Sam Bagshott, son of the late Boko Bagshott, had been at Blandings Castle only a short while, but long enough to know that anyone enjoying its hospitality must get the occasional shock. He was prepared for bad news in any form, but not the one in which it actually came.

Sam braced himself as the possibilities flitted through his mind. Was the house on fire? Had the Empress of Blandings taken to the bottle again? Had Constable Evans arrived with a search warrant? There was a wide area of speculation, and he was prepared for bad news in any form. In any form, that is to say, except the one in which it came.