The Chaos Code by Justin Richards Read Free Book Online Page B

opened into a large hallway. In fact it was more like a big room. A wide staircase swept up from the back of the hall, with doors either side of it leading deeper into the house. There were other doors at intervalsround the hall. Between two of the doors stood a suit of armour. Further along was a low table with a modern cordless telephone on it. It looked out of place amongst the oak panelling and the dark oil paintings hanging on the walls.
    â€˜So when do I get to meet Mr Venture?’ Matt asked. He’d almost referred to him as ‘Robin’s dad’ but didn’t think Aunt Jane would be impressed by that.
    â€˜Soon,’ she promised. ‘He’s a busy man, but I’m sure he’ll want to meet you too.’
    â€˜Great,’ Matt said. Maybe when he met Julius Venture, he’d have some idea why Dad thought he could help – if that was what Dad had really meant.
    â€˜I’m rather busy this afternoon,’ Aunt Jane told him. ‘But I’m sure Julius won’t mind if you look round. There’s lots to see. He has quite a collection.’
    â€˜A collection of what?’ Matt wondered.
    Aunt Jane shrugged as if the answer was obvious. ‘Everything.’
    â€˜I was hoping to look in the library,’ Matt told her. ‘Or maybe use a computer.’
    â€˜There are computers in the library.’ She smiled. ‘It isn’t all stuffy and old-fashioned like this.’ She tapped the suit of armour as she led him past the staircase and to one of the doors. It was standing open, revealing a panelled corridor beyond.
    â€˜Down here?’
    â€˜The library is at the end of the corridor. You won’tmiss it. I have an office on the first floor. Up the stairs, turn right and it’s the second door on the left.’
    â€˜And you’re busy.’
    â€˜Very.’
    â€˜I’ll be fine,’ he assured her. ‘Down here?’
    She nodded, still smiling. Maybe she was anticipating his reaction to the library when he finally got there. Or maybe she was making up for being so short with him earlier.
    â€˜Is Robin around?’ Matt asked, as much to see her reaction as anything.
    Aunt Jane’s smile flickered, but she kept it pretty much in place. ‘I think Robin’s busy,’ she said. Then more quietly: ‘I meant what I told you. But I know you won’t listen. Boys your age never do, do they?’ She sighed. ‘Anyway, I shouldn’t interfere, I know. Oh, and the password for the computer is secret.’
    He was puzzled. ‘Passwords usually are.’
    She smiled – properly this time. ‘You’ll work it out, if I know you. Your mother always said you’d follow in her footsteps not your father’s. Goodness me, I hope she’s right.’
    There were little spotlights set into the ornate plaster ceiling of the corridor – another strange juxtaposition of the new and the old. There were doors set into the panelled walls. They were so similar in design to the panels that Matt only knew they were there because of the handles and keyholes. They were all closed, and he didn’t tryto open any. He made his way slowly along, pausing to look at the pictures. Some were framed documents including several old maps, and an engraving of the opening of the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace in 1851. There were a couple of small portraits, and like the ones in the entrance hall, they showed people with striking dark hair and blue eyes. A family trait, Matt decided remembering Robin’s distinctive looks.
    One was different though. Standing on a narrow table midway along the corridor was a small framed portrait. The delicate brushwork depicted a woman with fair hair and green eyes. Her hair was arranged in curls on top of her head and the picture had faded with age. There was a name at the bottom of the picture in a little white plate painted into the foreground:
Elizabeth Venture
.