They went down and had an excellent meal of sausages which the cat had collected during the day. She was away at the farm, the Colonel said there would be hurt feelings if she did not join her pets at tea, to drink a saucer of milk. And I must go back later, because my young pet, Tommy, likes me there while he has his bath. So let’s be moving.€

He rose and pushed open a window. The defences of Hell Hall are childish,€ he said. What’s the use of padlocked gates at the front when one can get in at the back, through this Folly?

Pongo then saw that the Folly had a door and a window opening onto the grounds of Hell Hall as well as the door and window opening onto the heath, and was, indeed a sort of gatehouse. The Colonel had originally entered through the window on the heath side. The door into the grounds was bolted on the Hell Hall side, so the Colonel led Pongo and Missis through the window.

Now we’ll be cautious,€ he said. That window might blow shut, and there’s no handle on the outside. And it might take some time to unbolt this door.€ He drew back the bolt on the door into the Folly, pushed the door open, and rolled a heavy stone against it. Now, if you should want to get out in a hurry. But I don’t think you will. Shouldn’t wonder if you couldn’t spend the night with your pups.€

Missis gasped with delight and began to ask questions.

I’ll explain as we go,€ said the Colonel, starting towards Hell Hall.

A full moon was rising above the black house.

Colonel, what’s that on the roof?€ said Pongo. Surely it isn’t televisionhere?€

Oh, yes, it is,€ said the Colonel. And there’s scarcely a cottage in the village hasn’t got it since the electricity came. Mostly on the Hire Purchase though there won’t be much Purchase here. I’m told the Badduns haven’t paid anything for months.€

He then outlined his plans, and it soon appeared that television played an important part in them. The Baddun brothers were so fond of it that they could not bear any puppy to bark while it was on. And unless the puppies were warm, they barked like mad. The warmest room in the house was the kitchen, which was where the television set was so that was where the pups now lived (unless they were taking exercise in the stableyard). Some pups liked watching the television, some just slept; anyway, none of them barked, so the Badduns could enjoy themselves in peace. All this the Colonel had heard from Lucky during long, barked conversations.

That lad of yours is as bright as a button,€ said the Colonel. He’s months ahead of his age.€

Pongo and Missis swelled with pride.