A family is curious about a legend surrounding a string of beads, handed down from Great-grandfather. Kept in a horn snuff-box with a clue – or a riddle –

Our mystical meaning a secret shall be: Here’s a key for a lock, find a key for the key.

They must be kept in the house as long as the house remains in the family – and this was stated clearly in Great Grandfather’s will. It was believed, once, that the string of beads – being a variety of colours – might be a form of cipher or code that contained a hidden message. But none yet have cracked the code…