“No. It can’t be possible,” said Dick. “Have you ever known your father to walk in his sleep, Tinker?”

Tinker considered. “No, I can’t say I have,” he said. “He’s a very light sleeper, usually. No. I don’t believe Dad did all that in his sleep. It was somebody else.”

“It must have been some sort of miracle man, then,” said George. “No ordinary person could do it. And whoever planned it wanted those papers very, very badly, or he would never have risked getting them against so many odds.”

“And if he wanted them SO VERY badly, he’ll certainly make an effort to get the ones he left behind under the table,” said Julian. “Good thing we’ve got those! He will probably try to get up into the tower the same way as he did before — but goodness knows what it was!”

“Well — those papers will be safely out of his way, tonight!” said George. “On my island!”

“Yes,” said Julian. “I’ll find a most unlikely hiding-place — somewhere about the ruined castle, I think. By the way — I hope you haven’t still got them under your jersey, Tinker. No — you don’t look fat any more. What have you done with them?”

“George said I’d better give them to her to keep, in case they slipped out of my jersey,” said Tinker. “You took them, didn’t you, George?”

“Yes,” said George. “Don’t let’s talk about it any more.”

“Why not? The thief’s not here. He can’t be listening to us!” said Tinker. “I believe you’re cross, George, because Julian won’t let you take the papers yourself!”

“Oh, do shut up, Tinker,” said George. “I shall be jolly cross with you in a minute, if you let Mischief upset your glass of lemonade again, all over my bread. Take him off the table! His manners are getting worse!”

“They aren’t — but your temper is!” said Tinker and promptly received a kick under the table from Julian. He was about to kick back but thought better of it. Julian could kick very much harder than he could! He decided to take Mischief off the table in case George smacked him. He put the little monkey under the table where Timmy was sitting quietly. Mischief immediately cuddled up to him, putting his little furry arms round the big dog’s neck. Timmy sniffed him all over, and then gave him two or three licks. He was very fond of the naughty little monkey.

“What shall we do this afternoon?” asked Dick, when they had all helped Jenny to clear away and wash-up. “What about a bathe in the sea? Is it warm enough?”

“Not really. But that doesn’t matter, we always feel jolly warm when we come out of the water and run about and then rub ourselves down,” said Anne. “Jenny — do you feel like a bathe?”

“Good gracious, no!” said Jenny, shivering at the thought. “I’m a cold mortal, I am. The thought of going into that cold sea makes me shudder. If you want your towels, they are all in the airing cupboard. And don’t you be late for tea, if you want any, because I’ve a lot of ironing to do afterwards.”