Then a board creaked round the next corner and Penny thought, "It's all up now!" and wondered what explanation she could give. Behind her, the twins' eyes were bright and big with excitement, but neither of them moved. For a moment she considered opening the door nearest to her and slipping inside, but before she could decide two shadows slipped round the corner, to be followed by Jon and David!

A suppressed giggle came from Mary and Penny whispered:

"What are you going this way for, you chumps? Buck up! There's someone downstairs!"

"Must have lost my direction," Jon muttered. "Sorry! I remember now. It's the first turn on the left for your stairs, isn't it, Penny?"

She nodded. "Hurry!" she urged. "Do hurry."

When they came to her staircase Jon stopped and whispered, "Lend me your torch, Penny. Mine's nearly out and we must see properly to open the door."

She passed hers along and saw David grin at her as the beam flashed across his face. Behind her the twins twittered with excitement as they climbed the narrow stairs. She closed the door of her room as they passed it and called up to Jon, "I suppose you've got matches for the lamp, Jon."

"There are some on the ledge over the fireplace," he whispered back. "Do you mind if Penny comes in front, David, and holds the torch for me while I unlock the door? She knows the way round here."

So Penny squeezed past and held the torch while Jon fumbled for the big key in the pocket of his dressing-gown. In the background there was a peculiar tap-tapping and Mary whispered:

"It's Dickie's teeth. He's not scared. Only excited. Do buck up there, big Jon, 'cos we're getting worked up behind here."

The beam of the torch focused on the lock as Jon fitted the heavy key and turned it. Penny stepped back as he pulled the door towards them and then swung the beam over his shoulder into the room. It was very dark, for there was no moon. She shone the beam of the torch across to the fireplace to guide Jon to the matches. But as the little yellow spotlight reached the panelled wall at the far end of the room there was an odd click and then Penny screamed and the torch clattered to the floor. For a moment she was so frightened that her knees went weak and she leaned against the door-post. In the darkness she felt Jon stoop for the torch and then his arm slipped across her shoulders and gave her a clumsy squeeze.

"Did you see her, Jon?" she whispered. "Just her face... against the dark wall... Did you see her, too, Jon?... Tell me you did."

The torch flashed on again and Jon held it steadily so that the beam shone on the wall by the fireplace.

"There's nothing there now," he said shakily. "But I saw that face, too, Penny. It was the Ballinger."