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'Perfectly so,' the Queen replied, quickly composing herself. 'What caused that commotion?'

'I know not, but I shall soon find out. Please remain here until I return.' The general was already leaving to search the rest of the Mausoleum. James stood up, ready to follow the old soldier, but the Baroness pulled him back down into his chair.

`No, James, you should remain here,' she insisted. 'Until we know more about what just happened, we should all stay here?

The Queen nodded her agreement. 'Young man - that was a most remarkable display. We could have sworn we heard our late husband's voice issue from your mouth?

'Yes, Your Majesty, it was him speaking. I observed from above as he took control of my body. It was a shame that cacophony broke the lines of communication.' James asked that they all hold hands to form a complete energy circle, so he could bring the séance to a more satisfactory conclusion.

Once the six were in physical contact, the young man let his pupils roll back behind his eyelids and began intoning. thank you for all the things you have given us in the past, the present and the future. Thank you.' James opened his eyes again. 'It is over.'

General Doulton found the two intruders first, standing at the entrance to the Mausoleum. One was a fair-haired man of indeterminate age, his face without the lines or guile born of experience, but a keen intelligence evident in his eyes. He was clad in a beige frock coat with scarlet trim, striped trousers, a knitted pullover and a white shirt, open at the neck. Curiously, this new arrival had a growth of celery attached to the lapel of his frock coat and a hat of straw rolled in one hand. His garb was somewhat eccentric but he presented no obvious threat that the general could see.

The other intruder was a young woman of no more than twenty years. Like her companion, she seemed more curious than dangerous, her friendly features dominated by wide, inquisitive eyes and high cheekbones. She was wearing a full-length dress of dark silk, cut in the style Doulton had seen on his infrequent trips into London. He noticed something else about her, an air of self-assurance and an upright posture that suggested an almost regal stature, despite her diminutive height. Plainly she had been raised among the aristocracy, perhaps even possessed some noble blood.

The pair saw Doulton advancing on them, pistol drawn, but neither tried to run or attack. Instead the man merely sighed while the woman glared at her companion with exasperation.

'Why is no one ever pleased to see us, Doctor?' she asked.

'Who are you?' the general demanded. He was surprised when the male intruder stepped forward with a smile to give him a firm but friendly handshake, and then perplexed by the answer this interloper offered.

'Hello! I'm the Doctor, and this young lady is my friend, Nyssa of Traken.'

‘I require your full name, sir.'

'Very well - Smith. Dr John Smith.'

'That is better, but we have no need of a physician here.'

The woman joined their conversation, not waiting to be included. 'The Doctor is as much a scientist as a healer,' she explained.

Two footmen appeared from outside. 'General, you should come and see this!' one of them called. Doulton ushered his suspects outside, following the footmen around a corner of the Mausoleum. Standing beside the building was a tall blue object, the words POLICE PUBLIC CALL BOX emblazoned on its side.

'What the deuce is that doing here?' the general spluttered.

'We arrived in it,' the woman called Nyssa said. It's the -'

'The best way of storing and moving equipment,' the Doctor interjected, a look passing between him and his companion. 'My apologies if the noise from our unscheduled arrival startled you or anyone else here!

Doulton was starting to put the pieces together now. Is it one of these new-fangled telegraphic machines?'

'Something like that, yes.'

'So, you were sent by the police - Scotland Yard, was it?'

'You could say that.