“No,” said Mr. Bott desperately. “Tell her I’ve rung up the police every minute since she sent last. How is she?”
“Please, sir, she’s in hysterics again.”
Mr. Bott groaned.
Ever since Violet Elizabeth’s disappearance Mrs. Bott had been indulging in hysterics in her bedroom and taking it out of Violet Elizabeth’s nurse. In return Violet Elizabeth’s nurse had hysterics in the nursery and took it out of the nursery maid. In return the nursery maid had hysterics in the kitchen and took it out of the kitchen maid. The kitchen maid had no time for hysterics but she took it out of the cat.
“Please, sir, she says she’s too ill to speak now. She told me to tell you so, sir.”
Mr. Bott groaned again. Suddenly he turned to the four children and the keepers.
“You’ve got their names and addresses, haven’t you? Well, see here, children. Go out and see if you can find my little gall for me. She’s lost. Look in the woods and round the village and—everywhere. And if you find her I’ll let you off. See?”
They murmured perfunctory thanks and retired, followed by Violet Elizabeth who had not uttered one word within her paternal mansion.
In the woods they turned on her sternly.
“It’s you he wants. You’re her.”