Quincunx Detail

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Book 1 A Wise Child
Chapter 1 [p. 3 - 5] [March 7]

  • An elderly man has a client who is worried that a client of the younger lawyer possesses a document that can damage the interests of the elderly man's client. Two weeks earlier a copy of this document was sent to the elderly man's client demanding money and giving the name of the younger lawyer for any correspondence. This sounds like blackmail/extortion to me. 
  • The young lawyer says he is unaware of this letter and has never met his own client - he only interacts with him by means of a messenger - a retired lawyer of the highest respectability: a Martin Fortisquince, Esq., who's address is No. 27 Golden-square.


Chapter 2 [p. 5 - 20] [March 7]

  • The main protagonist (Master Johnnie) has just escaped "the confinement under which I had so long chafed and lay" and is now about to embark on a new undertaking.
  • He then tries to remember earlier events from his childhood growing up in the village and nearby countryside.
  • His mother is Mrs. Mellamphy.
  • He has no father.
  • They have a nurse, Mrs. Bissett, who looks after the boy.
  • The gardner is Mr. Pimlott.
  • Mrs. Belflower is the cook.
  • A stranger, at least to the boy, comes to the gate. The stranger is talking to his mother with passionate intensity while she listens with her eyes down, nodding her head occasionally. The man is a bit older than his mother and has curly reddish hair and a large beak-like nose.
  • His mother has a cylindrical silver box hung by a chain around her waist that contains the household keys.
  • The stranger notices the box and this alarms his mother.
  • Bissett then tells the stranger to leave before she calls the police. He does so, but glares with a "concentrated black-browed malevolence" as he leaves.
  • His mother indicates that she believes he was from London.
  • Bissett recalls that at about the time Johnnie was born, or a little before, two families were murdered in their beds, and a rich old man was murdered by his son at Charing-cross. His mother is upset by being reminded of this.
  • Johnnie's mother indicates that she was originally from London.
  • Bissett notices that the workmen have left their ladder leaning against the house under the parlour window. They said they would come back tomorrow to pick it up.
  • The mail is delivered and there is a letter for his mother with another envelope inside it that began with the letter C. Her mother frowns when she reads them. She says the letter is from Uncle Martin who is unwell. [Is this Martin Fortisquince?]
  • These letters were placed in a locked silver case (the keys were in that box around her waist). This letter-case was given to her by her father. His mother asks Bissett to place the letter-case in the parlour so she will remember to answer the letter in the morning. Johnnie takes the letter-case and sees it up close for the first time. It was leather-bound with silver clasps. The design on the clasps was the same as on the family silverware - a rose with 4 petals. But on this there were 5 of these roses, one on each corner with the fifth in the center , with a line of writing beneath it.
  • Just before Johnnie goes to sleep he thinks he hears mens voices nearby. He looks out the window but sees nothing except the ladder lying on the ground.

That is a lot of information in a short background chapter.

I looked up "quincunx" on wikipedia:

 A quincunx /ˈkwɪn.kəŋks/ is a geometric pattern consisting of five points arranged in a cross, that is five coplanar points, four of them forming a square or rectangle and a fifth at its center.[1] It forms the arrangement of five units in the pattern corresponding to the five-spot on a six-sided die, playing cards, or dominoes." In this case it seems to be a form of family herald.

Chapter 3 [p. 20 - 29] [March 8]

  • The stranger from chapter 2 enters Johnnie's room through the window and threatens him to remain quiet and to not tell anyone that he knows him.
  • Johnnie's mom and Mrs Bissett arrive in his room and Johnnie tells them that there was a man in his room. They quickly confirm that there is a ladder against the window.
  • His mom immediately grabs the silver box that she must have snatched up as she left her room. [What is in this box that is so valuable that she will never let it leave her body?]
  • Johnnie's mom exclaims, "They're coming at last!" [Who? Why is she expecting some trouble?]
  • Bissett looks out and sees someone breaking into the parlour. [How many are there? Is the break-in in the parlour connected to the man in Johnnie's room?]
  • Johnnie's mom continues, "They've come to murder us" [Why does she think this instead of a simple break-in?]
  • Johnnie's mom, "You don't understand. They've come to kill us, me and Johnnie." [Why should both of them be murdered?]
  • They wait a few minutes for the  thieves to leave - Bissett says she sees one of them going down the road.
  • Mrs Belflower arrives in the bedroom. She says she saw a man in the house pulling back the door bolts and then leaving. [Johnnie said that he heard voices. Therefore there were at least 2 people in the break-in]
  • Mr Emeris, the town constable, arrives in the morning. Nothing appears to be missing.
  • Emeris quickly concludes that the thief was a Job Greenslade (a local roofer) who has been often seen with the young maid of the house, Sukey. He basis this on the fact that a roofer's tool was found outside the window. This tool is identical to one that the gardner, Mr Pimlott, was using earlier. [Could Mr Pimlott have been involved in the break-in?]
  • Sukey arrives and maintains that she was with her uncle who is feeling ill all evening. He lives in nearby Hougham.
  • Just beyond the small village is a relatively new turnpike. The village has an old pub, called the Rose and Crab. There was a large park that had an entrance directly onto the turnpike.  While Johnnie and his mom were standing there a large, canary-yellow landau left the property. The coach contained a large shield on the door. On half of the shield was an image of a crab, the other half contained the coat of arms of the 5 roses that is on their silverware and on the letter-case his mom uses. [What is the connection between the large estate, the old pub, and the family herald?]
  • Riding in the landau was an old gentleman with scanty grey hair, blotchy patches on his face and forehead, and red, suken eyes. He stared at Johnnie's mother as the carriage passed them. There was also a boy, a few years older than Johnnie. [Who are these two people?]
  • Johnnie's mom tells him that the letter she received yesterday was from his uncle Marty [Martin Fortisquince?] said he would be sending Johnnie some books to help with his education. 
  • Johnnie's mom then realizes that the letter-case is gone (stolen the night before?)


Chapter 4 [p. 29 - 40] [March 8]

  • The books that were sent to Johnnie included many on heraldry and maps. 
  • One map was a 100 years old and showed the area around Hougham. The name Fortisquince appeared in one corner. [Both Hougham and Fortisquince go back at least a hundred years]
  • During the next few years Johnnie learns to read but he lives totally within the yard and house. He very rarely leaves the grounds and does not mingle at all with the people in the village. [Very weird!]
  • Johnnie is taught how to swim by Sukey's brother Harry. He becomes very good at swimming underwater.
  • Job Greenslade (Sukey's boyfriend) decides to enlist as a soldier in order to avoid Mr. Emeris's continued pursuit of the idea of his involvement in the burglary.
  • Johnnie continues to receive many books from his uncle. He notices that some of the books have the initials M. H. SInce his mother's name was Mary he assumed these books were once his mothers. [I am confused here. His mom is also referred to as Mrs. Mellamphy.]
  • He also noticed that a number of the books had the shield with 5 roses on it and the initials J. H.
  • While at church one Sunday Johnnie was able to see the impressive monument in the center of the church and noticed that the crypt had the name Geoffroi de Hougham on it. [This is the name of the village. Therefore he must have founded this village.]
  • Johnnie suspects that the initials J. H. refer to his father, but his mother won't comment. [Why?]
  • Johnnie asks his mother what her father's name was, and she refuses to tell him. [Why?]
  • Johnnie's mother then tells him that she must decide whether to do something or not in the near future. If she decides to do it, they will remain poor but nobody will try to harm them or take him away from her. If she decides not to do this thing then they may one day no longer be poor. [This is a key point.]
  • His mom also says that they have a wicked enemy. The danger is primarily to Johnnie.
  • She then unlocks her silver box with the tiger hunt on it and shows Johnnie a heart-shaped locket. The locket contains photos of both her and her soon to be husband.
  • But when Johnnie asks where his father is now, she says she can't. [Why not?] [Is this man Johnnie's father, or not?]
  • His mom leaves the room for a moment and Johnnie notices that the locket also contains the initials M. H. & P. C.
  • Johnnie then notices a small paper under the locket. It is sealed with red wax with the family's 5-rose herald. It also has the words "My beloved son - and my heir: John Huffam". [This is another key point]
  • Mrs. Belflower tells Johnnie some of the local history. The Mumpseys are estated folk and own most everything in the area. But they are a bad lot. There are stories of how they got the property from a family that had lived there for untold generations. The family's name was Hougham or Huffam. They lived there for generations but finally the family began to die out. Finally there was just and old man and 3 children - 2 daughters and a boy. The boy was called Jemmy and he was a rascal who spent most of his money. He married a rich heiress and had a son and daughter. The boy was called John (John Huffam) and the girl Sophy. Jemmy then made a deal with a money-lender called Old Nick. Old Nick said he would give him the money if Jemmy would first kill his father and then when he came into the inheritance he would give Sophy to him as his wife. Then when Jemmy dies if the money had not been repaid then the land will be given to Sophy's children. [This is an incredible deal!!] [There is no mention in the deal of what happens to the son, John]
Hougham1

Chapter 5 [p. 40 - 48] [March 9]

  • While Johnnie is waiting for Sukey to finish visiting her family, two village boys come by and ask Johnnie where he is from. One boy says that he is from the Rector's and that Johnnie's father is the Rector's brother. [Is this just a village rumor, or is it an important detail?]
  • Johnnie asks Sukey why he no longer sees the gardner, Mr, Pimlott. She replies that he no longer works for them and has gone to the poorhouse.
  • Johnnie is not supposed to ask Sukey anything about her father. [Why not?]
  • Sukey says that her father broke the law. 
  • Sukey tells Johnnie that the village of Hougham was moved so it was no longer in the same parish as the estate. [Why? Obviously whoever owned the estate had the power to see that the entire village was no longer on the property.]
  • The gate to the property was beside the hamlet.
  • The estate contained a large house inside a huge fenced property that was known as Hougham (Huffam?) The house is in disrepair and needs maintenance. She says that she is forbidden to talk to village boys. [Why?]
  • Johnnie talks to a pale girl dressed in black who is about the same age as himself who comes to the gate. The girl says she is an orphan and is taken care of by a housekeeper called Mrs Peppercorn. She has had a number of governesses, but her guardians said none of them were suitable. [Why not?]
  • The girl indicates that she is often whipped if she disobeys. [This is not a good situation!]
  • There is another lady in the house called Betsy.
  • The girl says her name is Henrietta Louisa Amelia Lydia Hougham Palphramond. Her mother was called Louisa and Henrietta and Lydia were her great-aunts. She doesn't know the origin of the other names.
  • Johnnie says that his grandfather's name was Huffam and that that is the name of the house and village and the estate. He goes on to begin saying, The Mumpseys ...
  • The girl disagrees and then says you mean the Mompessons. She says that her guardian's grandfather built the house and was a Mompesson. She says that her guardian is Sir Perceval Mompesson.
  • Mrs Peppercorn says that she will write to Mr Assinder to complain about the insolence of one of the workers.
  • When Mrs Peppercorn is told the boy's name is John Mellamphy she is surprised as she knows of no one in the vicinity with that name. [There seems to be some connection between Johnnie and this girl]


Summary at end of Book 1

There are two threads to the story so far. One is the present and the other is the past, which Johnnie remembers as a boy. 

The present involves efforts of someone associated with a Martin Fortisquince to blackmail someone else by revealing the contents of a document. 

The bulk of the story is the memory of someone called Johnnie who has just escaped "the confinement under which I had so long chafed and lay" and is now about to embark on a new undertaking.


Book 2 Friends Lost
Chapter 6 [p. 49 - 51] [March 11]

  • A man in a shabby greatcoat is looking up at a gloomy house on Brook street in London. [I assume this is Johnnie, now a man] [NO. Chapter 9 makes it clear that this is taking place while Johnnie is still a boy]
  • Inside the house are 3 people, metaphorically called Wealth, Arrogance and Power. [This has the sense of being an evil group]
  • Arrogance is a lady, tall & stately but with a suggestion of cruelty in her mouth.
  • Wealth is an elderly man with cold blue eyes, characterized as avarice and dissolute
  • Power has bushy black eyebrows and a reddish face. He says that "we now know she has a child which was born in wedlock, and this is to our advantage".
  • The "other side" had not been able to prove the child is legitimate in 50 years. [Assuming the child is Johnnie, then he is now about 50 years old]
  • They are looking for a record of the marriage which they believe exists [Is this the document that that everyone is looking for?]
  • They now feel that the latest piece of intelligence gives them an idea of where to look for it. [If Johnnie's father is the Rector's brother, then the Rector may have the document, or it may be in the church]
  • The woman says she questioned her employee minutely and is certain that the servant accompanying the child mentioned the name [The employee could be Mrs Peppercorn, and the servant Sukey, and the name would be John Mellamphy. But this would have occurred many years ago when Johnnie was a boy. This would also imply that Sir Perceval Mompesson is the guardian of the girl.]
  • They note that a man called Fortisquince is the woman's protector. [This is consistent with what I know so far, the woman being Johnnie's mother]
  • Power says he will try contacting this woman himself, but they note that "if the other side should find her..." [This implies that Johnnie no longer knows where is mother is]
  • Power says he will also talk with the church steward but Wealth says "Fellow's worked with me for years, and his uncle before him. I won't hear a word against him. [I think this may be important.]
  • They also mention something about a wretched private bill for the enclosure of the common-land. [This is new information - what is this all about?]


Chapter 7 [p. 51 - 54] [March 11]

  • Johnnie asks Mrs Belflower to continue telling him the story about "How the Mompessons stole the land from the Huffam family by deceit. ... Jemmy Huffam cheated his own son John out of his inheritance"
  • "Old Nick told Jemmy to  make a legal deed giving the estate to him and his heirs if you don't pay the loan back. And the contract had to make sure that Jemmy's son John could not inherit the estate. [I am thinking that this John could be Johnnie's father.]
  • Jemmy then poisoned his father so he would inherit the estate. He then borrowed the money from Old Nick. [I assume he failed to repay the loan and so Old Nick got the estate which then passed on to Old Nick and then to his daughter - who is Henrietta Palphramond.]
  • Jemmy was then gambling with Sir Perceval Mumpsey (who had a son by the same name) and lost the estate to him. This Sir Perceval was very rich and famous. Jemmy threw a losing dice roll (called crabs) and the Mumpsey's then made a herald of the crab and the 5 roses which is on silverware and dishes that Johnnie's mom has.
  • But Old Nick said the estate belonged to him and his daughter. They still dispute the claim that it belongs to the Mumpseys (Mompessons).
  • Sir Perceval Mumpsey had a beautiful daughter called Lady Liddy and John Huffam fell in love, eloped and were married. [This would be Johnnie's father and Lady Liddy would be his mother]
  • But the gambling game had been rigged with loaded dice.
  • Lady Liddy told John that the game had been rigged and that she had a signed confession from her father saying this was true. [Is this the document everyone is looking for?]
  • Sir Perceval and John had a duel and just as John had disarmed Sir Perceval, a stranger came up behind him and killed him. [Two points: the stranger must have known about the duel and thus was an accomplice of Sir Perceval, and although John was killed, he was still the father of Johnnie.]
  • The Mumpsey's have never prospered since that time and the estate has fallen into ruin.


Chapter 8 [p. 54 - 56] [March 11]

  • Sukey asks her mother to keep a piece of something for Harry [who is Harry?]


Chapter 9 [p. 56 - 61] [March 11]

  • A man from London meets Sukey and Johnnie in the church graveyard. The man has dark eyebrows. [This is Power]
  • Johnnie asks if he is Uncle Marty or Mr. Sancious. [Who is Sancious?]
  • Johnnie then takes the man home to meet his mother. He says his name is Barbellion and that he is a solicitor. He says that he wants the codicil.
  • He offers to give her 1500 pounds and provide for Johnnie's education if she will give him the document. But she refuses.
  • Mr. Barbellion has a few words with Bissett. [Why?]
  • Johnnie is sure that their name is not Mellamphy. [I agree]


Chapter 10 [p. 61 - 63] [March 11]

  • Johnnie's mother receives word that Uncle Martin Fortisquince has died.
  • The house that Johnnie and his mother live in is owned by Martin Fortisquince.
  • They decide they will have to let one of the servants go if they hope to be able to pay the rent on the house.
© Dale Burnett 2012