“Good morning, Lord Fraser,” Oliver answered, and sat in the chair opposite the desk, put his briefcase on his lap. He opened it, took out two folders and placed the briefcase on the floor.

Oliver Templeton cleared his throat, and looking directly at the man who had hired him, he said in a clear, distinct voice, “My team did an excellent job, in my opinion. And I think you have all the answers to your questions, m’lord. Certainly, they didn’t leave a stone unturned.”

Leaning forward, he handed the two folders to Adrian.

Adrian said, “You’ve done it fast, I’ll give you that, Templeton. Just one week.” A questioning look crossed his face. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “And yet you say your team has answered all my questions. How can that be? I had quite a lot that I needed to know.”

“Good work on the part of my team. They are excellent, efficient and diligent. But they were in luck because no one was in hiding and they went about their business in the usual way. Mind you, none was aware they were being watched and followed, I’ll give you that.”

Adrian nodded, and opened the first folder, and read the pages rapidly. His face was inscrutable, but his mind was boggling. My God, he thought at one moment, Templeton does have a bloody good team.

The second folder provided pages and pages of details that would only thrill Robert. He must get this information to him at once.

Looking across his desk at Templeton, Adrian said, “This is an extraordinary report, and very helpful. Significant. Thank your team for me and my thanks to you also.”

“It was a pleasure to be of service, Your Lordship. Can I be of help further?”

After a moment’s thought, Adrian nodded. “I think perhaps you can. I’d like to know more about that villa. You should keep your team on the job for another week.”

“I will do that, Lord Fraser, and thank you for your confidence in me.”

Hugging the large envelope to his chest, Adrian hotfooted it down South Audley Street to Grosvenor Square. He had an urgent need to get the package to Robert as fast as he possibly could.

It was a hot day, and he began to perspire, but he kept up the pace. And, a bit sooner than he had expected, he was suddenly there, lifting the brass knocker on the door of his friend’s house.

Almost immediately the door opened and there was Turnbull, welcoming him warmly in his usual way.

“I’m afraid I’m a bit early,” Adrian said after greeting the butler. “I have to see His Lordship at once, unless he is otherwise engaged.”

“Come in, come in, Lord Fraser,” the butler said. “It’s much cooler in here.”

Indeed it was; Adrian noticed that at once. “Thank you,” he said, stepping into the foyer.