They sat in the library, George and the policeman on the sofa, Adi before them in a chair, her fingers worrying a tassel on the corner of the pillow in her lap.
The only sound was the scratching of Detective Lendt’s pencil in his little notebook as he laboriously copied the riddles from the inside of the watch. He kept leaning forward to peer down at the device balanced on his knee. He was uncomfortable sitting in George’s presence, but George had insisted on it, and on the cup of tea as well.
Aside from the library in Benares, Adi had never seen so many books in one place, certainly not in European languages. There were rolling ladders to reach the higher shelves and spiral staircases at both ends of the room to get to a second floor.
The space was also a museum of sorts. Along the walls, glass-top cases and beautiful cabinets were filled with all manner of treasures: sculptures, coins, and historical artifacts. The walls between the shelves were hung with strange and marvelous objects: masks and weapons and paintings.
She looked at the detective. In his overcoat, with his head down, he seemed like a great bear. He stopped writing for a second and took a surprisingly colorful handkerchief from his coat and wiped his brow. It was the only color on the man.
Between George talking and Adi nodding yes or no (and the strange gold watch with its picture and riddles), they had imparted as much information as they could to the detective.
He closed his notebook with a snap of the rubber band around it, and clicked the watch shut, shaking his head in consternation at the thing. “Tempus fugit, indeed,” he said, handing it back to her. She put the chain around her neck.
Finishing his tea, the detective leaned over and replaced the tiny cup and saucer onto the side table. He looked at Adi and George; tugging at his wilted mustache, he puffed his cheeks out.
“Well,” he said as he pulled himself to his feet. “It wouldn’t hurt if we had more to go on. A last name for a start.” He raised a bushy eyebrow at Adi. “Not to mention, addresses, schools . . .” Adi looked contrite.
“But the world is never a perfect place. At least we’re looking for twins. That should give us some advantage.
“Good evening, miss,” the officer said as he bowed and took Adi’s tiny hand in his. “We’ll do our best.” She squeezed his hand tightly and gave him a hopeful smile.
“But,” he said inclining his head to George, “if any additional information should arise—”
George led him to the door.
“I’ll let you know immediately, Detective. And thank you for coming all this way. You see why it would have been difficult over the telephone. Now, are you sure I can’t get you something before you head back? It’s a long drive.”
“No, thank you, milord, the tea will carry me. There are some things I want to check on tonight.”
“Be right back,” George said to Adi as he lead the detective out.
Dropping her head back in her chair, she looked up at the coral clouds painted upon the ceiling, her shoulders dropping a little in relief. Honestly, she could hardly believe these men were taking her seriously; she wasn’t sure she would if she were in their place. She slid down and lifted her feet up, examining her marvelous shoes.
Thomas charged through the library doorway, out of breath and clearly agitated. He stopped when he saw that it was only Adi in the room.
“Oh, miss. Sorry to . . . have you seen his lordship . . . seen George?”
“Seen George do what?” said George, coming back in. “Where the devil have you been?”
Suddenly there were voices in the hallway; Uncle Henri and a couple of cousins were running past the library. They spotted George.
“George! Have you heard?”
“Heard what? What’s going on around here?”