SakkeM

Ernest woke up in the middle of the night. He was sure he had heard a door bang in the corridor. He slipped out of the bed taking care not to wake up Bert. He pulled a dressing gown over his pyjama bottoms. After a little hesitation, he dropped his little pistol into a pocket and opened his door. He could hear one of the treads on the staircase creak as someone was tiptoeing downstairs. Quietly he followed keeping out of sight. Paul -- it could only be Paul. He was the only one, who had his room in the east wing besides Ernest and Bert, who was accounted for. When Paul paused for a moment in front of the green baize door that led to the servants' area. Fearing that Paul had spotted him, Ernest dived behind the balustrade. Whatever it was that alarmed Paul came from behind the green baize door. Paul backed away from the door, seeking concealment behind the Christmas tree. From his hiding place, Ernest saw the baize door open and Lord Adderby emerge with a tin of bicarbonate of soda in

Ernest turned the car around the last bend and the manor house came into view. His first impression was of a huge Victorian pile. Drawing nearer, he could see that the house had started its life as a genuine Norman manor house. Generations of Moodys had added bits here and there. The faux-medieval was mere veneer pasted over by some Victorian ancestor like bad taste misplaced. He pulled up in front of the porch and killed the engine. A portly personage in livery popped out through the front door like the man foretelling the weather. "Hello, Baines!" Bert jumped down from the dickey seat and hurried to help his mother from the car. "Welcome, Madam," said Baines, whom Ernest guessed must be the butler. "And Master Albert." "Come inside, Ernest!" Bert beckoned to Ernest, who was hovering near the car. A tall young man in footman's livery was eyeing the mud-spattered roadster covetously. Ernest was afraid he might take the thing for a spin on the pretext of taking it to the stable