Anybody feel like going down through it? No takers?'

'Well, you know,' Cecily said, 'I really wouldn't mind. I used to love stories about secret passages when I was a girl. Sebastian - shall we?'

'Oh,' Sebastian looked dubiously at the black hole in the wall. 'I hardly think so, precious. Awfully dark and dirty, what?'

'Dark,' the Earl said, 'but there are flashlights. And it's reasonably clean.'

'No - no - no, I'd much rather not, actually, if you don't mind,' Sebastian said. 'Spiders, you know, moths and things. Unpleasant generally.'

'Yes, I suppose you're right,' Cecily said, a little wistfully. 'I certainly wouldn't want to go on my own.'

'Madam, pray allow me to act as guide.' Paul stepped forward. 'I know this passage like the back of my hand. Been along it on at least - oh, one occasion.'

'Why, thank you,' Cecily said.

Paul stepped into the gap, reached for the shelf above his head and found the flashlight that was kept there. He switched it on. 'Very well, Mrs Everard, if we're to make camp by sundown, we'd better get moving.'

'Oh, right.' Cecily gave a giggle and stepped in.

'Mind the doors,' said Lord Burford, and he slid the panel across.

The Earl was waiting in the breakfast room when Paul and Cecily emerged into the light of day a few minutes later. 'Well, how was it? Rather borin', eh?'

Cecily blinked. 'Well, perhaps a little. But at least I can say I've been along a secret passage now.'

 

* * *

 

When Gerry came into the drawing room for tea she had transformed herself. She was wearing a simple jumper and skirt, sandals and bobby socks. All make-up had been removed and she had done her hair in two plaits tied with ribbon. She practically skipped about the room, prattling girlishly, and eating a great number of cream cakes, which she pronounced 'scrumptious.' Eventually she sat down by Gilbert and began plying him with questions about his work, such as didn't he find it terribly difficult spelling all those horrid long words?

Except for Maude Fry, everybody else - even the Countess - was now in on the joke and all behaved perfectly normally, making no comment on the transformation. Gilbert, however, was plainly utterly perplexed - and alarmed. At last, finding it increasingly hard to keep a straight face, Gerry retired to the window seat and curled up with a book entitled The Most Popular Girl In The School, which she'd brought in with her.

Gilbert immediately sidled over to Rex and tugged at his sleeve. 'What do you make of that?' he hissed.

'What?'

'Lady Geraldine. She was so different! You must have noticed.' He lowered his voice still further. 'I think she's a - a schizophrenic.'

Rex frowned sharply. 'Don't say anything, man.'

Gilbert's jaw dropped. 'You mean she is, really?'

Rex just put his fingers to his lips.

Gilbert walked shakily away and started whispering furiously to Maude Fry.

'Just been thinkin',' Lord Burford said. 'Haven't given you much time to start your inspection of the house, have we?'

'Oh, that's OK, Earl,' Haggermeir said. 'I wouldn't've missed your collection for the earth. Maybe, though, I could make a start after tea.'

'By all means. What exactly do you want to do?'

'Well, I'd just like your permission to wander all over the house.