‘Well, when Dillie left our house yet again, he and I spoke. He suggested leaving Dillie to her plans.’

‘Perhaps they have since eloped?’

‘No. I checked this morning and know he is still in his rooms.’ Wyndham snorted like an angry bull. ‘If she breaks this engagement, the girl will be dead to me. She knows that.’

‘Professor Wyndham, I found Dillie once before. And I advised you to do nothing but wait, to communicate through me, and to rest assured that I would endeavour to patch things up between you.’

‘Yes, and look how well that has gone,’ snapped the don.

‘I am concerned for her safety,’ said my friend.

‘Based on what? Who told you she was missing this time?’

‘A person with her well-being in mind.’

From behind us, I heard someone at the front door. I stood up. Holmes and I glanced at each other. My friend was on edge.

Wyndham moved to a small table opposite the door and poured himself a whisky. It was not even noon! We turned to face him. He did not offer us a drink.

‘I have had it with your prevarication, Holmes. You knew where my daughter had gone to hide and yet you chose to conceal her location from me. Now look what has happened. For a so-called detective, you bring more mystery to the situation than you solve.’ His voice grew louder.

He took his whisky and stood in front of the window. Wyndham took a sip, turned to his right and favoured us with a dramatic view of his profile, the mane of white hair in a sweeping wing. It was a studied pose. ‘She saw the light of reason, returned home, and announced her engagement,’ he continued. ‘Who knows what you may then have advised her? Now she has gone off alone—’

‘How do you know she is alone?’ asked Holmes.

‘Well, I don’t.’

‘Professor Wyndham, if anyone is responsible for your daughter’s desire to flee, it would most certainly be you,’ said Holmes. ‘She was remarkably unhappy here. I can’t imagine you are unaware of that fact.’

The man gave us a scornful smile. ‘When she vanished again, I prevailed upon my household to find her,’ said he. ‘They canvassed the town. Began to go door to door. Polly flew from the premises on the flimsiest of excuses. But thank heavens for Atalanta. Not only did she find Dillie’s hideaway, but she also followed Polly and saw her board a train for London. Visiting her mother, indeed!’ His face darkened. ‘She came to see you.’

Holmes and I exchanged a look. There was no use denying it.

‘She did,’ said Holmes. ‘At considerable risk to herself. Where is Polly now? She returned by a late train last night.’

‘Holmes!’ I cried, thinking it dangerous for him to have given Polly away.

‘We need to find her, Watson, if she did not return here.’