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where
the sound of voices come, ‘Go and tell them I’m here.’ He starts to unbutton his
coat.
    â€˜Your Excellency, I have orders that they are not to be
disturbed.’ Lister edges round so that his back is turned to the library door,
as if protecting it. He adds, ‘The door is locked from the inside.’
    â€˜What’s going on?’
    â€˜A meeting, sir, with one of the secretaries. It has
already lasted some hours and is likely to continue far into the night.’
    The prince, plump, with pale cheeks, refrains from taking
off his coat as he says, ‘Whose secretary is it, his or hers?’
    â€˜The gentleman in question is the one who’s been
secretary to both, sir, for the past five months, nearly.’
    â€˜Almighty God, I’d better get out of here!’ says Prince
Eugene.
    â€˜I would do that, sir,’ Lister says, leading the way to
the front door.
    â€˜The Baron seemed all right this morning,’ says the
Prince on the threshold. ‘He’d just got back from Paris.’
    â€˜I imagine there have been telephone conversations
throughout the afternoon, sir.’
    â€˜He didn’t seem to be expecting any trouble.’
    â€˜None of them did, your Excellency. They were not
prepared for it. They have placed themselves, unfortunately, within the realm of
predestination.’
    â€˜You talk like a Secretary of State to the Vatican.’
    â€˜Thank you, sir.’
    â€˜It isn’t a compliment.’ The Prince, buttoning up his
coat, passes out into the night air through the door which Lister is holding
open for him. Before descending the steps to his car, he says, ‘Lister, do you
expect something to happen?’
    â€˜We do, sir. The domestic staff is prepared.’
    â€˜Lister, in case of investigations no need, you
understand, to mention my visit tonight. It is quite a casual neighbourly visit.
Not relevant.’
    â€˜Of course, your Excellency.’
    â€˜By the way, I’m not an Excellency. I’m a Highness.’
    â€˜Your Highness.’
    â€˜A domestic staff as large and efficient as yourselves is
hard to come by. Quite exceptional in Switzerland. How did the Baron do it?’
    â€˜Money,’ says Lister.
    The voices, indistinguishable but excited, wave over to
them from the library.
    â€˜I need a butler,’ says his Highness. He takes out a card
and gives it to Lister. Jerking his head towards the library door he says, ‘When
it’s all over, if you need a place, come to me. I would be glad of some of the
other servants, too.’
    â€˜I doubt if we shall be looking for further employment,
sir, but I thank you deeply for your offer.’ Lister puts the card in a note-case
which he has brought out of his vest pocket.
    â€˜And his cook? That excellent chef? Will he be free?’
    â€˜He, too, has his plans, your Excellency.’
    â€˜There will of course be a scandal. He must have paid you
all very well for your services.’
    â€˜For our silence, sir.’
    Upstairs a voice growls and the shutters bang.
    â€˜That’s him in the attic,’ says Prince Eugene.
    â€˜A sad case, sir.’
    â€˜He inherits everything.’
    â€˜How, sir? He’s a connection of the Baroness through her
first marriage. A cousin of the first husband. I think the Baron could hardly
bequeath a vast estate to him, poor thing in the attic. The Baron is succeeded
by a brother in Brazil.’
    â€˜The one in Brazil is the youngest. The one in the attic
is next in line — no relation to her at all.’
    â€˜That,’ said Lister, ‘I did not know.’
    â€˜Few people know it. Don’t tell anyone I said so.
Klopstock would kill me. Would have killed me.’
    â€˜Well, it makes no difference to us, sir, who gets the
fortune. Our fortunes lie in other directions.’
    â€˜A great pity. I would have taken on the cook. An
excellent cook. What’s his