"I'm going to tell you a secret, and it's to be kept a secret, too, although I don't see how there can be anything in it really! Mr. Harding, who is rather musty but rather an old darling, told me, with lots of hums and haws, that for as long as he can remember it has been said in Rye that smugglers' treasure was hidden in the Gay Dolphin or somewhere near it... Don't look so solemn, Penny! I'm sure it's only an old story... Anyway, Uncle Charles must have known all about these rumours, and Mr. Harding hinted that he bought the Dolphin in the first place because he believed that he would find the treasure himself. But he never did find it, and it is just possible - just a crazy idea, I think - that there might be some sort of clue in that old box... Somehow I don't believe in stories of hidden treasure, because they always turn out to be stories and nothing more; but since I've learned to love this funny little town and lived here, I could imagine that this house would be as good a place as anywhere for treasure to be hidden - and found, too, for that matter."

She got off the table and walked over to the door and seemed to be looking over their heads when she spoke again.

"And, darlings, there is one thing more, and it must be a secret between the three of us. It would help me very much - help us all - if you were able to find some treasure quite soon... Good luck to you!" and she slipped out and closed the door.

Jon stood quietly twisting the key of the black box between his fingers; but Penny, after two impetuous steps towards the door, wheeled round to him and flung up her head.

"Jon! Jon! She was crying, Jon."

Her cousin nodded. "I know. We'll have to find some treasure, Newpenny."

3. Saturday: nt 8 April 7

After Mrs. Warrender had left them alone in their new home neither Jon nor Penny felt that they had much to say to each other - or perhaps it was that they both would have liked to have said a lot but found it difficult to put their thoughts into words?