“Darlings, how terribly primitive. Is your father a violent man?”

“Not usually,” Darcy said. “And it wasn’t just any club. It was a prehistoric club of great rarity that has been in my family forever.”

“Ah, so it could have been symbolic of reclaiming the family honor. Perhaps this man insulted your father one time too many. Perhaps he was planning to do something awful with the castle—turn it into a tourist attraction or something.”

“But that’s just giving another reason to make him guilty,” I said. “We did wonder whether Mr. Roach had surprised a burglar trying to take this valuable club and they struggled over it.”

“Splendid,” she exclaimed. “I like that one. The unknown burglar. Nothing to do with any of the parties involved. Yes, I can see the defense counsel could do well with that. I suppose your father has no alibi that night? Did the servants not see him?”

“He has no servants any longer,” Darcy said, “apart from Mrs. McNalley, who comes in to clean and bring him food. And she’s only there in the daytime. She was long gone.”

“And I suppose nobody passed his house and noticed him through the window or something?”

“He lives in the lodge, which we are about to pass on your right. See, there, through the trees?”

“Oh mon Dieu,” she said. “How utterly dreary. No wonder your father’s thoughts turned to murder. It couldn’t be more out of the way, could it? Should we just pop in and let me introduce myself to your pa and tell him my plans for his barrister?”

“I think not,” Darcy said hastily. “My father is not exactly welcoming callers at the moment.”

“Don’t be silly, he’d love to see me,” the princess said. “I’m sure we have oodles of friends in common. And I’m good at putting anyone at their ease. You know that. I can make monsters eat out of my hand. Do you know that Mussolini actually kissed my cheek once?”

I turned to look at her. I was sure she really did have the power of melting even the hardest of hearts. But Darcy said shortly, “Absolutely not, Zou Zou. At least not until we have something positive to tell him.”

“I’ll telephone Roddy when we get to Dublin and chivvy him along with his barrister search,” she said. “Knowing he has the best chap in Ireland on his side will certainly cheer your father up, surely?”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Darcy said. “But he has sunk into such a depression that I’m not sure what would cheer him right now.”

“Then it’s up to us,” Princess Zamanska said. “If anyone can do it, we can.”

I admired her confidence. I wasn’t at all sure myself.

Chapter 21

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4

A SURPRISE IN DUBLIN.