I must have made some kind of noise, because they both stopped what they were doing and looked sharply in my direction. They didn’t cry out, or seem particularly scared or startled; they were Droods, after all. I could see the gold collars around their throats.

Still, Jacob moved quickly to put himself between the young woman and the man staring at them through a hole in midair. I held up my hands to show they were empty, and gave them my most reassuring smile.

“It’s all right, Jacob,” I said quickly. “It’s all right; I’m family. I’m Edwin Drood, speaking to you from the future. The twenty-first century, to be exact. The family has need of you, Jacob.”

“If thou be family, show me thy torc,” said Jacob.

I pulled open my shirt to show him the collar around my neck. Jacob raised an eyebrow.

“A silver torc, and not gold. Has the family’s mettle become so debased, in your future time?”

“There have been some changes,” I said. “But the family goes on. You’d still recognise who we are, and what we do. The world still needs protecting, from many dangers.”

Jacob nodded slowly, then turned the young woman around, smacked her firmly on the bottom, and urged her towards the chapel door. “Get thee gone, girl. This is man’s business.”

She giggled, gave him one last saucy wink, and trotted quite happily out of the chapel. I made a mental note to tell this Jacob not to try that in my time.

“Best bit of bum in the Hall,” Jacob said cheerfully.

“That may be,” I said, “But . . . why the chapel?”

“Because the family’s chased me out of everywhere else,” said Jacob. “It seems the morals of this age are changing, and fun is out of fashion.” Jacob looked at me shrewdly. “From the future, you say . . . Might I inquire how it is that thou art here, speaking with me?”

“Merlin’s Glass,” I said, and Jacob nodded immediately.

“I had thought that devious and dangerous device long lost, and rightly so. Thy need must be desperate indeed, to put faith in such a thing.” Jacob regarded me thoughtfully. “How is it that a man of such future times recognises my face, and hails me by name? Am I to become famous, and a legend in the family?”

“Sort of,” I said. “I need you to come to me, Jacob, into the future, to help the family. Will you come?”

“Time travel is forbidden, without the express order of the Matriarch, ” Jacob said slowly. “But tell me, young sir, how goes the world in your time? What new wonders and marvels?”

“Come and find out,” I said.