The Gold-Bug

Friends, hunters, and associates -

I understand there has been some tension brewing recently among the group regarding myself, Sonia and the matter of her true identity and inheritance. Sonia’s refusal to respond to my contact made her stance fairly clear even before her resignation yesterday. In the circumstances, I thank her for her graciousness in releasing to me a copy of her inheritance so that we can all recover mine own inheritance. I will impress to you all, as I already have, repeatedly, to Sonia, that her anger constitutes a punishment for my allowing her to learn the truth, a punishment I accept and deserve.

It is not my way to be deceitful; not my nature, but imagine this: some ancient, blind, wheelchair-bound old man writes to young Sonia unsolicited, not only with a proposal of help in a treasure-hunt plucked from the fictions of Mr Poe, but with the information that she is the direct descendant of a main character of a true story. Nothing could have prepared you for this sudden and quite horrible discovery Sonia, but I promise you as I did previously, that by this old man’s judgment, this was the only proper way you could know, as your ancestor himself intended.

I digress. This note was intended primarily as thanks to Ms Delfont for her work so far, which has been exemplary and quite brilliant. You’ve done well in assembling this team, young Sonia, and leading them and teaching them. I’m sorry that you had to react the way you did to recent developments; but I couldn’t have been ready for the enthusiasm and brilliance you’ve shown up until this point. Your performance, communication, intelligence, all have been exemplary. The Hunters who have earned their title will carry on your good work, Sonia. I know you’ve prepared them well for the final chapters, and you should be proud; it’s a shame you won’t be with them for what’s next, but you’ve assembled an eager and talented group to help conclude what I regard as the most important part of my life. And one of the most important of yours. I’ve no doubt you’ll keep an eye on us, and I can only hold onto the hope that we’ve not heard the last from you. Good luck Sonia, with wherever you choose to take your young life next. I continue to consider myself in your debt.

My hunters and associates. I hope you are ready to work under new management – you’ll forgive me for not telling you more on this straight away – and for new stages I imagine to unravel in the coming weeks. The departed Sonia, I imagine, will keep watch over your progress. That will be a comfort.

With kind regards to all,

[dictated by]
Rupert Grandison