"There is no more time to waste, my friend," came Miss Ballinger's unmistakable rumble. "And I do not intend to be put off with any more of your futile excuses. I am now confident that those two children have the key to the secret. True, we do not know whether they realize that the 'nt' clue was a clue. I tried the little fools yesterday by suggesting that April date to them, but they just looked stupid..." - and here Penny nudged Jon delightedly. "But listen to me, Grandon. This is no laughing matter. The map, which I am convinced they have, must be found by you. Two days I give you, my friend, and if you fail... well, if you fail I shall move in here permanently and you can be sure that there will not be room here for you as well. You will disappear promptly then, as you will have failed me... Let there be no squeamishness, my friend, in your methods. The prize is too big for gentility... Find out somehow what these two really know and produce the map for me. I am certain that will help us... It is here or hereabouts, Grandon, and I am sure of that... I am sure, too, that if you had any spirit or enterprise you would have found these papers long ago... It is up to you to find a way to make these children part with the papers. I must rely on you for that."

Grandon sounded sulky when he replied.

"That's easy for you to say. I tell you that I don't like dealing with those children. It's not what I've been used to. Kids! Fancy putting me on to watching kids!"

Here Penny felt the twins shaking with stifled laughter.

"And another thing," Slinky went on. "It's not safe for you to come here at night like this. You know perfectly well that you might be recognized on the way home, even if nobody sees you here... All right! All right! Don't get worked up. How did you get on at the tea party, by the way?"

Miss Ballinger hesitated before saying:

"Most satisfactorily... Now I must go, and not by the front door. Trader's Passage for me, and remember what I have said... I am very serious."

Jon turned round and shone the torch up the stairs again. "Back," he whispered urgently. "As quickly as you can, David. Get out of sight round the corner. Buck up, Penny. Push those kids up in front of you."