‘No reason at all, my dear!’ said Joseph. ‘Of course he didn’t!’

‘Well!’ Maud said. ‘I have always thought him a very tiresome young man, making a great deal of trouble through nothing but ill-temper, but I never supposed he would be wantonly destructive!’

At that moment Stephen walked into the room. Paula said: ‘Stephen, did you chuck Aunt Maud’s book into the incinerator?’

‘No, of course I didn’t,’ he answered. ‘How many more times am I to tell you that I never touched the damned thing?’

‘Well, someone did.’

His lips twitched. ‘Oh no, not really?’

Maud mutely held out what remained of the Life of the Empress Elizabeth. Stephen took one look, and burst out laughing. The Sergeant seized this opportunity to escape from the room, and went back to tell his superior that from the looks of it Stephen Herriard had done it.

‘Young devil!’ said Hemingway.

Meanwhile, Maud, quite incensed by Stephen’s laughter, was delivering herself of her opinion of him. It was evident that she was very much put out. Stephen said, with unaccustomed penitence, that he was sorry he had laughed, but that he was guiltless of having tampered with the book. Mathilda did not believe him, but she saw that Maud was really upset, and at once supported Joseph’s theory that the book had been thrown away by accident. Maud reiterated her resolve to question the servants, and Paula said impatiently, ‘What on earth’s the use of making a fuss about it now that the damage is done? If you ask Sturry whether he put your book in the incinerator, he’ll give notice on the spot.’

‘You go and ask him,’ Stephen advised Maud. ‘You can’t do any harm, because he’s just given me notice.’

This announcement provoked an outcry. Joseph wanted to know what could have induced the man to do such a silly thing; Mathilda ejaculated: ‘Snake!’ and Paula said he would be a good riddance.

‘I think very badly of him for giving notice at such a time as this!’ said Joseph. ‘It is very selfish of him, very selfish indeed!’

‘It is annoying, because I meant to give him the boot before he could do it,’ said Stephen. ‘What’s more, he’ll be wanted to swear to Uncle Nat’s will, before it’s admitted to probate.’

‘Why?’ asked Paula.

Stephen made a slight, contemptuous gesture towards his uncle. Joseph said: ‘I’m afraid that’s my fault, my dear. It’s so long since I read my law that I’ve become shockingly rusty. I very stupidly forgot that it’s usual to insert an Attestation Clause. It doesn’t really matter, only it means that both witnesses will be wanted before we can get probate.’

‘Well, he can go and swear his piece before a Commissioner for Oaths,’ said Stephen. ‘Not that it’s necessary. As long as we know where to find him, he can still do his swearing even though he isn’t any longer employed here.’

‘You make him swear before he leaves!’ advised Mathilda. ‘I wouldn’t put it past him to try to put a spoke in your wheel somehow!’