The Luminaries Wealth/Class Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

Next the Magistrate's Court heard the testimonies of Mannering, Quee, Löwenthal, Clinch, Nilssen, and Frost—all of whom described the discovery and deployment of the fortune discovered in Crosbie Wells's cottage quite as if the retorted gold had indeed been discovered upon the Aurora. Mannering testified to the conditions under which the Aurora had been sold, and Quee to the fact of the ore's retortion. Löwenthal detailed his interview with Alistair Lauderback on the night of the 14th of January, during which he learned about the death of Crosbie Wells. Clinch testified that he had purchased the estate the following morning. Nilssen described how the gold had been hidden in Crosbie Wells's cottage, and Frost confirmed its value. They made no mention whatsoever of Anna's gowns, nor of the foundered barque, Godspeed, nor of any of the concerns and revelations that had precipitated their secret council in the Crown Hotel three months ago (IV.4.164).

When Emery Staines and Anna Wetherell end up on trial, several of the witnesses seem to collectively agree not to share certain information relating to Crosbie Wells's gold—for example, the fact that it was found in Anna's gowns. The whole mystery of the treasure and all that happened to/with it gets kept pretty much under a hat…even though it's been at the center of the whole book.

Quote #8

The safe was empty.
'Where's my money?' said Crosbie Wells (V.1.77-78).

This moment occurs in a flashback to the moment Crosbie found out that Lydia stole his "bonanza" from his big strike. In one moment, Crosbie went from a very wealthy man to the pauper most people in Hokitika knew him as.

Quote #9

Emery Staines, arriving at the camp station, was surprised to see that the Aurora's box was flagged, meaning that a yield had been submitted. He requested the gold escort to unlock the box. Inside there was a neat lattice of smelted gold bars. Staines took one of the bars in his hand. 'If I asked you to turn your back a moment,' he said presently, 'while I transferred the contents of this box elsewhere, what would be your price?' (IX.2.1).

This is a flashback to when Emery found that Quee had somehow been finding gold on what he thought was a duffer claim. Since he was trying to prevent Frank Carver from making any money off of his claim, he wanted to hide the money immediately rather than having it banked under the Aurora's name.