When the box was opened they spread the map over the table again. After a while Jon said, "You know, Penny, we can't do anything practical until tonight. We shall both have to go to a mill, and we shall have to go separately and hide so that we can see who it is that Slinky meets and listen to what he has to say. Let's not worry about the map or these papers any more until we know for certain what he's after! He doesn't realize how much we know and he might easily give something away tonight. And if I keep the clue safe in my pocket he can't see that, so that even if he is after the treasure he hasn't got as far as we have. We're a step ahead of him and he doesn't know what we've got. What worries me is 'earthen vessels'. We shall have to put our heads together over that one, Penny, but the answer may be in this box."

Before Penny could answer there was a step outside and the sound of a knock on the door. Jon dropped his pocket-book and slammed down the lid of the box. Then he ran over and called, "Who's there? What do you want?"

His mother's voice answered:

"I'm not coming in, Jon. I only wanted to make sure that you were up here. Is Penny there, too? You've only got a quarter of an hour to get dressed and I think it's too bad of you both..." and as they looked at each other in guilty silence they heard her steps go down the stairs. Then they rushed at the box and crammed everything into it except Jon's pocket-book. Jon tried the lid after he had locked it, just to make sure, and then pocketed the key. Then they were just as careful in locking the door of the room before they rushed downstairs to change.

It was fortunate that the Gay Dolphin was near the church, but it was a silent and breathless trio that hurried into the big porch just as the two golden cherubs by the unusual clock overhead struck the first stroke of eleven.

By the time the sermon began Jon was feeling much cooler. He slipped his hand into his pocket and felt the cold iron of the key. Thank goodness, he had remembered to bring that with him. And the clue, too! Or had he brought the clue? Slowly, gently and unobtrusively he opened the leather covers, knowing that the next second he would be reassured. But the clue was not in its usual place!