“It’s not a good idea for them to go. There’ve been outbreaks of smallpox on that ship. They would never reach Canada alive.” I had to think quickly of some civil service department that would be responsible for such matters. “On the advice of the Office for Migration of Minors to the Dominions, the authority for their passage must be revoked.”

“Oh well if that’s the case.”

“You need to sign in triplicate.”

“Do I indeed?”

I passed him the forms. “You, Eliot and Gertrude.”

He picked up his pen. I pointed to the line for his signature. “And today’s date.”

He glanced at the day-by-day calendar on his desk, and signed. “You’ll catch Gertrude, but not sure about Eliot. He’s had strong interest in overseas investment in our mine. He’ll be gallivanting to London.”

That was so annoying. He would be the tricky one.

He passed me the signed forms. “What happens to this merry band of orphans now?”

Good question.

Alec came up with the answer. “Could they be brought here, sir? There’s plenty of room on the top floor.”

“What do you know about the top floor?”

“Only what the servants say, sir, about how many empty rooms there are.”

Benjie thought for a moment. “I don’t see why not, but children need looking after don’t they?”

“I’m sure that could be taken care of, Benjie.”

I thought of Mr. and Mrs. Arkwright, and how they would love to be in touch with their charges again. One step at a time.

Of course if Benjie and Raynor were arrested for murder, that plan might fall flat.

I stood. “Thank you, Benjie. I’ll leave you and Alec to talk. And Alec, we’ll see you by the car when you’re ready.”

As I went out, I heard Benjie saying. “You’ll be wanting your Comic Cuts. It’s here somewhere.”

I went back to the car. Sykes and I strolled towards the walled garden. Sykes looked back every few minutes, to make sure no one was sabotaging the car. We would go to the Dells’ house. Once I had Gertrude’s and Eliot’s signatures, we would take Alec to meet Philip. There was a flat above the Battersby garage. It had been agreed that Alec might stay there, which would be an improvement on living above the stable. Now that Philip was to take over the garage, he might move into the flat too, if he could bear to leave his mother.

“Funny old place.” Sykes said. “Say ‘Thorpefield Manor’ and you expect something grand. It’s a bit neglected.”

“They’re hoping for better days.”

“Aren’t we all?”

The wind had got up quite fiercely, but the high walls of the garden protected us. Birds made the most of the sheltered spot. A blackbird pecked at the earth. A couple of blue tits perched on a branch, inspecting the bark for insects.