“Your cousin wouldn’t be able to throw it out of the window once the car was going,” he said. “There would be sure to be someone in the back with her. The only reason she could throw things out at the clearing would be because the second fellow — and there would certainly be two — would be guiding the other man in the turning of the car.”

“The wind might have blown the note along the path,” said Julian. “Anyway, I’ve given you the information.”

It was a very miserable day, although the sun shone down warmly, and the sea was blue and most inviting. But nobody wanted to bathe, nobody really wanted to do anything but talk and talk about George and what had happened, and where she could be at that moment!

Joan came back in time to get their lunch, and was pleased to find that Anne had done the potatoes and prepared a salad, and that Dick had managed to pick some raspberries. They were very glad to see Joan. She was someone sensible and comforting and matter-of-fact.

“Well, Miss Jane is now safely in my cousin’s cottage,” she said. “She was very miserable but I told her she must smile and play about, else the neighbours would wonder about her. I put her into some of Jo’s clothes — they fitted her all right. Hers are too expensive-looking, and would make people talk!”

They told Joan what they had discovered in the clearing that morning. She took the note and looked at it. “Gringo!” she said. “That’s a queer word — sounds like a gypsy word to me. It’s a pity Jo isn’t here — she might tell us what it means!”

“Did you see Jo?” asked Dick.

“No. She was out shopping,” said Joan, lifting the lid to look at the potatoes. “I only hope she gets on with Miss Jane all right. Really, it’s getting very difficult to remember that child’s change of names!”

The only fresh news that day was a worried telephone call from Aunt Fanny. She was shocked and amazed at the news she had heard. “Your uncle has collapsed!” she said. “He has been working very hard, you know, and now this news of George has been quite the last straw. He’s very ill. I can’t leave him at the moment — but anyway we couldn’t do anything! Only the police can help now. To think those horrible men took George by mistake!”

“Don’t worry too much, Aunt Fanny,” said Julian. “We’ve hidden Berta away safely, and I expect the men will free George as soon as she tells them she’s the wrong girl.”

“If she does tell them!” said Dick, under his breath. “She might not, for Berta’s sake, for a few days at any rate!”

Everyone went miserable to bed that night. Anne took Timmy and Sally with her, for both were so forlorn that she couldn’t bear to do anything else. Timmy wouldn’t eat anything at all, and Anne was worried about him.