The Mystery of Fitzjames Manor

©2015 Richard Humphreys

The Find-Outers visit Fitzjames Manor and are very quickly embroiled in a new mystery that has its roots in the distant past. With the help of a couple of old friends, Fatty and the Find-Outers piece together the clues and are led finally to an astonishing discovery.

Chapter 13: Extraordinary Discoveries

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Fatty left Pip and Bets when they reached the High Street and cycled home. He had no sooner got through the front door when Eunice pounced on him. 'Oh, Frederick, I thought you'd never come back,' she cried breathlessly.

'I didn't realise you cared so much, Eunice,' Fatty said petting an extremely excited Buster.

'Do be serious,' Eunice said and looked around. 'Can we go into the drawing-room, only something extraordinary has happened.'

They went into the drawing room and closed the door. 'What's happened?' Fatty asked.

'Well,' Eunice said, 'after you left I helped your mother take down the old curtains and polish the tracks. And after that I was at a loose end. Buster was very annoyed that you'd left him behind and was really quite naughty.'

Fatty frowned at the little Scottie. 'What's this I'm hearing?' he said sternly.

'Anyway,' she continued. 'I went upstairs and thought I'd wrap up the puzzle box. I went to get some wrapping paper that your mother said I could have and when I returned the box was gone.'

'You're joking,' Fatty said in astonishment.

'No, I'm not joking, it was gone,' she said. 'I looked everywhere and then finally I went out onto the landing and I saw that Buster had it in his mouth. Well I screamed at him and he dropped it and it bounced all the way down the stairs. I thought it would be broken and rushed down to get it.'

'And was it?' Fatty asked.

'No, but it had opened somehow and something had fallen out.' She handed Fatty a small slip of paper. 'It was this.'

Fatty looked at the paper. It was very small and quite yellowed and on it was some very spidery and faint writing. He carried it to the window and scrutinised it closely. 'Two dates,' he said turning to Eunice. 'January 20th and February 18th.'

'Yes,' Eunice said, joining him at the window. 'What do you think it means?'

'There was nothing else with it?' Fatty asked.

'No, there was nothing else. It's a mystery isn't it?' Eunice said.

Fatty looked at the paper again and turned it over, but there was nothing on the back. He looked at Eunice. 'Well, this must mean something otherwise, why was it hidden?' He looked at his watch and saw that it was just coming up to one o'clock. 'We'll be having lunch now,' he said. 'Let's save the discussion for the meeting.'

Fatty was very thoughtful over lunch. He hardly spoke save for the occasional grunt of agreement to something or other that Eunice said, who, as usual, did enough talking for the both of them.

Oblivious to Eunice's background chattering, Fatty was deep in thought. The two dates were running through his mind. What could they mean and why conceal them in a puzzle box? They had to mean something that was important. Did they relate to an historical event, perhaps? If they did, it would be difficult to identify as there was no year to go on. At least it may answer the question as to why the stolen things had been smashed up. Someone was looking for this piece of paper, but who could it be?

Suddenly, Eunice's voice broke in on his musings: 'Frederick, your stew will be stone cold unless you eat it.'

Without replying, he began to eat his lunch, not tasting it or caring that it was now only lukewarm. Who took the pram to the secret entrance to the maze? Was it the artist, Mr. Taffler? He might know about antiques as well and Ern had seen Mrs Chivers talking to him. That might well be innocent enough, but why is she so upset about the burglary? She seems far more upset by it than Lady Fitzjames. Does Mrs. Chivers feel somehow responsible?

He pushed aside his plate and Eunice put a bowl of something in front of him. 'Rhubarb crumble and custard,' she said. 'That's one of your favourites.'

He aimlessly moved his pudding around with the spoon.

The painting of Sir Henry must be important. The fact that he's holding the little Chinese man must mean something. Mr. Harris from the auction house had at first said the little man was Japanese, but then corrected himself. Japanese! The puzzle box was Japanese, is that why Sir Henry is holding the figure? But is the figure Japanese and if it is, why did Robbie Harris change his mind and say it was Chinese?

'Unless it's to throw us off the scent,' Fatty shouted suddenly and jumped to his feet, quite startling Eunice.

'Frederick,' Eunice said standing up, 'what on earth is the matter?'

'Nothing Eunice,' he said apologetically. 'I was just thinking aloud, that's all.'

'Well,' Eunice said looking at the table 'that's the first time I've known you refuse to eat Rhubarb Crumble. Are you feeling ill?'

'No, I'm perfectly well,' Fatty said, walking to the door. 'Come on, let's get down to the shed. I want to make some notes before the others arrive for the meeting.'

With Buster leading the way, the two went down to the shed where Fatty immediately started scribbling copious notes. Eunice began tidying up until Fatty told her to stop or he would be unable to find anything. She sat down grumpily and waited for the others.

At two-thirty, Buster pricked up his ears and ran to the door.

'Let them in please, Eunice,' Fatty said without looking up from his writing.

Pip and Bets were the first to arrive followed by Larry and Daisy with Ern, who they had met up with on the way.

When they were settled and lemonade had been dispensed, Larry, Daisy and Ern told the others about the events of the day. Fatty was very impressed with Ern's trailing of Mr. Taffler and his discovery of the pram in Mr. Taffler's boat. However, he was not pleased by Goon's treatment of him and was relieved to hear that Larry and Daisy, with the help of PC Pippin, had managed to get Ern away from Goon's clutches.

'Honestly, Fatty,' Ern said with feeling, 'if it hadn't been for Larry and Daisy and Mr. Pippin, I think my uncle would have carted me off to prison, he was that angry.'

'Lady Fitzjames is very sorry for the trouble she caused by passing on to Goon what Mr. Taffler had reported to her about seeing you,' Fatty said to Ern. 'She did say that Mr. Taffler exaggerates.'

'I'll need to be more careful in future when I'm trailing a suspect,' Ern said.

'Well it's all down to experience, Ern. Now then,' Fatty said looking at Larry and Daisy. 'Did you find out anything in library?'

'Mrs Sharple wasn't there,' Daisy said, 'but her replacement was a Miss Twigg and she was very helpful. I think she's a bit of a gossip.'

'Good,' said Fatty rubbing his hands together. 'That's my kind of person. What did she have to say?'

'When we told her that we were interested in the Fitzjames family,' Larry said getting his notepad out. 'She couldn't wait to tell us everything she knew about them.' He referred to his notes. 'It seems that Miss Twigg used to live in Beaconsfield and knew Mrs. Chivers and her family.'

'Really?' said Fatty leaning forward.

'Yes, she said that Mrs. Chivers' husband was a banker and they had a son called Monty who, she said, they spoiled,' Larry said. 'They sent him to the best school and then on to university, but in spite of all that he was a tearaway, as she put it, and caused his parents no end of trouble.'

'In what way?' Eunice asked.

'Well, he was a gambler and was always being chased by people he owed money to and his father had to pay his debts for him,' Daisy added.

'I see,' said Fatty. 'And what happened to Monty?'

'Miss Twigg didn't know,' Daisy said.

'But she did say he probably ended up in gaol,' Ern said.

'Nothing about any legends of buried treasure, then?' Pip said.

'No, she knew nothing about any legends and we found nothing in any of he books either,' Larry said. 'So if it does exist, no-one seems to know about it.'

'And then there's that man from the auction house,' Bets said, 'Robbie Harris. I don't like him, there's something too cocky about him.'

'He was at the viewing day, Eunice, you remember him, a bit cheeky,' Fatty said.

Eunice nodded. 'Yes, I remember him, a silly grin on his face and he had the nerve to wink at me, rude fellow.'

'So,' Fatty said, 'we spoke to Lady Fitzjames and she dismisses the story of hidden treasure, however,' he continued reaching into his pocket and taking out the small piece of paper, 'Eunice and Buster, between them, have found what I think is the most significant clue we have so far.' He placed the paper on the desk. 'It was concealed in the puzzle box that Eunice is so fond of.'

'Yes, Buster grabbed the box and dropped it down the stairs,' Eunice said. 'And it opened and this fell out.'

Everyone crowded round for a closer look. 'What is it?' Bets asked.

'A piece of paper with a couple of dates written on it,' said Pip. 'What's so important about them?'

'I don't know yet,' said Fatty. 'But I do believe they are important.'

'January 20th. and February 18th.,' Larry said and shook his head. 'That means nothing to me.'

'Nor me,' said Daisy. 'How can we find out what it means?' she asked.

'Well, we'll just have to give it some thought and ask around,' Fatty said. 'I suddenly feel hungry,' he added thoughtfully.

'Haven't you had lunch?' Bets asked.

'He didn't eat his lunch,' Eunice said. 'He was too deep in thought.'

Fatty grinned. 'Yes, I was rather. But I think I need to feed my brain to get it working and I can think of no better brain food than macaroons and éclairs all washed down with nice milky tea.' He stood up. 'What say we all go down to the dairy and continue our deliberations there? I'm paying.'

Who could turn down such an invite? Fatty was always very generous with his money of which he always seemed to have plenty thanks to a seemingly endless array of aunts and uncles who wanted to spoil him.

Soon they were all seated in the cosy dairy and Fatty ordered the cakes and tea. The little shop lady who ran the dairy knew the children well as they were among her regular customers, and she always made sure that Buster had a bowl of water to drink from. They felt quite safe to talk as there were only three other people there, an old bearded man who had followed them in and a couple of elderly ladies in the corner.

However, they had just begun to enjoy their tea when the door opened and Mr. Goon stepped in. He grimaced at the children when he saw them. 'Gah!' he said.

'And Gah to you, Mr. Goon,' Fatty said politely. 'Have you solved the robbery at the manor yet?'

'As if I'd tell you,' he sneered, and walked up to the counter where he ordered a chelsea bun and a cup of tea. He sat down at a table as far from the children as he could find.

Ern felt extremely nervous seeing his uncle sitting just across the room and noticed that Mr. Goon kept looking over at him with a strange and rather menacing expression on his face.

Fatty sensed Ern's discomfort and leaned over towards him. 'Don't worry, Ern, you're quite safe,' he said reassuringly.

'Thanks, Fatty,' Ern said, feeling anything but safe.

'Look,' Fatty said quietly. 'It's a bit of a fag having old Goon in here as I wanted to go over a few things, so we must keep our voices down. I don't want him to pick up anything.'

Everyone nodded in agreement.

'Right,' Fatty said. 'I don't know what those dates mean, but I'm sure they're the key to this mystery and so we have to find out about them. Also, I'd like to find out about Mrs Chivers' son Monty. That eyebrow I found in the maze, must mean that the robber was disguised, which means that he was afraid that if he was seen, he'd be recognised. I think I'm going to have to talk to Superintendent Jenks about him.'

'You think he's involved then?' asked Larry.

'I don't know yet, but it's a possibility.' Fatty said. He looked over his shoulder at Goon and then winked at the others. 'Let's have a bit of fun,' he said quietly, and then said in a voice loud enough for Goon to hear: 'I didn't believe a word that tramp said.'

'And what about those travellers?' Larry said in an equally loud voice. 'I think we ought to talk to them.'

Mr. Goon looked across the room, his scowl replaced by a look of quizzical interest.

'I think those tracks were made by that ice cream cart we saw,' added Daisy, joining in the fun.

'No,' Fatty said, 'they were clearly made by two uni-cyclists from a travelling fair.'

Mr. Goon gave a spectacular snort and stood up. 'You lot think you're so funny, don't you?' he shouted across the room.

Fatty looked around at the others. 'Yes, I think we do, shall we take a vote. Hands up all those who think we're funny.'

Everyone put up their hands except Ern who didn't want to do anything to antagonise his uncle.

'Yes, Mr. Goon,' Fatty said, 'we do think we're funny.'

Goon stomped over to their table. 'Well you're not,' he said, his face red with annoyance. 'You're pathetic, that's what you lot are.' He shook his head and looked down at Fatty. 'My stars said I'd encounter a big, fat, immovable object today.'

'Then your stars were quite right Mr. Goon,' Fatty said. 'There's a broken down dust cart on the High Street causing an obstruction. Now why don't you run along and sort it out.'

'Or make the situation a whole lot worse,' added Larry with a laugh.

'Pathetic,' Goon repeated as he went through the door, slamming it behind him.

They all had a good laugh.

'My stars said I'd make an interesting discovery,' said Eunice. 'And I did, the message in the puzzle box.'

'I don't believe all that stuff,' said Larry finishing his second macaroon. 'How can some silly old woman, writing for a newspaper, know what's going to happen to you just because you're born under the sign of Sagittarius or Scorpio, or Gemini or Virgo?'

'Don't you be so sure, young Master Daykin,' the shop lady said. 'I had my horoscope read once, proper like and it was so accurate it made my hair stand on end.'

They all looked at her and tried to imagine what she would look like with her hair standing on end.

'And what sign of the zodiac were you born under?' asked Fatty, completely disinterested, but being polite.

'Aquarius,' the shop lady replied. 'That's January 20th to February 18th, and my birthday's at the beginning of February.'

The children stared at each other.

It was Bets who spoke first: 'Those are the dates on the paper, the dates for Aquarius,' she squealed.

Fatty frowned and shushed her. 'Keep your voice down, Bets,' he said and looked around the room. Apart from the old ladies nattering in the corner and the old bearded man reading a newspaper a couple of tables away, it was empty. 'Aquarius,' Fatty muttered. 'The sign of Aquarius.' He looked at the others. 'Well, would you believe it?'

'But what does it mean?' Larry said lowering his voice. 'Could it just be a coincidence?'

'I don't believe in coincidences like that,' Fatty replied. 'This must be a major clue. Now, come on everyone, think hard,' he continued. 'What on Earth can it mean?'

Everyone sat thinking in silence. Why should someone conceal a message that was simply the dates of the star sign Aquarius? What was so important about a star sign? Everything about this mystery seemed to be a jumble of different clues and none of them seemed to make any sense.

'Well, I don't know, Frederick,' Eunice said finally. 'Maybe it means something else entirely.'

Fatty pushed the last bit of his macaroon into his mouth and chewed it thoughtfully.

'The great brain is working,' said Pip in a hushed voice and nudged Larry.

They all looked at Fatty expecting him to come up with the solution as he had so many times in the past, but he remained silent. He was going over everything for the umpteenth time. There had to be a reason why these dates were hidden, they had to be a clue, they just had to be!

Fatty stood up. 'I'm going home to phone the Superintendent,' he said. 'We can't do anything more till I've spoken to him.'

'I'm coming with you,' Eunice said standing.

'No, Eunice,' Fatty said firmly, 'I need to think and can do that much better on my own. Stay with the others and finish your tea. We'll all meet tonight at six thirty.' Without another word, he left the dairy.

Eunice flushed and slumped back down into her seat. 'Well really, that boy is intolerable sometimes,' she said and picked up her teacup. It was empty, so she very noisily filled it from the pot, which she then banged back down on the table.

The old bearded man, sitting a few tables away, folded his newspaper and went out of the door.

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