He stood back, exasperated by such efficiency. He deplored waste, and the prospect of tackling what appeared to be enough provisions for a whole regiment on a month-long siege made him feel guilty.
The room was suddenly lit by a flash of lightning. As thunder rumbled angrily back and forth across the sky, like a dialogue between two ill-tempered giants, Faro gave up any idea of travelling to Aberlethie and back again. He had had quite enough for one day. Tomorrow morning his best boots would be dry, and hopefully the rain which had persisted all day would have worn itself out with its continued efforts.
The decision made, he sat down at the kitchen table with a slice of cold pork pie before him, suddenly charmed at the novelty of having the house to himself. He couldn't remember the last time, if ever, this agreeable experience had occurred.
Discovering that he had an appetite and was hungrier than usual at this hour of the day, he was attacking a second slice of Mrs Brook's excellent fruit cake when the front doorbell clanged through the house.
As it jangled noisily a second time, he decided to ignore it. Doubtless some tradesman was seeking Mrs Brook. Resentful at having his peaceful meal interrupted by this intrusion, he was taking another bite of cake when conscience told him that the caller might be a patient in urgent need of Dr Laurie's attention.
In Vince's absence, such cases were referred to a retired colleague in Minto Street. Now, where was the card?
The doorbell had clanged vigorously a third time when he found it on the mantelpiece, and hoping he wasn't too late, he ran upstairs.
On the doorstep, he was taken aback to find, not a frantic patient, but Miss Fortescue.
Tm so glad to find you at home, Inspector. I called at the Central Office and they told me you had left -'
She was obviously very agitated, staring back over her shoulder, nervously searching the street in the manner of one who suspects she is being followed. And Faro almost expected to see the Lethie servant hovering at a discreet distance.
'I had to see you, Inspector.'
'Won't you come in?'
Her travelling cape was almost as wet as her umbrella. He wondered if this was a planned departure from Lethie Castle -the word 'escape' came to his mind unheeded, for she carried a straw-lidded travelling basket, the kind favoured by ladies on short summer expeditions.
Releasing her from her cape he said: 'I'll take this down to the kitchen, miss. It'll soon dry out on the stove.'
As Mrs Brook's highly polished floor threatened to claim its second victim, he seized her elbow, apologised and pointed her in the direction of the drawing-room: 'Take a seat if you please, miss. I'll be with you directly.'
He put out his hand for the travelling bag. Shaking her head firmly, she smiled up at him.
'I'm sorry to be a nuisance. I did get rather wet waiting for a carriage at the station. They were all claimed immediately they arrived. I'm afraid I haven't quite the knack of rushing forward and arguing with strong men brandishing stout waking-sticks.'
'It's always like that in bad weather, miss,' said Faro, surprised that she hadn't come in the Lethie carriage.
When he said so, she shook her head. 'No, I came by train. I left them a note. You see, Inspector, I'm quite desperate. I'm not a very patient person. I must take matters into my own hands. And do something,' she emphasised.
It all seemed very courageous, thought Faro, but hardly what he expected. And more important, what precisely did she expect him to do? He had problems enough without a distressed lady-in-waiting on his hands.
'I need hardly tell you, Inspector, I am utterly weary of sitting out there at Lethie listening to Terence and Sara assuring me that everything is going to be all right.'
She looked at him steadily and added slowly, 'When I am absolutely sure now that something has gone terribly wrong. Otherwise, news of some sort should have reached me by now. Don't you agree?' And without waiting for his answer: 'Of course the Lethies have been so good and kind. They're very patient and conscientious, especially as they are leaving for a family wedding in Paris at the end of the week.'
Pausing, she regarded him helplessly. 'We haven't discussed what will happen to me in their absence, what arrangements they have made.'
What indeed, thought Faro. She could hardly be returned to Solomon's Tower and the hospitality of Sir Hedley Marsh, that was for sure.
'I felt I couldn't just sit in that empty house a moment longer,' she continued, shaking her head vigorously, 'I am used to an active life, you know. Routine, and all that sort of thing. I must confess I am terribly bored by all this enforced idleness - sitting waiting for news is very disagreeable for one's nerves. Each time a servant comes in or a rider appears on the drive, one's hopes are raised and then dashed severely to the ground again. I feel like a prisoner, waiting to be released.'
She sighed, looking at him expectantly.
Faro's murmur of sympathy seemed to encourage her and she went on: 'While they were out visiting this morning, I decided I must try to - well, escape for a while. I was so longing to see something of your lovely city. So I left them a note and caught the train at the halt.' Staring ruefully at the streaming windows, she added: 'I hadn't bargained for the weather, of course. It was dull but still fair when I left this morning.'
As Faro listened, he was grateful for the missed train to North Berwick that had saved him a futile visit to Lethie Castle.
'- I've had a perfectly splendid day,' Miss Fortescue went on. 'Princes
