At half-past six the boys came back and said that they couldn't find their sister anywhere. Everyone was now very agitated and no-one knew what to do.

Then Mr Otis suddenly remembered that, a few days before, he had given a band of gypsies permission to camp in the park. So he set off immediately for the park, where he knew that they were, accompanied by his eldest son and two of the farm-servants.

The little Duke of Cheshire, who was perfectly frantic with anxiety, wanted to go too, but Mr Otis would not let him, because he was afraid there might be a fight.

But when he arrived at the park, he found that the gypsies had gone, and it was easy to see that they had gone in a hurry, as the fire was still burning, and some plates were lying on the grass.

Mr Otis sent Washington and the two men to look everywhere in the park. Then he ran home, and sent telegrams to all the police inspectors in the country, telling them to look out for a little girl who had been kidnapped.

Then he ordered his horse to be brought to him. He insisted that his wife and the three boys eat their dinner, and he himself rode off down the Ascot road with a groom.