"Now, why on earth has she gone trailing in there with him for the day?" he finished breathlessly.

At that moment the telephone began to ring.

"Gay Dolphin, Rye," Jon announced, feeling rather bored.

"Oh! May I speak to Mr. Jonathan Warrender, please," came pleasantly over the wire in a voice Jon seemed to recognize.

"Jonathan Warrender speaking," he said, feeling himself go rather red in the face.

"Isn't that lucky," the girl said. "How are you, Jonathan? You know who it is speaking, don't you?"

"You're Miss Ballinger's niece, aren't you?" he muttered rather ungraciously.

"That's right! But listen, Jon. I'm really speaking for your cousin, Penny - and for us all, too, of course - but specially for Penny. Can you and your friend come over here right away and have tea with us? The twins are here, too, but your cousin says you must come because she's got important news..." and here the girl laughed musically... "news about some treasure or something equally exciting. I know it's a rotten day, Jon, but it's not raining now, and if you come I'll pick you up on the road as I've got the car."

"Where's Penny?" Jon asked suspiciously. "She's all right, isn't she?"

"Of course she's all right. She's at the bungalow helping my aunt to get the tea, and she asked me to come up to the call box to phone. 'Tell him to come over at once with David Morton' she said, 'and tell him that they must come, and be sure to bring the maps and papers. Tell him it's important' was the last thing she said... Oh, no it wasn't! There was something else that seemed mad to me, but I s'pose you'll understand... Something about a date... April something or other... but I say, you will come, won't you, Jon... I'd like to see you again..."

"Very well," Jon said slowly. "Thank you very much. We'll come as soon as we can. We'll be on the road in about ten minutes. 'Bye," and he walked away from the telephone looking very worried.

9. Wednesday: Penny and the Twins in Trouble

Jenny sat swinging her legs on the wall at the end of Trader's Street and watched the car containing the Mortons and Jon disappear round the corner. A steady wind from the sea behind her ruffled her hair and she stifled a yawn and waved to Vasson, who smiled at her as he went back under the archway.

The wall began to feel uncomfortably hard. She jumped down and, frowning, she strolled under the archway and met the twins and Macbeth coming out into the sunshine.

"Hello, Penny! What shall we do?" Dickie began.

Before Penny could answer, her aunt's door opened and Mr. Grandon came out.