'Not to much purpose these days. I was a fair hand at the fiddle in my youth.'
'And you, Captain Leonard. Are you of a musical cast of mind?'
'A what? Oh no. No, I'm afraid not. I don't seem to get much-'
'Here we are, chaps,' interrupted Hunter, handing glasses. His demeanor was more excited than just earlier. 'A weak one for you, Brian. There. Now everybody pay attention to Alastair. He's worked out the whole time- table.'
'The padre's problem can be settled in one minute flat after Lucy appears,' said Ross-Donaldson. 'So that's him out of the way. Then I think that, by rights, Dr. Best should have the chance of seeing Lucy about whatever he wants to see her about, which leaves-'
'It's kind of you to be so careful of my interests,' broke in the doctor, 'but I'd prefer to talk to Lady Hazell after she's… I mean I'd sooner have her undivided attention.'
'We'll put you last, then.'
'I don't mind waiting around a bit,' said Leonard. 'Put me next to last.'
'As you wish. You've made a good recovery from your recent fit of impatience. So now it's just you and I to sort out, Hunter.'
'You go first if you like. Of us two.'
'Right. So it's the padre, myself, Hunter, Leonard, the doctor. Everybody got that? Good. The only remaining question is the transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2, and I'll deal with that when I take my turn. Just remember that in Phase 2 it's the responsibility of the outgoing man to advise the next on the list that the position is vacant. A couple of minutes' interval is all that's necessary… Ah, good evening, Lucy. I always admire your sense of timing. May I present Major William Ayscue of the Army Chaplains Department, Captain Maximilian Hunter of the Carabinier Guards, and Captain Brian Leonard of the Sailors? And, uh, Dr. Best. Gentlemen, this is Lady Hazell.'
'What can I do for you, doctor?' asked Lucy at once.
'It's a personal matter, Lady Hazell. I'd like to defer it a little while, if it's all the same to you.'
'It isn't quite. I'd like to get it over now.'
'I really think, giving my professional opinion, that in the interests of all concerned it would be better to approach the question in private.'
'If you say so, doctor.., Well, Major… Ayscue. Do I understand that you're a chaplain? A clergyman?'
'Yes, you do, Lady Hazell, in sheep's clothing as I am, but let me explain why I've come to call on you.'
When Ayscue had finished, Lucy said, 'Well, of course, please look at anything you like. It's nice to have someone taking an interest in the stuff. You can have a sort of first go now if you feel like it. I'm afraid things are in rather a mess in there, but Mrs. Stoker dusts round once in a way and there is a light. If you come with me I'll show you where it is.'
She took Ayscue's hand and led him away.
'What I don't understand,' said Leonard, 'is where Churchill is.'
Ross-Donaldson looked mildly surprised. 'He's clearly not around,' he said. 'He understands the rules of the house as well as anybody. Either he'd be in here, or he's not around. He's not in here so he's not around.'
'Well, where is he, then?'
'He's probably gone ages ago.'
'I didn't hear him drive away. I'm sure I would have done. I'm going to have a look out the front.'
'Is he always like this?' asked Dr. Best.
'I think it's just that he feels there are large parts of the world he doesn't understand. He likes to reduce them whenever he gets a chance. I can see his point in a way. I think in his shoes I'd probably do much the same.'
'He suffers, then, from certain anxieties,' said the doctor with a glance at Hunter.
'I wouldn't know about that, I'm afraid,' said Ross-Donaldson. 'Not one of my fields, what people suffer from,'
Leonard came hurrying back. 'Your jeep's still there, Alastair.'
'I dare say it is.'
'Well then, where is he?'
'He may be in the lavatory, he may be making himself a cup of coffee, he may have gone for a walk. It isn't worth exerting oneself to find out which, because on one point we can be sure. He's not around. We know the answer to the only question the situation can possibly be taken to pose. Or rather'-Ross-Donaldson frowned slightly-'one of the only two questions.'
'What's the other?' asked Hunter.
'It's only come up in the last thirty or forty seconds. Where's Lucy?'
'Showing Willie the library, I understood.'
'The library opens off the far end of the hall, a round trip of perhaps fifty yards. Half a minute's march.' Ross- Donaldson looked at his watch.
'But they've only been gone about three minutes. She's probably showing him round a bit. Nothing wrong with that, is there?'
'You don't know Lucy. She doesn't show people round libraries.'
