Desperate to find something of value to sell in order to pay off his overdue school fees, William searches the now-empty mansion and stumbles upon a Secret Underground Passage leading to a locked door. On returning home for the holidays, however, he is received by Kevin, who informs him that Uncle Barton's business endeavors have failed and that the Twining family is now essentially bankrupt. Despite believing in the power of science over the power of God, William attends a prestigious and expensive school with the hope of eventually becoming a successful politician or lawyer. William Twining is a realist who lives a comfortable life with his uncle, Lord Barton, and his butler, Kevin, in Victorian Britain.
