‘A great collection of pipes and whistles, of brass tubes, handles and bolts, all sorts, piecemeal, made of a thousand bits, this and that all over it, pilfered, got together, ganging up, getting bigger. There’s one been reported, seen somewhere about the house and then lost again, it’s in hiding. Where did you see it, my child?’

‘Outside the Clip Room, on the third floor.’

‘Outside the Clip Room? Whatever were you doing there? You’re not supposed to be there. There’s something very foul going on, something deceitful and nasty, something treasonous or my name’s not Claar Piggott. I don’t think I like you, Iremonger, I’m just coming round to disliking you this minute, I’m nearly there, a few seconds longer and I shall probably really despise you. Come,’ she said, pinching the back of my neck and pulling me onwards, ‘if you’ve seen a Gathering there are others that shall need know of it. You’re coming with me.’ She pinched me hard.

‘My neck!’ I cried. ‘You’re hurting me.’

‘I mean to do it, lovey, that’s exactly my intention.’

She dragged me along to Sturridge’s parlour. I was in a panic, trying to fight her off. But I needn’t have struggled so much, that blind man was not there. Grim-faced city Iremongers were keeping the butler company, some wearing shining brass firemen’s helmets.

‘She’s seen a Gathering!’ Mrs Piggott announced as we entered.

‘Where? When?’ the men called, getting all worked up.

‘On the third floor,’ said Mrs Piggott. ‘Clip Room.’

‘How long ago was that, Iremonger, be quick and tell us, how long since?’

‘Two hours ago it was, I think,’ I said.

‘Two hours!’ a man cried. ‘It’ll have moved on for certain.’

‘But we must look all the same. See what’s missing. Get an idea of its size.’

‘Perhaps it’s heading upwards.’

‘It may still be there. There is a chance.’

‘Grab the hammers, take the crowbars, the weights, gunpowder. Be sure to have the fuses. The magnets too! Up we go!’

The men took all manner of heavy instruments and rushed from the room and I was left alone in the company of Mrs Piggott and Mr Sturridge.

‘This house is falling to bits, Olbert,’ she said to the butler, ‘how could a Gathering have been allowed to happen? What damage shall it do?’

‘It may do a great deal, and they might too with all their weaponry. They have no understanding of this house, no love for it at all.’

‘And then there’s this Iremonger for you, Olbert, she has been wandering around the uphouse, her firegrates have not been done.’