Hector triumphant.

"Hello, I'm Lucasta, I've come to sort out your books."

The man in the heavy pinstriped suit on the doorstep looked puzzled. He peered at her through his thick glasses and then looked past her at the plane trees in the square as though the sight of their yellowing leaves might help him.

"You know, the art books."

"Ah. Those sort of books. I thought you might be someone from my accountants. Mind on the wrong track, you see. Come in, come in." He waved Lucasta past him into the splendid hall of the building. About 1780, Lucasta judged. "This way, through the back. Bit of a mess I think you may find. Father's law books, art books, fishing books, shooting books, all sorts of other books, a bit jumbled up."

The library was magnificent, but so piled high with books that the floor was barely visible.

"As you know I should like you please to sort them out thoroughly. The law books should be in order on the shelves, the rest should be stacked subject by subject and probably sold. As Duncan no doubt told you, I'm hoping that there is some good stuff in this lot, particularly the art books. Father knew his onions on art!"

"I'll make a start," said Lucasta. "I'm glad I brought an overall, the books look very dusty."