We had discussed no such thing. However, I nodded my head and made a mental note to ask him to catch me up a bit more in advance of these meetings.

Holmes regarded Father Lamb, who sat unmoving, his face now a mask of guarded but extreme displeasure. I became aware of a dripping sound. It seemed to come from underneath us.

Lamb cleared his throat and forced a smile back upon his face.

‘We are trying to put that all behind us, sir. Father Menenius was ill; he contracted brain fever, during the flood you mentioned … and it affected his thinking. He had many, many years of devoted service to the Church with no hint of misbehaviour. But then suddenly—’

‘A sad tale. The girl was found drowned in the crypt, Watson! After she had been horribly – well, never mind. Has there been more flooding since?’

‘No. Mr Holmes, we are taking contributions to the reparations fund, if you would consider a small donation?’ The man’s face, previously so benign had now shut as tight as a pub at breakfast time.

‘Certainly! Watson? Have you any cash on hand?’

I dug into my pockets, although resentfully. I had a couple of five-pound notes, as I usually set out with Holmes well prepared for possible needs. Holmes snatched the one I retrieved and gave it to Father Lamb.

‘No use dwelling on the negative, then, Father,’ Holmes said cheerfully.

‘We begin anew. It is up to me – and to Deacon Buttons – to rebuild trust, to re-establish our glorious church in this small corner of the world.’

‘And Rome? They support you?’

‘We are at present … on our own. But not for long, I expect. We will be brought back into the fold, I am sure.’

‘Your young deacon is charming,’ said Holmes. ‘But with apologies, Father, I need to confirm that it was not Deacon Buttons who placed Odelia Wyndham’s doll in the Jesus Lock, thus terrifying her family, alarming her friends, and causing me to come all this way to investigate her disappearance.’ He paused. ‘Which is what he wanted me to do a day or so ago.’

‘For Mr Holmes to come, that is,’ I said, feeling the need to clarify.

Father Lamb stood firm. ‘Has the young lady been harmed in any way?’

‘No. But that is not to say she is out of danger.’

The priest stared at Holmes. ‘But why is your attention turned to young Buttons? I cannot imagine he would be so devious. He is simply looking after a troubled young person.’

‘He is barely older than she, Father,’ said Holmes.

‘You begin to disturb me with your questions, sir.’

From inside the nave, I could see a workman conferring with others and gesticulating urgently to Lamb. But the priest’s back was to them and they evidently did not want to interrupt.