"We've got such a lot to tell you, Mother, but, if you don't mind, the Mortons have been such sports - and I'm sure Mr. Morton will be able to help us now - that I wondered if we could all have tea together in here and talk it over... Did I dream it or did you tell me that Grandon has gone for good?"

"Yes, he's gone... I expect we've got a lot to tell each other, and Penny wouldn't say a word until you came... I don't mind about the Mortons, Jon, but do you really think they want to be bothered with our business?"

"What's that about the Mortons?" said the cheerful voice of Mr. Morton from the door. "Or is this a family council, Mrs. Warrender?... I couldn't help overhearing what you said just now and I do hope you will let us help you in any way we can. We'd like to feel we're friends now besides being the Dolphin's first guests."

And so it was arranged, for it was difficult to reject such friendliness; and Vasson wheeled in two big trolleys piled with toast and tea and jam and crumpets and cakes. The twins, with flushed and smiling faces and neatly parted hair, and David still smothering a yawn, came in with their mother and they all sat round the fire. Just before they started Jon whispered to David that he was going to tell the grown-ups everything.

David nodded. "You know best. It's your show, anyway, and not ours... I've just had a letter I want to show you as soon as I can."

When the trolleys had been pushed aside, Jon told the story from the beginning. Once, when he got to the secret passage, his mother interrupted, and twice Penny helped him, but he told everything that had happened to them clearly and well.

"And so, you see, sir," Jon finished, turning to Mr. Morton, "that although we are sure that they stole the actual clue we are just as certain that they never got as far as 'earthen vessels'. "

"The solving of that clue was very clever work," Mr. Morton replied. "You were smarter than they were. Can you remember what the parchment was like, Jon? I mean, how big was it?"

Jon frowned. "Oh, quite small really. Only a few inches wide, and the writing was very spidery and old-fashioned, but it was clear enough. If you'll lend me a pencil, sir, I'll try and draw it."

When he had passed it over, Mr. Morton looked at Mrs. Warrender.

"I believe these children are really on the track of something," he said, "but do please say if you'd rather we didn't investigate this any further. It is, after all, entirely your business, and I wouldn't have you think..."