Mr. Grandon sounded a trifle sulky and Jon could picture him fingering his little moustache as he said: "There are other papers and I know where they are; but she must be patient. There mustn't be any signs or suspicions of burglary... This is not going to be as easy as I thought, but I tell that to you and not to her, you understand... But this paper that I have found? It must mean something, I think, because it is really old."

"Where did you find it? Tell me quickly because I must get back and tell her."

"Those children - and I do not like those children at all, and particularly that brat of a girl - have been given the Trader's room at the top, and they are up to something, but I have not yet had time to make sure... I think they have the other papers in a box which they are careful to keep locked... I was in the room this morning when they were out..."

And here Jon nearly whistled in amazement. He was still positive that the outside door had been locked when they went out to church. His leg was fast going to sleep and he shifted it gently as Slinky went on:

"... and this scrap of parchment was on the floor. One of them must have dropped it, I suppose... I would have you know that these children are not fools... they are not as I thought they would be, although it is true that I have had no experience of children of their age... They are a nuisance, and may even be dangerous, and I am thinking that they may know much, but are not aware of the meaning of their knowledge... We must find out quickly what this paper means... as quickly as we can."

"Yes," the other voice replied quietly, "and you must find out at once if these kids really know anything. And if you cannot find out for yourself we must take other steps. She will say that, I know. It is vital that we know what they know at once."

What Slinky would have replied to this quiet threat Jon never knew because at that moment he nearly cried out with the sudden sharp pain of cramp in his leg. Instinctively, he bent his leg and began to rub the calf, but his shoe scuffled across the floor and he heard the woman's startled exclamation, "What's that?"