Doctor Who_ Empire of Death - BBC Worldwide [62]
and the other six were bringing up the rear. Ì don't know what you've got inside that police box of yours, Doctor,' the general commented, tut my men say it's dashed heavy!'
`Yes, I'm sorry about that. Normally it is able to redistribute its weight across five dimensions but that facility was damaged on the train journey up from London'
`Really? Well, whatever you say, Doctor.'
* * *
Rather than simply sending a telegram from Scotland Yard, Chief Inspector Lovesey had opted to deliver his news to Victoria personally, thinking it might be an opportunity to make a good impression. Standing before the Queen in her private office at Windsor, he was now regretting that decision.
`We understand you have information regarding our Scientific Advisor, Dr John Smith,' she snapped.
`Yes, Your Majesty.'
`Well, out with it! We are meant to be departing for Balmoral today but our departure has been delayed yet again to grant you this audience. Do not delay us further.'
`No, Your Majesty, indeed not,' Lovesey replied, bowing deeply. 'Sir Henry sent a communication to Scotland Yard informing us that this individual -'
`The Doctor. He has a name, you know!'
`Yes. Thank you, ma'am. Informing us that this Dr John Smith had come to Windsor to investigate some phenomena on behalf of the Yard and that Your Majesty had requested he travel north into Scotland as part of these inquiries'
`So far you have only told us what we already know, Chief Inspector. Pray continue with fresh information, or else we shall consider this conversation at an end!'
Lovesey swallowed hard and bowed again. 'Yes, Your Majesty. It's just that...' He turned to Ponsonby for support but found no succour there. 'It's just that we have no Dr John Smith attached to the Yard. Nor, indeed, anyone else of that name working for us. A search of all the constabulary of the greater metropolitan area revealed only one policeman answering to the name John Smith and he is a rather burly sergeant in Clerkenwell with black hair and a moustache, who hardly matches the description Sir Henry writ us. We also have no record of a Lady Nyssa of Traken, nor any knowledge of any place called Traken. We're rather At a loss to explain these two individuals, ma'am.'
'And your point, Chief Inspector? Why come all this way 10 tell us information you could have communicated by ether means?'
Lovesey grimaced, trying to think of a more acceptable Answer than admitting to his arrogant folly. 'We believe he Doctor and his companion may be agents of a foreign power or enemies of the Empire. They may well be highly dangerous and should be apprehended for questioning immediately.' Lovesey bowed again, relieved at having said all he needed to say without further raising the Queen's ire.
The Queen sat contemplating this news. The Doctor had ample opportunity to press an attack against us here at Windsor had that been his mission, while the Lady Nyssa seemed a most amenable young lady of gentle disposition.
We find your allegations against them hard to credit.'
'Nevertheless, Your Majesty, these charges must be investigated further,' Sir Henry interjected. 'At the very least this Doctor and his companion should be questioned.
General Doulton should be notified that he has impostors in his midst, people who may well be agents of some enemy power.'
Victoria could not deny the logic of these suggestions.
`Very well. Sir Henry, send a telegram of the utmost urgency to the general informing him of this fresh information and advising caution when dealing with the Doctor and Lady Nyssa. But we also wish him to be guarded against taking any precipitous action in this matter.' The private secretary nodded his assent and began to withdraw from the chamber, taking Lovesey with him.
* * *
Hawthorne was beginning to wonder whether it was Corra Linn or himself that was cursed. When Kempshall did not rise in time for breakfast, Vollmer had sent Hawthorne