Isobel called for the maid and quickly assisted her in clearing the dishes. When she saw the scullery maid washing the dishes, she recalled the image of one of the spies working in the scullery and smiled. She imagined a big pile of broken crockery with a man standing helplessly in the middle of the pile. She giggled again and the scullery maid glanced at her questioningly.

"I was just imagining a large man doing your job and the inevitable pile of broken dishes that would ensue," Isobel explained.

The maid began laughing as well, picturing it.

"Well, they're not much good for more than whacking each other about the...