Новые приключения Великолепной Пятерки

[603] The children talked politely for a minute or two, not at all wanting the two men to help. If there was anything to be found, they wanted to find it. It would spoil everything if grown-ups solved the puzzle!

[604] Soon everyone was tap-tap-tapping round the wooden panels. They were in the middle of this when a voice hailed them.

[605] 'Hallo! My word, we are all busy!'

[606] The children turned, and saw their tutor standing in the doorway, smiling at them. The two artists looked at him.

[607] 'Is this a friend of yours?' asked Mr. Thomas.

[608] 'Yes - he's our tutor, and he's very nice!' said Anne, running to Mr. Roland and putting her hand in his.

[609] 'Perhaps you will introduce me, Anne,' said Mr. Roland, smiling at the little girl.

[610] Anne knew how to introduce people. She had often seen her mother doing it. 'This is Mr. Roland,' she said to the two artists. Then she turned to Mr. Roland. 'This is Mr. Thomas,' she said, waving her hand towards him, 'and the other one is Mr. Wilton.'

[611] The men half-bowed to one another and nodded. 'Are you staying here?' asked Mr. Roland. 'A very nice old farm-house, isn't it?'

[612] 'It isn't time to go yet, is it?' asked Julian, hearing a clock strike.

[613] 'Yes, I'm afraid it is,' said Mr. Roland. Tin later meeting you than I expected. We must go in about five minutes - no later. I'll just give you a hand in trying to find this mysterious secret way!'

[614] But no matter how anyone of them pressed and tapped around the panels in either of the two rooms, they could not find anything exciting. It really was most disappointing.

[615

] 'Well, we really must go now,' said Mr. Roland. 'Come and say good-bye to Mrs. Sanders.'

[616] They all went into the warm kitchen, where Mrs. Sanders was cooking something that smelt most delicious.

[617] 'Something for our lunch, Mrs. Sanders?' said Mr. Wilton. 'My word, you really are a wonderful cook!'

[618] Mrs. Sanders smiled. She turned to the children. 'Well, dearies, did you find what you wanted?' she asked.

[619] 'No,' said Mr. Roland, answering for them. 'We haven't been able to find the secret way, after all!'

[620] 'The secret way?' said Mrs. Sanders, in surprise. 'What do you know about that now? I thought it had all been forgotten - in fact, I haven't believed in that secret way for many a year!'

[621] 'Oh, Mrs, Sanders - do you know about it?' cried Julian. 'Where is it?'

[622] 'I don't know, dear - the secret of it has been lost for many a day,' said the old lady. 'I remember my old grandmother telling me something about it when I was smaller than any of you. But I wasn't interested in things like that when I was little. I was all for cows and hens and sheep.'

[623] 'Oh, Mrs. Sanders - do, do try and remember something!' begged Dick. 'What was the secret way?'

[624] 'Well, it was supposed to be a hidden way from Kirrin " Farm-house to somewhere else,' said Mrs. Sanders. 'I don't know where, I'm sure. It was used in the olden days when people wanted to hide from enemies.'

[625] It was disappointing that Mrs. Sanders knew so little. The children said good-bye and went off with their tutor, feeling that their morning had been wasted., George was indoors when they got to Kirrin Cottage.

[626] Her cheeks were not so pale, now, and she greeted the children eagerly.

[627] 'Did you discover anything? Tell me all about it!' she said.

[628

] 'There's nothing to tell,' said Dick, rather gloomily. 'We found three rooms facing east, with stone floors, but only two of them had wooden panelling, so we hunted round those, tapping and punching - but there wasn't anything to be discovered at all.'

[629] 'We saw the two artists,' said Anne. 'One was tall and thin, and had a long nose with glasses on. He was called Mr. Thomas. The other was younger, with little piggy eyes and an enormous mouth.'

[630] 'I met them out this morning,' said George. 'It must have been them. Mr. Roland was with them, and they were all talking together. They didn't see me.'

[631] 'Oh, it couldn't have been the artists you saw,' said Anne, at once. 'Mr. Roland didn't know them. I had to introduce them.'

[632] 'Well, I'm sure I heard Mr. Roland call one of them Wilton,' said George, puzzled. 'lie must have known them.'

[633] 'It couldn't have been the artists,' said Anne, again. 'They really didn't know Mr. Roland. Mr. Thomas asked if he was a friend of ours.'

[634] 'I'm sure I'm not mistaken,' said George, looking obstinate. 'If Mr. Roland said he didn't know the two artists, he was telling lies.'

[635] 'Oh, you're always making out that he is doing something horrid!' cried Anne, indignantly. 'You just make up things about him!'

[636] 'Sh!' said Julian. 'Here he is.'