He stopped, of a sudden, and turned round. I said we’d miraculously got back in without drawing attention? Well, our luck had just run out – and then some. From a high window I caught sight of Mrs Gillyflower gazing down, a strange half-smile on her phiz. Pilgrims was creeping out of every shadowy corner. Like Clara’s pal in the jar, they was, to a boy and gal, top-hole specimens, clear of eye and bonny of visage.

‘Oh. Great. Great,’ said the Doc. ‘Attack of the Supermodels!’ (Whatever that meant.) He sighed, and his nervous fingers fluttered before him. ‘Time for a plan.’

He took a step towards the ’Grims, but I pushed him back. ‘Nah, Doctor. This one’s on me.’ And so saying, I pulled at my frock and it came apart (just as Madam had designed it to), revealing the tight, black leather outfit that had proved far more handy and practical than running around solving mysteries with a bustle stuck to me bum.

The first of the ’Grims come rushing towards me but I made short work of him, hurling him over me shoulder using one of the jujitsu moves what I’d learned from a correspondence course. Then came the second, swinging his fists and – one, two, three! – I sent him hurtling into the corner.

‘That’s a plan!’ cried the Doctor, beaming.

But suddenly there was more of them, and this time they had nasty-looking leather coshes in their hands.

‘OK,’ said the Doctor. ‘Time for a new plan.’

Then I felt the first of the laser bolts shriek past my face – all white heat and singed air – and a section of the metal wall buckled like melting butter. The ’Grims scattered like ants.

‘Sontar-ha!’

It was old Straxy, of course, and about time too! He come racing inside, blasting away with his stumpy weapon and Madam behind him, Samurai sword raised and swinging over her head.

‘Quickly!’ she yelled. ‘Let’s go!’

‘No!’ cried the Doctor.

‘No, Ma’am!’ I yelled over the hiss and crackle of Strax’s gun. ‘We’re not escaping!’ I pointed to the revivification box. ‘We’ve got to help the Doctor with Clara!’

Madam frowned, puzzled, and the Doctor shrugged.

‘Long story!’

The laser fire sent the remainder of the ’Grims packing, and I saw Mrs Gillyflower turn away from the window in disgust.

Strax came bounding up to us, his piggy eyes shining. ‘What now, Madam? I could lay mimetic cluster mines—’

‘Strax—’ said Madam.

‘– and if we dug trenches and filled them with acid—’

‘Strax! You’re overexcited. Have you been eating Miss Jenny’s sherbet fancies again?’

The little fella sort of blushed and looked away. ‘No … ’

‘I knew it!’ I cried, having noticed my tin of sweeties diminishing by the day.

Madam pointed towards the way they’d come in. ‘Go outside and wait till I call for you.’

‘But Madam—’

‘Go!’

And off he sulked like a kicked puppy.