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made of leather. Just as well Emily didn’t notice, he thought as he returned to the house. Emily was waiting at the back door.
    â€˜I told Fox that he could change in your room,’ she announced. ‘I did not think you would mind.’
    Daniel said nothing. Emily tried to take the boots, but Daniel snatched them back and pushed past her. Even when she knows I would agree, she does something to make me argue, he thought. Maybe that’s why she always wins.
    They trod the carpeted stairs softly and slowly. Above them, they could hear Fox singing softly, yet his voice was suddenly like that of the old cockney carter who delivered the firewood. The song was familiar, too.
    â€˜He sings like he’s English,’ whispered Emily.
    Slowly and silently, they approached the open door of Daniel’s room. Odd, thought Daniel. Fox did not close the door to change his clothes. Fox had his back to them as he stood buttoning his shirt and singing.
    When will you pay me,
    Say the bells of Old Bailey?
    When I grow rich,
    Say the bells of Shoreditch.
    Pray when will that be,
    Say the bells …
    Daniel and Emily had made no sound, yet Fox whirled around and flung a small knife. It thudded into the door frame beside Daniel’s left ear. Daniel shrank back with a gasp of fright, dropping the boots. Emily darted behind him.
    â€˜Daniel!’ exclaimed Fox, hurriedly snapping to attention, then bowing. ‘Emily, also. Apologies.’
    â€˜I … I’m sorry, I startled you,’ was all that Daniel could think to say.
    Fox strode forward and retrieved his knife from the door frame.
    â€˜Fault, is mine,’ he said. ‘Rustle of cloth, I heard. Of Death’s robes, is sound, some places.’
    â€˜Oh,’ gasped Emily, her voice still unsteady. ‘And where might those places be?’
    â€˜Long ago, far away.’
    â€˜You have been to such horrible, rough places, yet you are so polite,’ said Emily, her voice suddenly sympathetic. ‘I thought that sort of thing made people rough.’
    â€˜Not everyone. For damage, from knife, to woodwork, apologies.’
    â€˜Oh, don’t worry, I’ll say it was me, playing soldiers,’ Daniel volunteered, suddenly feeling proud that he could do something to take the side of Fox.
    â€˜Fox, do you know what I find strange about you?’ Emily asked. ‘You are so very English, yet so strangely foreign, too.’
    Daniel cringed. His sister was being friendly, but asking awkward questions. Perhaps if I say nothing Fox will not think I’m on her side, thought Daniel. Why can’t I just shout at her not to be so nosy? Am I a coward? Compliment people in a friendly tone and they will soon give up their deepest secrets, his mother had often told them. To Daniel, it seemed a mean thing to do, but Emily did it all the time.
    â€˜Is compliment?’ asked Fox after one of his strange, blanked-out pauses.
    â€˜Yes, it is!’ snapped Daniel, finally gathering the courage to challenge his sister. ‘It is a compliment, isn’t it Emily? You’re not trying to make Fox admit he’s a criminal or something?’
    â€˜Daniel Lang, how dare you be so rude to our guest!’ said Emily. ‘And after he saved us, too.’
    The accusation took Daniel completely by surprise. From being Fox’s defender, Daniel now seemed as if he had attacked Fox. Daniel stood in silence, floundering for words. That turned out to be a mistake as well. Emily picked up the boots.
    â€˜Here are your boots, Fox, all clean and polished,’ she said. ‘Is your uniform all right?’
    â€˜Smell, is strange.’
    â€˜Martha put essence of lavender in the drying closet to make the cloth smell like it’s something girls wear,’ said Daniel sullenly. ‘She does it to my clothes, too.’
    â€˜My thanks.’
    â€˜And the groom cleaned and polished your boots,’ added