"Good lord, no! Why, what in the world----?" "I should like about fifteen or sixteen pounds of the ordinary variety--not the bleached sort, you know," interposed Cleek, rising. "You might 'phone through to the Yard and order it. And, by the way, I'm afraid you won't be able to join Mrs. Narkom at dinner this evening, after all. We shall spend the night at Valehampton. And now, before I set out to look into the matter of this engaging little affair, Duke, one last question, please. Did you take anybody into your confidence regarding this visit to London to-day?" "Yes, naturally. I spoke to the Marquis and to Captain Weatherley about it, of course; and--yes--to Overton. I fancy I may also have mentioned it while Carstairs was present; he was coming in and out of the breakfast room a great deal, of course. He's the butler." "H'm! Yes, I see! You wouldn't mind letting it be understood when you go back, would you, that a couple of ordinary Yard men have been put on the case? Just ordinary plain-clothes men, you know--called--er--let us say, 'George Headland' and 'Jim Markham.' Can you remember the names?" "I can and I will, Mr. Cleek," the duke replied, stopping to write them down on the margin of a newspaper lying on a table beside him. Cleek stood and watched the operation, explaining the while that he should like the names to get into circulation in the village; then, after having obtained permission to call at the Castle and interview the duke whenever occasion might arise, he took his departure in company with Mr. Narkom, and left their noble client alone. "Rum sort of a case, isn't it?" remarked the Superintendent as they went down the stairs together. "Very. And it will depend so much upon what they are. Geraniums, lilies, pansies!--even roses. Yes, by Jupiter! roses would do--roses and fuchsias--that sort of thing." "Roses and---- My hat, what the dickens are you talking about?" "Let me alone for a minute--please!" rapped out Cleek. "I say--you'd better tell Hammond and Petrie to bring that bag of fullers' earth with them instead of sending it. Have them turn up with it--both of them--at the King's Head, Liverpool Street, as soon as they possibly can. The light lingers late at this time of the year, and the limousine ought to get us down to Valehampton before tea time if Lennard makes up his mind to it." CHAPTER VI THE GHOST IN THE CHURCH BELFRY If you have ever journeyed down into Essex by way of the Great Eastern from Liverpool Street, you may remember that just before you come to Valehampton--six or seven miles before, in fact--the train stops at a small and exceedingly picturesque station bearing the name of Willowby Old Church, behind which the village of the same name lies in a sort of depression, a picture of peaceful beauty.