‘Zoltan obviously knew about the statuette,’ said James. ‘He knew where to find the Siren and what to expect.’

‘I know,’ said Amy. ‘He told me. He stole the piece for the Count.’

‘But how did Ugo know?’ said James.

‘He has people working for him everywhere,’ said Amy. ‘Even in England.’

‘Even in Eton,’ said James.

‘Exactly,’ said Amy. ‘There’s a man, posing as a master at your school. He tells Ugo everything he needs to know.’

‘Cooper-ffrench,’ said James. ‘I know him. He’s here.’ Now it was James’s turn to talk, as he explained, as quickly as he could, everything he knew.

‘It’s hopeless,’ said Amy, when he’d finished.

‘No,’ said James, and he squeezed her hand. ‘I’ll get you out of here.’

‘Now?’ There was a look of pitiful hope on her face and James had to look away.

‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘There are some tools up top. Maybe I can break this bar, or something. And there’s a boy who works here; he can help us.’

‘Stefano?’ said Amy.

‘Yes,’ said James. ‘So don’t give up.’

Two big tears squeezed out of Amy’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

‘I don’t believe this is happening,’ she said. ‘I prayed that someone would come.’

‘Hang on,’ James said, standing up. ‘I’ll be back.’

The first thing was to get on to the roof again.

He called up to Stefano, as loudly as he dared, but there was no answering shout. He obviously couldn’t hear him. James shook the rope. Nothing.

He sighed and spat on his hands. He had stripped off some of the skin climbing down, but he just had to forget about that and climb up as best he could.

He gripped the rope tightly, braced his legs against the wall and slowly walked up, hoisting himself hand over hand as he went. Twice his feet slipped and he crashed painfully against the wall, but he made it to the safety of the first window without falling off and rested on the ledge once again.

‘Stefano,’ he called out. ‘Where are you?’

Still nothing.

He wondered if he might be able to get inside the building here and find an easier way up. He fiddled with the shutters, slipping his penknife between them to lift the latch and eventually managed to rattle it loose. He folded them back and crawled inside, still tied to the rope.

The room was bare and empty and the door was locked from the other side. He couldn’t risk the noise it would make trying to force it open, so he reluctantly climbed back outside and set off once more up the wall.

His sheer angry determination eventually got him to the top, but when he got to the roof he discovered that Stefano had gone.

Damn it.

That scuppered things.

He was on his own now.