Floyd | the room. The girl was struggling to get away from him and he seemed to
Floyd | lose his temper and giver her an almightly shove. She fell back against

Floyd | the open window and toppled over the sill.
Floyd |
Floyd | I was very consoling to poor Dewhurst and agreed that I would not call
Floyd | in the police, so long as he signed a confession, on the undertanding
Floyd | that if I am completely satisfied with his service for the next five
Floyd | years, I shall destroy the confession.

Floyd |
Floyd | With regard to the other matter that you mention, as soon as I have
Floyd | received the benefit of my inheritance, I shall be in a position to pay
Floyd | you for the past services that we discussed. The sum you mentioned
Floyd | would indeed be generous but I think I can offer something approaching
Floyd | that amount.

Floyd |
Floyd | Yours sincererly
Floyd |
Floyd | James.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You reach out and take a sheet of grey notepaper.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | It reads as follows:
Floyd |
Floyd | 16th June 1863.
Floyd |

Floyd | I, Robert William Dewhurst do make this sworn statement to Lord James
Floyd | Bellwater. On 15th June 1863, I came into my Lord's private study,
Floyd | where I found Elsie Browning, a female servant, polishing the windows.
Floyd | I have long held an affection for this girl and I tried to press my
Floyd | attentions on her. She struggled in my arms and I thought she was
Floyd | teasing me and I was all the more keen to embrace her. However, she

Floyd | then proceeded to slap my face, at which point I lost my temper and
Floyd | pushed her away from me. I did not know my own strength and she fell
Floyd | back, against the open window with such force that she lost her balance
Floyd | and fell out. I was filled with remorse and ran downstairs and out of
Floyd | the door to the front steps where she had landed, but it was all in
Floyd | vain, for she was quite dead from the fall.

Floyd |
Floyd | Signed
Floyd |
Floyd | R. Dewhurst.
Floyd |
Floyd | Well you think that now you have amassed the evidence to avenge Elsie's

Floyd | murder and inherit a possible fortune for yourself, into the bargain!
Floyd | Scotland Yard is only about a mile away - a brisk walk will get you
Floyd | there in no time, and you can hand over your evidence to the Police.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You turn away from the fireplace and walk over to the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | In your indignation at the terrible events that you have uncovered, you
Floyd | move across the room rather hastily and somehow manage to barge against
Floyd | the pot with the aspidistra in it. It teeters on its stand...you try to
Floyd | steady it...it slips through your fingers. With a collossal CRASH, the

Floyd | pot smashes on the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a distant shout from the direction of Lord Bellwater's
Floyd | bedroom, across the landing and you hear it answered from somewhere
Floyd | else in the house.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to store:
Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | There is nowhere to go in that direction.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear the sound of heavy feet hastening up the staircase.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to exit.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's already closed.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear another set of footsteps coming down the staircase from the
Floyd | upper parts of the house, and somebody shouting about a burglar.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (with the heavy iron key)
Floyd |

Floyd | The key turns smoothly in the lock and you hear a faint but satisfying
Floyd | click as the lock engages.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sounds of running footsteps converge outside the door of the study.
Floyd | You recognise Dewhurst's voice saying "He's in there, my Lord."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to climb the down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the door and walk over to the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | That's already open.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear Lord Bellwater's voice, outside the door, saying "Dewhurst,
Floyd | you guard the door! My father used to keep his old service revolver in
Floyd | a drawer in the library. I'll go and get that, then we'll flush the rat
Floyd | out!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to climb the outside.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to climb the down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You climb out through the window onto the sill.
Floyd |
Floyd | Window sill
Floyd | You are standing balanced on the narrow ledge. To keep yourself from
Floyd | falling, you have to cling on to the ivy which grows on the house wall.
Floyd | It is a long way down to the pavement below!

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the sound of someone rattling the door handle and saying "He's
Floyd | got a key and has locked it from the inside!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to jump.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You grab a handful of the ivy in each hand and test its strength. It
Floyd | doesn't feel stong enough to allow you to climb up.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear some muted discussion outside the door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You consider trying to climb down the ivy, but you don't think it would
Floyd | take your weight. The only other option is to jump, and you are to

Floyd | scared to do that.
Floyd |
Floyd | Out on the landing, you hear the sound of footsteps moving briskly away
Floyd | from the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You consider trying to climb down the ivy, but you don't think it would
Floyd | take your weight. The only other option is to jump, and you are to
Floyd | scared to do that.
Floyd |

Floyd | There is silence from outside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't go that way.

Floyd |
Floyd | You recognise Mrs Jenkins" voice outside the door, saying "There's
Floyd | nowhere for him to go. We've got him cornered."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You clamber back through the window into the study.
Floyd |
Floyd | Lord Bellwater's study
Floyd | The study is a well-proportioned, rectangular room. The door, of finely

Floyd | polished oak, leads back onto the landing, to the west; a broad sash
Floyd | window in the opposite wall looks out over Cadogan Square. The heavy
Floyd | velvet curtains are drawn back and a pale moonlight falls into the
Floyd | room, illuminating a heavy mahogany desk in its centre. To the right of
Floyd | the window is a small table.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the north side of the room is a stone fireplace with a dull red glow
Floyd | still coming from the remains of the coals, burning among the ashes: a
Floyd | shadowy oil painting hangs above it.  The south wall is covered, floor
Floyd | to ceiling, with bookshelves, laden with hundreds, if not thousands, of
Floyd | leather-bound volumes, in neat rows.
Floyd |

Floyd | On the table is a cardboard grocery box (in which is an envelope (in
Floyd | which is a letter to Sutherland the banker)).
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see a newspaper cutting here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear some shuffling of feet and a murmur of voices outside the

Floyd | door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You try to take the cord, but it is firmly attached to the curtains,

Floyd | out of reach, above you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear Dewhurst's voice: "We can't go in yet. The burglar might be
Floyd | dangerous. We'll wait for Lord Bellwater to come back with the
Floyd | revolver."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the window, and walk over to the desk.
Floyd |
Floyd | You put all your weight against the desk, but it won't move.
Floyd |
Floyd | Through the study door you can hear some shuffling of feet and a murmur
Floyd | of voices.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | What do you want to untie the curtain cord from?

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [rod -> road]

Floyd | You step away from the desk and walk over to the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | The curtain cord is not tied to the street view so you cannot untie it.
Floyd |
Floyd | You recognise Dewhurst's voice outside the door, saying "I'm ready with
Floyd | this iron poker. I'll give him a good whack with that."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | [talk -> walk]
Floyd | You can't see any such thing.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You cannot tie the curtain cord to the mahogany desk.
Floyd |

Floyd | There is an eerie silence outside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can only do that to something animate.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [grab -> gray]

Floyd | That's not a verb I recognise.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You cannot tie the curtain cord to the window.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear some whispered conversation outside the study door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | A loop of thick cord hangs down at the side of the curtains and passes
Floyd | over a pulley mechanism, incorporated into the curtain rail, above the
Floyd | window.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a shout from somewhere in the depths of the house.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | The curtain cord is not tied to the curtain cord so you cannot untie
Floyd | it.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear the sound of approaching footsteps outside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The curtain cord is not tied to the curtain cord so you cannot untie
Floyd | it.
Floyd |
Floyd | Through the study door you can hear Lord Bellwater's voice, apparently
Floyd | giving instructions to the others.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | (first taking the curtain cord)
Floyd | You try to take the cord, but it is firmly attached to the curtains,

Floyd | out of reach, above you.
Floyd |
Floyd | You recognise Dewhurst's voice outside the door, but cannot distinguish
Floyd | what he is saying.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You try to take the cord, but it is firmly attached to the curtains,
Floyd | out of reach, above you.
Floyd |
Floyd | Through the study door you can hear Lord Bellwater asking, saying

Floyd | "Right then, are we all ready?"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You climb out through the window onto the sill.

Floyd |
Floyd | Window sill
Floyd | You are standing balanced on the narrow ledge. To keep yourself from
Floyd | falling, you have to cling on to the ivy which grows on the house wall.
Floyd | It is a long way down to the pavement below!
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear a faint rattling of the handle of the study door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | That's not something you can close.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a faint rustling sound from outside the study door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Window sill
Floyd | You are standing balanced on the narrow ledge. To keep yourself from
Floyd | falling, you have to cling on to the ivy which grows on the house wall.
Floyd | It is a long way down to the pavement below!
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear some whispered conversation from outside the door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | With great care not to make a noise, you close the window and latch it.
Floyd |

Floyd | There is an eerie silence outside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The ivy has grown up over most of the front of the house and clings to

Floyd | the walls around the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear some muttered discussion out on the landing then the sound of
Floyd | someone trying to burst through the door. However, their attempts are
Floyd | in vain, as the door is currently locked.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You can make out some of the details of the facade of the house: the
Floyd | windows of this floor, the two storeys below and the one above; the
Floyd | ivy-clad walls; the portico over the front door; and the steps down to

Floyd | the pavement. Above, is the night sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a muttered curse from beyond the study door, and someone says
Floyd | "The blighter's locked it!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can make out some of the details of the facade of the house: the
Floyd | windows of this floor, the two storeys below and the one above; the
Floyd | ivy-clad walls; the portico over the front door; and the steps down to
Floyd | the pavement. Above, is the night sky.

Floyd |
Floyd | Low voices on the landing seem to be in deep discussion.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can make out some of the details of the facade of the house: the
Floyd | windows of this floor, the two storeys below and the one above; the
Floyd | ivy-clad walls; the portico over the front door; and the steps down to
Floyd | the pavement. Above, is the night sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is the sound of a gunshot from the landing, followed by a shriek.

Floyd | You hear Mrs Jenkins say, rather loudly, "Oh no, Lord Bellwater, I
Floyd | don't think it's safe to try and shoot the lock!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (the house view)
Floyd | You can make out some of the details of the facade of the house: the

Floyd | windows of this floor, the two storeys below and the one above; the
Floyd | ivy-clad walls; the portico over the front door; and the steps down to
Floyd | the pavement. Above, is the night sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a heavy thud as though someone has tried to break the door
Floyd | with their shoulder, but the lock holds fast.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can make out some of the details of the facade of the house: the
Floyd | windows of this floor, the two storeys below and the one above; the
Floyd | ivy-clad walls; the portico over the front door; and the steps down to
Floyd | the pavement. Above, is the night sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | You recognise Dewhurst's voice saying, "I'll try and prise it open with

Floyd | this poker."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You grab a handful of the ivy in each hand and test its strength. It

Floyd | doesn't feel stong enough to allow you to climb up.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a thud as something is being wedged into the door jamb, then a
Floyd | creaking sound as someone levers against the locked door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to climb the ivy.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to climb the down.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to jump.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to jump.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | I only understood you as far as wanting to jump.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can make out some of the details of the facade of the house: the
Floyd | windows of this floor, the two storeys below and the one above; the

Floyd | ivy-clad walls; the portico over the front door; and the steps down to
Floyd | the pavement. Above, is the night sky.
Floyd |
Floyd | With a splintering sound the lock is torn away from the door, which
Floyd | bursts open with a crash.
Floyd |

Floyd | Looking through the window into the study, you see the figure of Lord
Floyd | Bellwater appear in the doorway, swathed in a tartan dressing gown and
Floyd | brandishing a revolver. Behind him looms the figure of Dewhurst, who
Floyd | has somehow managed to change into his immaculately cleaned and pressed
Floyd | butler's uniform. At first they look around the apparently empty room
Floyd | in some surprise, but then they spot you silhouetted against the light

Floyd | entering the window. They both dash to the window, flinging it open,
Floyd | and drag you bodily back into the room. Neither of them seems to
Floyd | recognise you in the pale light but, none too gently, they wrestle you
Floyd | to the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Some weeks later, the following item appears in "The Times":
Floyd |

Floyd | Today at the Old Bailey was concluded the trial which has been called
Floyd | (in the more "popular" press) the "Bellwater burglary case". The
Floyd | curious background to this case is that in the early hours of 20th June
Floyd | a groom, then in the service of Lord James Bellwater, was discovered in
Floyd | his employer's study, in the act of stealing papers and a substantial
Floyd | sum of money from a safe.

Floyd |
Floyd | During the ensuing trial, the groom, by the name of Smith, has made
Floyd | repeated allegations that a murder had been committed in Lord
Floyd | Bellwater's household and that his employer was trying to subvert the
Floyd | intentions of his late father's will.  The trial of Smith has created a
Floyd | degree of public interest because Lord Bellwater himself appeared as a

Floyd | witness for the prosecution: despite his many business comittments and
Floyd | his recent bereavement (the previous Lord Bellwater having passed away
Floyd | a few days before the events of the case), Lord Bellwater stated that
Floyd | he must "do his public duty as a witness and ensure that justice is
Floyd | done".
Floyd |

Floyd | After retiring for just fifteen minutes, the jury returned a guilty
Floyd | verdict on Smith. In sentencing, the Judge spoke out strongly against
Floyd | this servant who has breached the trust of the noble family of
Floyd | Bellwater. Smith is to be transported, for life, to the penal colony in
Floyd | Western Australia.
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |     *** The End ***
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?

Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to load:

Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | [tear -> hear]

Floyd | You leave the door and walk over to the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | The house is in a deep silence. The sound of your own breathing seems
Floyd | loud and raucous.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear the sound of heavy feet hastening up the staircase.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the window, and walk over to the door.
Floyd |

Floyd | (with the heavy iron key)
Floyd |
Floyd | The key turns smoothly in the lock and you hear a faint but satisfying
Floyd | click as the lock engages.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear another set of footsteps coming down the staircase from the

Floyd | upper parts of the house, and somebody shouting about a burglar.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [lick -> pick]
Floyd | I didn't understand that sentence.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [tear -> hear]
Floyd | You leave the door and walk over to the window.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear a light gust of wind blowing past the window and rattling

Floyd | the ivy leaves against the panes.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sounds of running footsteps converge outside the door of the study.
Floyd | You recognise Dewhurst's voice saying "He's in there, my Lord."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | [tear -> hear]
Floyd | You can hear a light gust of wind blowing past the window and rattling
Floyd | the ivy leaves against the panes.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear Lord Bellwater's voice, outside the door, saying "Dewhurst,
Floyd | you guard the door! My father used to keep his old service revolver in
Floyd | a drawer in the library. I'll go and get that, then we'll flush the rat
Floyd | out!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Lord Bellwater's study
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | [rip -> sip]

Floyd | There's nothing suitable to drink here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear Lord Bellwater's voice, outside the door, saying "Dewhurst,
Floyd | you guard the door! My father used to keep his old service revolver in
Floyd | a drawer in the library. I'll go and get that, then we'll flush the rat
Floyd | out!"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You can't see any such thing.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Lord Bellwater's study
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | You try to take the cord, but it is firmly attached to the curtains,
Floyd | out of reach, above you.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the sound of someone rattling the door handle and saying "He's
Floyd | got a key and has locked it from the inside!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You pull the cord and the heavy curtains draw smoothly across the
Floyd | window, plunging the room into darkness.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear some muted discussion outside the door.
Floyd |

Floyd | It is now pitch dark in here!
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You push your way through the heavy curtains and climb out through the

Floyd | window onto the sill.
Floyd |
Floyd | Window sill
Floyd | You are standing balanced on the narrow ledge. To keep yourself from
Floyd | falling, you have to cling on to the ivy which grows on the house wall.
Floyd | It is a long way down to the pavement below!

Floyd |
Floyd | Out on the landing, you hear the sound of footsteps moving briskly away
Floyd | from the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | With great care not to make a noise, you close the window and latch it.
Floyd |

Floyd | There is silence from outside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You recognise Mrs Jenkins" voice outside the door, saying "There's

Floyd | nowhere for him to go. We've got him cornered."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear some shuffling of feet and a murmur of voices outside the
Floyd | door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear Dewhurst's voice: "We can't go in yet. The burglar might be
Floyd | dangerous. We'll wait for Lord Bellwater to come back with the

Floyd | revolver."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | Through the study door you can hear some shuffling of feet and a murmur
Floyd | of voices.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You recognise Dewhurst's voice outside the door, saying "I'm ready with
Floyd | this iron poker. I'll give him a good whack with that."

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | There is an eerie silence outside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear some whispered conversation outside the study door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a shout from somewhere in the depths of the house.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear the sound of approaching footsteps outside the door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Through the study door you can hear Lord Bellwater's voice, apparently

Floyd | giving instructions to the others.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | You recognise Dewhurst's voice outside the door, but cannot distinguish
Floyd | what he is saying.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Through the study door you can hear Lord Bellwater asking, saying
Floyd | "Right then, are we all ready?"

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear a faint rattling of the handle of the study door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a faint rustling sound from outside the study door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear some whispered conversation from outside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is an eerie silence outside the door.
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear some muttered discussion out on the landing then the sound of

Floyd | someone trying to burst through the door. However, their attempts are
Floyd | in vain, as the door is currently locked.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (to yourself)
Floyd | There is no reply.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear a muttered curse from beyond the study door, and someone says
Floyd | "The blighter's locked it!"
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | Low voices on the landing seem to be in deep discussion.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | There is the sound of a gunshot from the landing, followed by a shriek.
Floyd | You hear Mrs Jenkins say, rather loudly, "Oh no, Lord Bellwater, I
Floyd | don't think it's safe to try and shoot the lock!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a heavy thud as though someone has tried to break the door

Floyd | with their shoulder, but the lock holds fast.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.

Floyd |
Floyd | You recognise Dewhurst's voice saying, "I'll try and prise it open with
Floyd | this poker."
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |
Floyd | There is a thud as something is being wedged into the door jamb, then a
Floyd | creaking sound as someone levers against the locked door.

Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Time passes.
Floyd |

Floyd | With a splintering sound the lock is torn away from the door, which
Floyd | bursts open with a crash.
Floyd |
Floyd | Looking through the window into the study, you see the figure of Lord
Floyd | Bellwater appear in the doorway, swathed in a tartan dressing gown and
Floyd | brandishing a revolver. Behind him looms the figure of Dewhurst, who

Floyd | has somehow managed to change into his immaculately cleaned and pressed
Floyd | butler's uniform. At first they look around the apparently empty room
Floyd | in some surprise, but then they spot you silhouetted against the light
Floyd | entering the window. They both dash to the window, flinging it open,
Floyd | and drag you bodily back into the room. Neither of them seems to
Floyd | recognise you in the pale light but, none too gently, they wrestle you

Floyd | to the floor.
Floyd |
Floyd | Please press SPACE to continue.

Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd | Some weeks later, the following item appears in "The Times":
Floyd |
Floyd | Today at the Old Bailey was concluded the trial which has been called
Floyd | (in the more "popular" press) the "Bellwater burglary case". The
Floyd | curious background to this case is that in the early hours of 20th June
Floyd | a groom, then in the service of Lord James Bellwater, was discovered in

Floyd | his employer's study, in the act of stealing papers and a substantial
Floyd | sum of money from a safe.
Floyd |
Floyd | During the ensuing trial, the groom, by the name of Smith, has made
Floyd | repeated allegations that a murder had been committed in Lord
Floyd | Bellwater's household and that his employer was trying to subvert the

Floyd | intentions of his late father's will.  The trial of Smith has created a
Floyd | degree of public interest because Lord Bellwater himself appeared as a
Floyd | witness for the prosecution: despite his many business comittments and
Floyd | his recent bereavement (the previous Lord Bellwater having passed away
Floyd | a few days before the events of the case), Lord Bellwater stated that
Floyd | he must "do his public duty as a witness and ensure that justice is

Floyd | done".
Floyd |
Floyd | After retiring for just fifteen minutes, the jury returned a guilty
Floyd | verdict on Smith. In sentencing, the Judge spoke out strongly against
Floyd | this servant who has breached the trust of the noble family of
Floyd | Bellwater. Smith is to be transported, for life, to the penal colony in

Floyd | Western Australia.
Floyd |
Floyd |
Floyd |     *** The End ***
Floyd |
Floyd |

Floyd |
Floyd | Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game or QUIT?
Floyd | >

Floyd | Enter saved game to load:

Floyd | Ok.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Lord Bellwater's study
Floyd | The study is a well-proportioned, rectangular room. The door, of finely
Floyd | polished oak, leads back onto the landing, to the west; a broad sash

Floyd | window in the opposite wall looks out over Cadogan Square. The heavy
Floyd | velvet curtains are drawn back and a pale moonlight falls into the
Floyd | room, illuminating a heavy mahogany desk in its centre. To the right of
Floyd | the window is a small table.
Floyd |
Floyd | On the north side of the room is a stone fireplace with a dull red glow

Floyd | still coming from the remains of the coals, burning among the ashes: a
Floyd | shadowy oil painting hangs above it.  The south wall is covered, floor
Floyd | to ceiling, with bookshelves, laden with hundreds, if not thousands, of
Floyd | leather-bound volumes, in neat rows.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can see some broken pottery, a sprinkling of soil and an aspidistra

Floyd | here.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear the sound of heavy feet hastening up the staircase.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | (with the heavy iron key)
Floyd |
Floyd | The key turns smoothly in the lock and you hear a faint but satisfying

Floyd | click as the lock engages.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear another set of footsteps coming down the staircase from the
Floyd | upper parts of the house, and somebody shouting about a burglar.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | The plant has a dense clump of dark green, rather fleshy leaves and a

Floyd | mass of tiny roots. It doesn't look very healthy now that it is out of
Floyd | its pot.
Floyd |
Floyd | The sounds of running footsteps converge outside the door of the study.
Floyd | You recognise Dewhurst's voice saying "He's in there, my Lord."
Floyd |

Floyd | >

Floyd | Taken.
Floyd |
Floyd | You hear Lord Bellwater's voice, outside the door, saying "Dewhurst,

Floyd | you guard the door! My father used to keep his old service revolver in
Floyd | a drawer in the library. I'll go and get that, then we'll flush the rat
Floyd | out!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | You leave the door and walk towards the fireplace.
Floyd |
Floyd | You put the aspidistra into the fireplace.
Floyd |

Floyd | You hear the sound of someone rattling the door handle and saying "He's
Floyd | got a key and has locked it from the inside!"
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | This dangerous act would achieve little.
Floyd |
Floyd | You can hear some muted discussion outside the door.
Floyd |
Floyd | >

Floyd | Lord Bellwater's study
Floyd | [Previous turn undone.]
Floyd |
Floyd | >