CHIEF CHARA~RS<br >The House<br >BRENT， in the county of Midshire， seat of the Tirles since the<br > fifteenth century.<br >The Family<br >Roger， eighth Earl of Seton<br >Bridget ("Biddy")， Countess of Seton<br >Lady Caroline Tirle， their elder daughter<br >The Honourable Giles Tirle， Lord Seton s younger brother<br >Felicity Tirle， his wife<br >Robert Tirle， their elder son<br >Lady Arminel Tirle， half-sister to Lord Seton and Giles Tirle<br >Retainers<br >Mrs. Pringle ("Ping")， ex-nanny to the Setons<br >Mrs. Peggy Blackmore， Lord Seton s secretary<br >Bill Emmett， handyman-caretaker<br >Elsie Emmett， his wife<br >Rosalie Emmett， their daughter， engaged to Dick White<br >Professional Adviser on the opening of SRENT to the public，<br > Maurice Corden， of Stately Homes Ltd<br >A Consultant Engineer<br >George Snell， A.M.I.C.E.<br >The Pohce<br >Inspector Diplock of the Midshire constabulary<br >Detective-Superintendent Tom Pollard， Detective-Sergeant<br > Toye， and Detective-Constables Boyce and Strickland of New<br > Scotland Yard<br >Jane， wife of Detective-Superintendent Pollard<br >The Pollard twins， Andrew and Rose， aged eight months<br >