You're welcome. Have fun - I love this game!

Sorry, but I'm back. I went to the save games, but you need WinZip to open it up. Don't have it.
Next question, how do I bypass the ball puzzle? I tried to light the cannon (put cannon ball in, then powder, raised cannon). Get message "not yet." Tried to find etchings after going where the elevator would take me, and there aren't any. How do I get Saturnin to move the sacks?
Help, please! Thanks.

Saturnin must have already moved the sacks, otherwise you would not have been able to use the rope pulley system to lift the cellar hatch and find the cannon and everything else inside the cellar. You mention taking the elevator - this can only be taken after solving the ball puzzle. You've confoozled me. Edit: (There are 2 ball puzzles - one in Leonardo's workshop, and the other in the secret passage. Did you already solve one but not the other? Only one needs to be solved in order to activate the elevator.)

After setting the jack under the cannon and connecting the handle, be sure to turn the handle so you see a cut scene with the cannon raising and straightening up to point at the wall. But then, if you've already taken the elevator to the passage, there's no need to use the cannon just yet, as the passage is on the other side of that wall.

I am at the ball puzzle in the workshop. I can't figure out how to do this puzzle. Can't even get balls to drop. Have prepared the cannon (seen cut scene). Still get message "not yet."

P.S. Also got fed up with needing WinZip, so bought it. Found the save game under a different icon. However, this is very early in the game (don't know how the person got to this puzzle without doing a lot of other things). Anyway, either I start almost completely over using save game or - is there any other, more recent, save I could get? Thank you.

I have saves, but they're unlabelled. I can send a batch to you, but my play doesn't follow the walkthrough.

Please double check that you placed the gunpowder into the cannon correctly - into the slot near the back of the cannon. Does the wall have an active spot that you can click on? Did you place the flour on the plate with the etchings (to the left of the cellar stairs) and make a note of the symbols you found there?

Perhaps also speak again with Saturnin and Babou, see if they have any new dialogue. Otherwise I can't think why you would not be able to fire the cannon.

Rushes: I placed the powder in the slot. I don't recall seeing an active spot, but will look. The etchings aren't there because I can't solve the elevator ball puzzle. They are there in the saved game, though. But, as I said, a lot of things weren't done in that save and I wouldn't want to do all of them again. I'll talk to Babou again. Can't seem to find Saturnin lately. Thank you for your suggestions. I'll let you know.

The etching plate I mentioned is different to the floor etchings in the dust.

Etching plate: While in the cellar, look across to the left of the foot of the cellar stairs. There's a bench there. Leaning against this is a dirty engraved metal plate. You need to use flour with this to reveal the markings. Hopefully you also have paper in inventory for Valdo to jot this down.

Floor etchings: These are hidden in the dirt in the secret passage, beyond the wall you're trying to break down with the cannon.

Is there anything else you can be doing in the meantime, other than trying to get the cannon working or exploring the secret passage? The game is not particularly linear in this respect.

Rushes: Well, I've done it again. While messing around with the cannon, I lowered it again, not seeing the cannon ball fall out. (Did see it later, but thought it was extra)! Put it back into the cannon and boom! Thanks for all your help.

Aha! Pesky cannon ball. Glad you're up and running again now!

After getting the colored lenses from Saturnin, I came to a dead end !!!

There's no hot hot point on the telescope to put the lenses.

On the other hand, I went down the trap door in the kitchen and I couldn't do anything there (can't move the cannon because it's too dark though I'm using the lantern, and can't use the flour on the metal plate).

Am I missing anything that should be done first?

Hi nilecrystal,

Is the telescope pointing at the inside wall now rather than outside? Try talking to Babou, see if she has anything to say about the telescope.

There's a candleabra (with real candles) hanging down in the middle of the cellar which you should be able to light and so not need the lantern anymore.

A million Thanks, Rush. Worked like magic. How did I miss the hot point on the telescope anyway???

Silly me

Have fun, this is a great game!