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makes no sense.’
    ‘A case for the Great Detective,’ the Doctor guessed.
    Jenny nodded. ‘Found a ticket to this Carnival on Hapworth’s desk. From the colour, it’s yesterday’s. That’s when he died. His manservant says he came home in a fluster, locked himself in his study, and a few minutes later he’s dead. Stabbed with a letter-opener.’
    ‘Suicide?’ Clara suggested.
    ‘Not unless he was a contortionist. The letter-opener was shoved in between his shoulder blades.’
    ‘And I take it the room had no other obviousentrance?’ the Doctor said.
    ‘One window, locked and with the shutters across.’
    ‘So the police called in Madame Vastra,’ Clara guessed.
    ‘No, the dead man did.’
    ‘How’s that possible?’ Clara wondered.
    ‘He was writing a letter to her when he was killed. Carlisle, that’s his butler, says he came back from a walk all anxious like and worried and said he had to tell Madame Vastra something important. Got as far as writing her name on the paper, and then someone put his lights out. For good.’
    ‘So you’re here to try to find out what upset him,’ Clara said.
    ‘If it was something here at all,’ the Doctor pointed out. ‘It could have been in the Frost Fair, or anywhere else on his walk.’
    Jenny nodded. ‘I’ve been retracing his route, best I can. But I ain’t found nothing yet. This place is the most likely for something weird going on, though. And talking of “weird”, you ain’t told me why you’re here yet.’
    They were walking back through the Frost Fair now, having left the Carnival of Curiosities behind. The Doctor led the way to a large tent where tea was being served and they found a table in a secluded corner. Once they were settled and tea was ordered, he gave a brief explanation of the power spike.
    ‘Don’t know nothing about that,’ Jenny said.
    ‘Could be coincidence,’ Clara added, through a mouthful of fruitcake.
    ‘Possibly,’ the Doctor conceded. ‘You two carry on here,’ he decided, ‘see if you can piece together the unfortunate Mr Hapworth’s final hours.’
    ‘Where are you off to?’ Clara asked.
    The Doctor drained his tea and stood up. ‘I’ll go and talk to Vastra. See what she’s discovered. Is she still at Hapworth’s?’
    ‘She is,’ Jenny confirmed. ‘Isn’t there something else you need to ask me?’ she said as the Doctor stood up.
    ‘I don’t think so. I find it best to keep an open mind, unclouded by the opinions of others. I shall inspect the scene of the crime and formulate my own opinion based on my own observations.’
    ‘Right you are.’ Jenny sipped her tea. ‘Sure you don’t have just one question?’
    ‘Quite sure. I’ll see you later, either back here or at Hapworth’s house, or failing that back at Paternoster Row.’
    He didn’t wait for agreement, but set off between the tables towards the mouth of the tent.
    ‘What do you reckon?’ Jenny said. ‘About thirty seconds?’
    ‘A bit less,’ Clara thought.
    Just before he reached the entrance, the Doctor swung round and strode back towards them.
    ‘All right,’ he said as he reached the table. ‘One more question. What’s Hapworth’s address?’
    ‘So, you been busy since we last visited?’ Clara wondered when the Doctor had gone again. It was warmer in the tent and she was in no hurry to finish her tea and cake.
    ‘Pretty much. But nothing too exciting. We did have a haunted house to investigate last month. Poltergeist breaking plates and making the chandeliers swing about.’
    ‘That sounds exciting,’ Clara told her, thinking back to the haunted house she had visited with the Doctor not all that long ago and shivering at the memory.
    ‘Nah. Turned out it was built on top of the Bakerloo Line and whenever a train went underneath it made the place shake.’
    Clara laughed. ‘And how’s Strax?’
    Jenny smiled. ‘Same as ever, I’m sorry to say. He’s off doing his own investigation at the moment.’
    ‘Wearing