After a moment, a mousy little woman entered the room. She was in complete contrast to the amazing beauty of her mistress. Harry wondered whether she had been employed for that very reason.

‘You may he seated, Emily,’ said Mrs Losse. ‘This is Captain Cathcart. He has decided to investigate further the murder of your poor brother.’

Emily sat down on the very edge of a chair and clasped her hands. ‘Oh, sir,’ she said, ‘I was afraid no one was ever going to find out anything.’

‘Tell me about your brother,’ asked Harry gently.

‘He was good and worked hard. He liked working for the agency because he said there were so many banquets and functions that there was always demand for extra footmen and he didn’t need to be tied to one master like some.’

I wonder whether he was blackmailing the Tremaines, thought Harry. Aloud, he asked, ‘Did your brother say anything about coming into money?’

She gave a sad little laugh. ‘He was always dreaming. I met him on my day off, just before he was killed. We walked down to London Bridge. He said we would go and buy a little cottage in the country and raise hens and pigs.’

‘And was this new?’

She sighed. ‘Oh, no, it was a dream he’d always had.’

‘Did he talk of any rich or influential friends?’

‘No, sir. He only talked about other servants he had met on his various jobs.’

Harry promised that if he found out anything, he would let her know immediately. Emily was dismissed. Harry rose to leave.

‘You must come back and see me,’ said Mrs Losse as she escorted him to the door. She stood very close to him in the narrow passage, that bewitching face of hers turned up to his own.

‘Yes, I will,’ said Harry.

‘Promise!’ Those eyes glinted flirtatiously. Harry laughed. ‘Of course.’

He went straight to Scotland Yard to find that Kerridge had gone home ages ago and so he said he would return in the morning. When he returned to his home, he told Becket of the latest developments.

‘Do you not think you should tell Lady Rose about this?’ suggested Becket.

‘No, I don’t think so. She will demand again to accompany me to Scotland Yard. I am in enough difficulties there with some of them who regard me as an interfering amateur. Lady Rose is very forceful. With her along, it would look as if I was under some sort of petticoat government and life would be made even more difficult for me. Kerridge is always helpful, but he doesn’t tell me everything just because I am not on the force. I know that Inspector Judd disapproves of me and I have overheard detectives calling me “that dilettante”. I shall call on her after I have talked to Kerridge.’

‘It is late,’ said Becket. ‘You were supposed to take dinner with the Hadshires this evening.’

‘Now I really am in trouble,’ groaned Harry.