The Knowledge Stone

by Jack McGinnigle

  Kati was consulted. What box? (This said with total innocence.) Oh, her mother’s jewellery box? Of course she never had anything to do with this box. She never went near it. Wasn’t it kept locked and she, Kati, was not trusted to know where the key was kept? Did her mother think the medallion had been stolen? Obviously the servants were the suspects. Didn’t she have a personal maid who knew where the key was? Didn’t that make it pretty obvious what had happened? So Kati, the perpetrator of the crime, began to inject her special brand of poison into the situation.

  The Mistress trusted her personal maidservant completely and knew she could depend upon her absolute honesty. However, she called for the girl to attend her and asked her the same questions that the other members of the family had been asked. Because she was the only other person who had regular access to the jewellery box, the Mistress questioned the girl closely, expressly asking whether she had noticed that any item was missing from the box. The girl projected her mind back to the times she had recently unlocked the box but could not remember anything amiss. The Mistress was satisfied that the girl had told the truth and instructed her to return to her duties.

  The Mistress’s maidservant had come to the Manor House as a little child of ten years old, a simple peasant from a poor family, greatly honoured to be given a job in such an important place. She had proved to be energetic, hard-working and quick to learn and, in addition, she had a very pleasant bubbly personality which made her popular with all her contemporaries, except of course, those who were jealous of her talents and attractive appearance.

  Starting at the “bottom”, where the tasks were always the dirtiest and least pleasant, this girl was assiduous in everything she did and, in the following years, was promoted to a series of more skilled jobs in the kitchen and household. As a teenager, she was given the unusual opportunity to train as a personal servant and proved ideal for this task, pleasing all those whom she served. She was always reported upon very favourably by her superiors and thus came to the notice of the family who were always on the lookout for good personal servants for themselves.

  When the girl was just sixteen, she was called to the Housekeeper’s Office to be informed that the Mistress wished to speak to her. The Housekeeper, a terrifyingly efficient lady who rarely smiled, instructed her to go to the Mistress’s room immediately. No reason was given. Quickly donning a clean apron and checking her appearance in a convenient looking glass, the girl had felt very nervous as she went to see this very important lady in a part of the house she had never before visited. As she walked, she tried to remember whether she had made any bad mistakes recently. She knew that servants were sometimes called to the Mistress when they had made very bad mistakes. Sometimes, the Mistress ordered servants to be beaten! The girl felt a pang of fear as she walked.

  She had knocked timidly at the large heavy door and was bidden to enter. The Mistress sat at a writing table completely covered with papers.

  ‘Ah, yes. Stand there, please,’ the woman said in a pleasant voice. The girl was taken aback. The Mistress had said “please”! Very few people ever said that to her. A few moments passed. Then the Mistress looked up. ‘I hear you are a very good servant.’

  The girl blushed with pleasure. The woman now looked squarely into the girl’s eyes. The girl dropped her gaze.

  ‘Look at me, girl.’ The woman’s voice was soft and friendly. ‘I have a question to ask you. Would you like to be my Personal Maidservant?’

  ‘Mistress, I would be honoured to be your Personal Maidservant but do you not already have such a servant? I would not wish to displace another.’ The woman looked at the girl with respect.

  ‘That is a very kind thing you have said. The answer is “no” because my Personal Maidservant has just left to work in a higher post in another household. I wish her well but now I have an immediate need for a new Personal Maidservant. You! If you will accept the position.’

  The girl’s heart was singing with joy. ‘Of course I will accept, Mistress. It is an honour and I will serve you well and faithfully.’

  ‘Then I will see you here tomorrow at nine. Thank you, you may go.’

  The girl returned to the Housekeeper’s Office, walking on air. The Housekeeper smiled her rare smile at the girl: ‘You see! If you work hard you can have a very good life in a household like this.’

  The following day, the maidservant arrived to serve the Mistress.

  ‘You will stay with me throughout the day,’ the Mistress informed her, ‘and help me to dress and take my meals. You need to have access to all my clothes and also to my jewellery box so that you can bring the jewellery I wish to wear. We will go now to the sleeping area in the Great Hall and I will show you where all these things are kept.’

  The girl followed her mistress to the sleeping area. The Mistress explained: ‘These are the chests where my clothes are kept. You will be responsible for arranging them and keeping them in good order. Look here, this is the jewellery box that is kept on this dressing chest. It is always securely locked. Very few people know where the key is kept but you will be one of them. See, the key is kept here, in this concealed compartment. You press it here to open the secret door. Every time you have finished with the contents of the jewellery box, you are to lock it securely. Don’t forget to check it carefully and return the key to this secret compartment. You must make sure that no one is observing you while you do this. And you will never tell any other person, no matter who, where this key is hidden. Do you understand all this?’

  ‘Yes, Mistress, I do understand and I will be very careful. I will always obey you.’

  Kati was not pleased when she heard the news of her mother’s new maidservant. She had been quite happy with the old maidservant, a rather unattractive middle-aged woman who had learned to fear the Mistress’s daughter. Even when Kati was a young child, the Maidservant had found herself put in the wrong on a number of occasions, all of which had resulted in her being rebuked by her Mistress. The Maidservant knew that Kati had been to blame for every one of these incidents. So after that, she had kept clear of Kati as far as possible and treated her with great care and respect on the few occasions they met. This power pleased Kati very much and she deliberately worked to keep the older woman in a state of nervous tension.

  Kati had not known this girl servant before her elevation to this high position, so it was an especial shock to find an intelligent, friendly young woman in the position – and even worse still, she was actually quite a good-looking girl! Kati had immediately set about “smearing” her mother’s new maidservant, by applying all her usual skills to the situation. To her surprise, her mother would not react to any of Kati’s suggestions that her new servant was unsuitable.

  ‘Don’t worry, Darling,’ her mother said absent-mindedly as she perused her usual heap of papers, ‘I know she is new but I’m quite satisfied with what I’ve seen so far.’

  Kati had also tried her father but he had just looked at her and observed: ‘Your mother is very capable of commanding her servants, Kati.’ Then he had turned back to his papers, making it clear that the conversation was finished.

  Of course, Kati also applied a range of tried and tested intimidation techniques on the girl herself. Kati knew that these techniques had always been effective in the past. However, in this case, she was astonished to find that none worked on the girl. When Kati became haughty and overbearing with the girl, she responded by treating her Mistress’s daughter with great kindness and respect. When Kati became abusive, the girl defused every situation with quiet words of reason and subservience. When Kati tried friendship (an inside position from which she would be able to attack effectively), the girl was friendly in return but always maintained the respectful distance of employee and employer. All this left Kati deeply frustrated and she vowed that someday, she would succeed in destroying her mother’s maidservant.

  In the af
ternoon of the day of the Great Commotion, all the household servants plus all those who worked outside the house on the estate were instructed to assemble in the Great Hall. They stood in complete silence as a grim-faced Master addressed them. He told them that a very valuable piece of jewellery had been stolen from the Mistress’s jewellery box. It was a large gold medallion on a chain. This had happened during the last week and this was the jewellery box from which it had been stolen. (He indicated the jewellery box, which had been placed on the table.) Since the lock of the jewellery box was intact, it had obviously been opened by someone who had access to the key. The family had no idea who the thief was but they knew that he or she was present in this room. They wanted the piece to be recovered right away. If this did not happen, it would become a criminal matter which would be referred to the Town Court.

  So everyone who was assembled in the room was to search in all places for the stolen medallion. They were also to think about who might have carried out this crime. If any person had any information about the crime, they were to inform their Head who would pass the information to the Master. Meanwhile, the living quarters of all servants would be thoroughly searched; this to be organised by the Head Stableman for all outside workers and by the Housekeeper for all house servants. No-one would be exempt from the search and they would all be bodily searched also. They would have nothing to fear if they were innocent. The Master hoped this matter would be brought to a speedy conclusion. The servants were dismissed and streamed out of the Great Hall in a buzzing miasma of worry and puzzlement:

  ‘Who could have done this thing?’ They asked each other this in bewildered tones.

  ‘You’re not surprised, are you, Nanny?’ Kati was stretched out in bed, having been awakened gently by her servant a few minutes before. It was the morning after the Great Commotion. Kati’s first words to her nanny that morning had been: ‘Of course, there’s only one person it can be, don’t you think? It’s got to be her, hasn’t it?’

  ‘Miss Kati, I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Her nanny was confused.

  ‘I’m talking about the thief – who else would I be talking about?’ Kati replied with her usual anger and contempt. ‘It’s her of course. Mother’s maidservant!’

  ‘Oh Miss Kati, you should not say such terrible things. She seems a sweet innocent girl to me.’

  Kati levered herself upright and fixed her nanny with a baleful eye: ‘Listen, you old fool, it’s all a matter of who has access to the jewel box key, isn’t it? Isn’t it?’ The words shouted angrily, making the older woman jump with fright.

  ‘I suppose so, Kati, darling.’

  Kati was clever enough to leave it at that. She knew her nanny would never be able to form her own opinion on such a matter; however she knew the older woman would go immediately to gossip with the other nannies and senior servants. In due course, Kati calculated that a significant number of accusations against her mother’s maidservant would come from the servants as Kati’s poison spread like an epidemic across the servant areas. Kati lay back on her pillows, satisfied with her morning’s work.

  ‘You see, you just have to wait. Then, when the opportunity comes, you need to recognise it and take immediate action. That’s what I did when I pushed my brother into the nettles.’ Kati smiled with genuine pleasure as she recalled the details of that event. How funny it had been to see the little naked boy rolling over and over in the nettles, making it absolutely certain that every part of his body would be stung. ‘And now, Mother’s Little Maidservant, you are going to experience the power of Kati!’ Gleefully filled with vengeful thoughts, the girl now rose from her bed and prepared to enjoy the day.

  Evil usually works fast and this case was no exception. By evening, Kati noticed that her mother and father spent a long time in deep conversation, perusing various pieces of paper on the desk before them. Nothing was said at the evening meal; in fact the meal was eaten in almost total silence and the family left the table as soon as the last food was eaten. Her mother and father withdrew to their sleeping area and closed the heavy curtains around them. The murmur of conversation continued for a long time. While she was still in the Great Hall, Kati strained her ears but could not make out a single word. Disappointed, she withdrew to her room.

  The next morning started a significant day. Kati suspected that this might be a day of drama and so she rose early. After the family had attended the morning meal, her father ordered that they should remain at the table while he called for the Housekeeper and the Head Stableman to attend him.

  These servants arrived together, entered the Great Hall and bowed low. ‘Master, how may we serve you?’

  The Master addressed them both: ‘I am aware that all the servants have been searching for the stolen medallion and that all quarters have been searched. Is the search complete?’

  The Head Stableman replied: ‘Yes. Master, we have searched all the quarters and the body of each servant has also been searched. Nothing has been found.’

  The Housekeeper added: ‘The same has happened in the household, Master. Nothing has been found.’

  The Master paused and sighed. Then he said: ‘You are both aware that I have received a number of accusations from the servants. Each of you have passed these to me yesterday. In fact I have received a total of nine accusations, four from the household and five from the outside servants. All nine identify the same person as the thief who has stolen the medallion.’ The Master was silent for a few moments as he looked through the accusations once more. Then he addressed them once more: ‘You know who the accused is. What is your opinion of that?’

  The Housekeeper spoke first: ‘Master, I find it very difficult to believe. I have known this girl for more than six years and, during all that time, I have never seen any sign of dishonesty.’

  The Head Stableman said: ‘Although I do not know this girl as well as the Housekeeper, I have always thought her to be a good and honest servant.’

  ‘Very well,’ the Master said heavily, ‘I will examine the girl and I wish you both to be present.’

  Behind him, Kati wriggled in pure delight. ‘Everything is going to plan,’ she thought.

  The Housekeeper went to fetch the girl and returned within five minutes. The Housekeeper and the Head Stablemen were given seats at the side of the Great Hall.

  ‘Stand there!’ The Master’s command to the girl was curt. She cut a totally pathetic figure, weeping silently, head hanging, hands clasped in front of her in an attitude of prayer. ‘Look at me!’ The Master’s voice was loud and angry. ‘Answer me truthfully.’

  ‘Master, I have never told a lie in this house,’ the girl whispered.

  ‘Where is it? What have you done with it?

  ‘Master, I don’t know. I have not taken it.’

  Silence. The Master looked towards the Housekeeper: ‘Has this girl’s room been searched thoroughly?’

  ‘Yes, Master, I conducted the search myself.’

  ‘And nothing was found?’

  ‘Nothing at all, Master. The girl has few possessions and everything in her room belonged to her, apart from her servant’s clothes.’

  ‘Was the girl’s body searched?’

  ‘Yes Master, I searched her body myself. I made her remove all items of her clothing and I searched these as well. I found nothing.’

  The Master now turned back to the cowering girl: ‘Where have you hidden it?’

  ‘Master, I have not hidden it anywhere. I have not taken it.’ The girl wept loudly.

  ‘Be quiet! You will tell me where you have hidden it. I can have you beaten.’

  ‘No, Master, please, no. I did not do this. I have stolen nothing.’

  ‘Husband,’ Kati’s mother spoke quietly, ‘I ask that you do not beat the girl.’

  The Master paused. Then he addressed the Housekeep
er: ‘Take her. Put her in the Ice House without her clothes. I will see her again in two hours.’ The girl was dragged away, protesting her innocence.

  Hours later, the maidservant was brought back before the Master. White and shivering uncontrollably, she made no sound as she stood swaying in front of him, semi-conscious.

  ‘Are you now ready to tell me where you have hidden the medallion that you have stolen?’

  ‘Master. I have stolen nothing. You may kill me if you wish.’ The girl’s voice was a weak whisper and the Master had to crane forward to hear her words. He sat back in his chair, his face set in a mask of fury. ‘Send for the Court Jailer. Tell him I have business with him. Take her and lock her in her room.’

  Later that day, the Court Jailer appeared once again at the Manor House.

  ‘Master,’ he said, ‘how may I serve you this time?’

  The two men withdrew to a private area and were in deep discussion for a considerable time. Finally, the Court Jailer sat back and reviewed his copious notes: ‘Master, this case is slim, I am afraid. I see how the girl can easily be identified as the thief because she was one of only three people who had access to the key. Since the other two people are yourself and the Mistress then the Mistress’s maidservant is obviously the thief should anything be missing from the jewellery box. But unless the servant was extremely stupid (and you tell me she is not), she would never act to place such certainty of guilt upon herself. Furthermore, Master, since the medallion has not been found, there is, of course, no evidence. It is my opinion that the Court is very unlikely to convict the girl, given the complete lack of evidence. But even if it did, that would not achieve what you want – the return of the medallion.’