Margaret nodded slowly.
"Then let him present whatever evidence he has."
Daniel opened the envelope.
"I have also prepared a formal request to inspect the Harrington estate archive. Victoria Harrington has agreed to meet with us this afternoon."
Margaret stared at him.
"She agreed?"
"Apparently, she has discovered something in her grandfather's private correspondence that concerns the diamond."
Margaret felt her pulse quicken.
"What did she find?"
"She has not explained the details."
For a moment, Margaret could not speak. She had spent decades trying to convince people that her father's story deserved attention. Now the granddaughter of the man who had wronged him was offering access to the very records that might prove it.
She was cautious about trusting Victoria, but she could not ignore the opportunity.
"Then we should go."
That afternoon, they arrived at the former Harrington estate, a large stone residence surrounded by mature trees and iron gates. The property had once hosted diplomats, collectors, and influential business figures. Although parts of the building had been converted into private offices, the original library and basement archive remained under the family's control.
Victoria greeted them at the entrance.
She looked tired.
"I appreciate you coming," she said.
Margaret studied her face.
"Have you found something?"
Victoria hesitated.
"Possibly. I discovered a letter from my grandfather referring to the Ellis workshop and an instruction to preserve certain original papers in the estate archive."
Margaret's hands tightened around her handbag.
"What did the letter say?"
"It suggested that the matter was not as simple as the official records claimed."
"Then why was nothing done?"
Victoria looked away.
"Because the letter was never brought to my attention by anyone who understood its significance. I found it among a collection of documents after my father's death, but I was told that the underlying dispute had been settled."
Margaret considered her response.
"You inherited a great deal from your grandfather."
"Yes."
"Did you ever ask yourself where it came from?"
Victoria's face reddened slightly.
"I believed the records were accurate."
"And now?"
"Now I am trying to establish whether they were."
Margaret nodded.
"That is a beginning."
They descended a narrow staircase to the basement. Leonard Price joined them, carrying a flashlight and a folder of archival references. At the bottom stood a heavy wooden door with an old brass lock.
Victoria removed a key from her pocket.
"My grandfather kept this room separate from the main business records. I have never opened it."
She turned the key.
The door creaked inward.
The archive smelled of dust, old paper, and damp wood. Shelves lined the walls, holding leather-bound ledgers, cardboard boxes, and bundles of correspondence tied with string. A narrow window near the ceiling allowed a weak beam of daylight to enter.