Part 12 (2/2)

'Oh well - it's an ill wind that blows n.o.body any good!' said George. 'The bad and the good have fitted together very well this time, and made a most exciting adventure!'

'Here's Carters Lane at last,' said Anne. 'What a long walk it seemed over the common. It will be much easier for you to ride that bike when you're on a proper road, Guy. It won't go b.u.mping over heather clumps now.'

They went down the long lane and came into Kirrin at last, realizing that they were all very hungry indeed. 'It must be well past dinner-time,' said George, looking at her watch. 'Good gracious - it's a quarter to two! Would you believe it! I hope there's some dinner left over for us - Mother doesn't know we're coming.'

'We'll raid Joan's larder!' said d.i.c.k. 'She never minds so long as she's there to grumble at us while we do it!'

They went in at the gate of Kirrin Cottage and up to the front door, which was open. George shouted.

'Mother! Where are you? We've come back!'

n.o.body answered. George yelled again. 'Mother! We've come home!'

The door of the study opened and her father looked out, red in the face and frowning.

'George! How many times am I to tell you not to shout when I'm working? Oh, my goodness me, who are all these?'

'Hallo, Father!' said George, mildly. 'Surely you know Anne and Julian and d.i.c.k! Don't say you've forgotten them already!'

'Of course not! But who are these?' and George's father pointed to the startled twins. 'They're as like as peas. Where did they come from? I haven't seen them before, have I?'

'No, Father. They're just friends of ours,' said George. 'Where's Mother? We've just had an adventure and we want to tell her. Oh, and we want to ring the police - and I think we ought to get a doctor to see to Guy's foot - and Father, look, Timmy's ear is healed!'

'Bless us all! There's never any peace when you are about, George,' said her father, groaning. 'Your mother's at the bottom of the garden, picking raspberries - or it might have been strawberries.'

'Oh no, Father - it's August, not June!' said George. 'You always...'

Julian thought he had better get his uncle safely back in his study before a row blew up between him and George. Uncle Quentin did not like being disturbed in his complicated work!

'Let's go and find Aunt f.a.n.n.y,' he said, 'we can tell her everything out in the garden. Come on!'

'Wuff-wuff!' said Jet.

'Good gracious - that's not another dog, is it?' said George's father, scowling. 'How many times have I said that...'

'We won't disturb you any more, Uncle,' said Julian, hurriedly, seeing Guy's scared face. 'We'll go and find Aunt f.a.n.n.y.'

They all went thankfully out in the garden, hearing the house echo to the slam of Uncle Quentin's study door. George shouted.

'Mother! Where are you?'

'Shut up, George - we don't want to make your father leap out of the window after us!' said d.i.c.k. 'Ah - there's Aunt f.a.n.n.y!'

His aunt was very surprised to see him and the others advancing on her. She went to greet them, a basket of raspberries on her arm.

'Well! I thought you wanted to stay away for longer than this!'

'We did - but an adventure descended on us!' said d.i.c.k. 'We'll tell you all about it in detail later on, Aunt f.a.n.n.y.'

'But just now we want two things - can we ring the police - or will you - and ask them to come here?' said Julian, very grown-up all of a sudden. 'There's something that might be very important for them to know. And also do you think we should let a doctor see Guy's foot - he's sprained his ankle, I think?'

'Oh dear!' said Aunt f.a.n.n.y, distressed to see the boy's swollen foot. 'Yes - he ought to have that seen to properly. Who is he? Dear me - there's another of them! Aren't they alike?'

'Twins,' said George. 'I don't know how I shall be able to tell one from t'other when Guy's bad foot is better.'

'I'm going to ring the police,' said Julian, seeing that his aunt could now only think of Guy's swollen foot. He went off indoors, and they heard him speaking on the telephone. He put it down and came out again.

'The Inspector himself is coming,' said Julian. 'Shall I ring the doctor now, Aunt f.a.n.n.y?'

'Oh yes. His number is 042,' said his aunt. 'How did you get such an ankle, Guy?'

'Mother, you don't seem at all interested in our adventure,' complained George.

'Oh, I am, dear,' said her mother. 'But you do have such a lot, you know. What have you been up to this time?'

But before George could do more than begin, a black police car drew up at the front gate, and the inspector of police got out and marched up to the front door. He knocked extremely loudly on the knocker.

Which, of course, had the immediate result of bringing George's father hotfoot out of his study in another rage! He flung open the front door.

'Hammering at the door like what! What's the matter? I've a good mind to report you to the police! Oh - er - h'm - good afternoon, Inspector. Do come in. Are we expecting you?'

Smiling broadly, the Inspector came in. By this time Julian had come back in the house again, and greeted him. His uncle went back into his study, rather red in the face, and actually closed the door quietly!

'You wanted me to come along at once, because of something important?' said the Inspector. 'What is it?'

The others came into the room now, with Julian's aunt behind them. Julian nodded round at them. 'They're all in this, sir - except my aunt, of course. We've brought something we think may be important, sir. Quite a lot of people were looking for it - but we managed to get hold of it first!'

He put the brown bag on the table. The Inspector's eyes went to it at once. 'What is it? What's inside? Stolen goods?'

'Yes, sir - blue-prints of some kind, I think. But I don't know what of, of course.'

'Open the bag, my boy! I'll examine them,' said the Inspector.

'I can't open it,' said Julian. 'It's locked - and there's no key!'

'Well - we'll soon manage that!' said the Inspector, and took out a small, strong-looking tool. He forced the lock, and the bag opened. Everyone leaned forward eagerly, even Timmy. What was in the bag?

There was nothing there! Absolutely nothing! Julian groaned in bitter disappointment.

'No wonder it felt so light. It's empty after all. Would you believe it!'

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