‘Well, then, this person whose wrist you are holding is none other than the one they are all searching for. I did not want to raise alarm. People here have been hurt enough already. I merely mean to proceed with her under my custody to the hatch over beyond, and there to take her downhouse where she is waited for, waited for and expected by my Uncle Timfy himself and Sturridge and Piggott, and there I, the one who caught the vermin, must move her, and quickly too, before more harm is done. Do you understand now? Must I make myself clearer? This, what you hold, is it, the it, the unblood. It itself.’

The matron stood very still now, her hand still grasping Lucy, no words coming out, just looking, just standing, and then in time with the clinking chandelier she began to shake a little, in her eyes a moisture grew and then some tears began to fall down her cheeks and very soon she was sobbing.

‘I … I didn’t know,’ she wept.

‘Come now, matron, no one’s blaming you.’

‘I touched it … I’m touching it,’ she said, hurriedly letting go.

‘And all shall be well again after a good wash.’

‘I’m ever so, I’m ever so, I’m ever so sorry.’

‘You’re in shock, matron, understandable that you are. Perfectly sensible that you are. Indeed, who wouldn’t be. Here’s a chair for you now, sit you down.’

‘Bless you, Master Clodius, oh dear, I don’t feel well.’

‘Shall I take it away then?’

‘I wish that you would.’

‘Are you all right; are you safe to leave now?’

‘Oh, don’t worry after me, master. Please get it away. Please do. So terrible having it so close. Oh, my heart!’

‘Off we go then, and quietly too, not wishing to cause any alarm.’

‘Yes … yes,’ she wept, ‘I quite see that now.’

So I pulled Lucy away from the unhappy matron, and walked with her as quietly as we could, towards the hatch. On the dining room table Uncle Idwid was trying to sit up.

‘Oh, Clod,’ said Lucy, ‘have you done it?’

‘Not yet, Lucy, not yet.’

‘I think I might scream from fright any moment.’

‘Best if you don’t, I think, on the whole.’