“I wouldn’t have interrupted you⁠—only that I thought it might perhaps have something to do with all this. You see, what has upset Father is that one of our footmen is missing. He went out last night and hasn’t come back.”

“What is the man’s name?” It was Sir Oswald who took up the cross-examination.

“John Bauer.”

“An Englishman?”

“I believe he calls himself a Swiss⁠—but I think he’s a German. He speaks English perfectly, though.”

“Ah!” Sir Oswald drew in his breath with a long, satisfied hiss. “And he has been at Chimneys⁠—how long?”

“Just under a month.”

Sir Oswald turned to the other two.