Chapter 2

The Lord of the Manor

"That must be the chateau over there," the speaker was Ginger, who had taken over the navigation for the last stretch of their journey.

Algy looked in the direction of Ginger's outstretched arm. A substantial white stone building stood in a large park a short distance away from a small village. He circled it as they examined where they were to stay.

"At least the roof looks intact," observed Ginger with some relief. Suddenly, he leaned forward, frowning.

Algy asked what was wrong.

"I thought I saw a movement," said Ginger staring at one of the pepper pot towers. "Just where the tower joins the roof of the main building." He shook his head. "I must have been mistaken. I can't see anybody there now. Maybe it was Henry looking at the repair bill."

Algy brought the aircraft round and lined it up for a landing. The park was flat and sparsely endowed with trees except for the avenue lining the drive which lead to the building itself, so his choice of landing ground was not restricted. He chose to put the Auster down near the chateau. As they swept low over the roof, a figure emerged from the front door and hurried out onto the terrace to watch them land.

Ginger breathed a sigh of relief when the wheels rumbled along the turf. There was always a risk involved in landing away from a recognised airfield and he had never entirely lost a sense of apprehension when they did.

The propeller swished to a halt and Algy yelled a greeting to the watcher through the window.

Henry, for it was he who had come out to see them arrive, shouted back and they wasted no time in meeting up and renewing their acquaintance.

"Who else is here?" asked Ginger.

"So far, you're the first," Henry told him as they made their way up the imposing stone staircase to the main entrance after the aeroplane had been made secure. As Marcel had said, the chateau was magnificent. From the park, the façade looked unmarked, the ravages of the fire hidden at the back of the building.

"I guessed it would be you when I saw the Auster," commented Henry with a smile. "I heard your approach from the drawing room. I see you haven't lost your touch."

"Then it wasn't you up on the roof?" queried Ginger as they approached the front entrance.

Henry shook his head. "You must be mistaken," he told Ginger. "Nobody's been on the roof. There's only me and an old retainer of the late Count's in residence. Robert is far too old to be able to climb the stairs and I haven't been up there since I inspected the damage when I first got here." He paused outside the open front door to let Algy precede him. "In fact, I'll have to see about engaging more staff if …"

What he was about to say was cut off as Ginger hurled himself against his host and pushed him through the entrance. Henry collided with Algy and both of them sprawled in the entrance hall. Outside, the spot where they had all been standing moments before had disappeared under a huge chunk of masonry, fallen from the parapet above the door.

"What?" spluttered Henry, white faced with shock.

"Thank goodness I spotted it!" Ginger got out with difficulty. "I only saw it out of the corner of my eye as you waved Algy through." He looked at Henry soberly. "I suggest we investigate the roof as a matter of priority. Either somebody has it in for you, or you need some urgent repairs done!"

Henry and Algy picked themselves up, but before they could act on Ginger's suggestion an old manservant came shuffling out of the servant's quarters.

"Mon Dieu, Monsieur le Comte!" he exclaimed, addressing Henry. "What is happening? What is that noise?"

"You may well ask, Robert," replied Henry soberly. "It seems my inheritance is falling down around my ears!"

Ginger looked at the old man as he fussed around his master. He seemed genuinely shocked by the accident, but at the same time, mused Ginger, if it had been deliberate, anybody on the roof would have had plenty of time to get away, thanks to his delaying tactics.

At length, once the introductions had been made and sleeping arrangements sorted out, Algy, Ginger and Henry ascended the steep spiral staircase to the roof. Ginger noted that the exit to the leads was made through a small door in the round tower, just where he thought he had glimpsed movement before they landed.

Henry picked his way gingerly over the ancient roof until he was beside the gap in the parapet where the masonry had fallen. He bent down to pick up a cold chisel which was lying there but Algy stopped him.

"Don't touch that," he growled. "It may have fingerprints on it. If anybody wanted to loosen that chunk of rock and lever it over, that would have been ideal."

Henry turned pale. "You don't think …" he began. "Surely not!"

Algy met his eyes. "I'm a policeman now, Henry," he reminded their erstwhile colleague in a serious voice. "It's my job to be suspicious. You've been in your ivory tower too long." He took his handkerchief from his pocket and carefully wrapped the tool in it, handling it as little as possible.

"It will be interesting to see if Marcel can find a match," murmured Ginger as they descended the staircase.

"I'll contact him first thing," promised Algy. "I'm beginning to think this isn't going to be much of a holiday after all."

"Of course, it'll be a holiday!" exclaimed Ginger optimistically, "but it might turn out to be the busman's variety," he added with a grin.