But Timmy went on growling. Then he suddenly stood still and sniffed hard. He gave an excited whimper and pulled away from George, jumping into the bushes — and out came, not a snake, but Mischief, Tinker’s bright-eyed little monkey!

He at once leapt on to the dog’s broad back, put his little monkey fingers under Timmy’s collar, and chattered in delight. Timmy nearly dislocated his neck trying to twist his head round to lick him!

“Mischief!” cried everyone at once, in real delight. “You’ve come to welcome us!”

And the little monkey, jabbering away excitedly in monkey-language, leapt first on to George’s shoulder, and then on to Julian’s. He pulled Julian’s hair, twisted his right ear round, and then leapt from him to Dick, and on to Anne’s shoulder. He cuddled into her neck, his eyes bright and brown, looking very happy.

“Oh! Isn’t he pleased to see us again!” said Anne, delighted. “Mischief, where’s Tinker?”

Mischief jumped off Anne’s shoulder and scampered down the drive as if he quite understood all that Anne had said. The children raced after him — and then a stentorian voice suddenly roared at them from one side of the drive.

“What are you doing here? Clear out! This is private ground. I’ll fetch the police. Clear OUT!”

The Five stopped still in fright — and then Julian saw who it was — Professor Hayling! He stepped forward at once. “Good afternoon, sir,” he said. “I hope we didn’t disturb you, but you did tell my aunt we could come here.”

“Your aunt? Who’s your aunt? I don’t know any aunt!” roared the Professor. “You’re sight-seers, that’s what you are! Come to pry into my work, just because there was a piece about it in some silly paper! You’re the third lot today. Clear out, I tell you — and take that dog too. How DARE you!”

“But sir — don’t you really know us?” said Julian, very startled. “You came to stay at our house, you know, and…”

“Stuff and nonsense! I haven’t been away for years!” shouted the Professor. Mischief, the monkey, was so frightened that he leapt away into the bushes, making a funny little crying noise.

“I hope he fetches Tinker,” said Julian, in a low voice to Dick. “The Professor has forgotten who we are, and why we’ve come. Let’s retreat a bit.”

But as they went cautiously back up the steep path, followed by the angry Professor, a loud voice hailed them, and Tinker came racing up with Mischief on his shoulder, clinging to his hair. So the little monkey had gone to fetch him. “Good for him!” thought Julian, pleased.

“Dad! Don’t yell at our friends like that!” cried Tinker, dancing about in front of his angry father. “You asked them here yourself, you know you did!”

“I DID NOT!” said the Professor. “Who are they?”

“Well, George, that girl, is the daughter of Mr Kirrin, and the others are his niece and nephews. And that’s their dog, Timmy. And you asked them all here because Mr and Mrs Kirrin are in quarantine for scarlet fever,” shouted Tinker, still dancing about in front of his father.