"It's no use you trying to bully us, David and Jon," Mary said in defence of her twin, "and we don't care what you say but you're wrong and we're right. We 'zamined that bike in the shed this morning, and if you want to know we did just take it out on the garden path and sort of try it, and the bell jangled."

"And there's no need for you to say anything about us just trying the stupid old bike," Dickie added, "'cos that's nobody's business but ours. We didn't hurt the thing but we did put it away quickly because the bell was loose and jangled."

"Yes, Dickie, we understand about the jangling bell and you needn't mention it again, but how do you know it was Mr Cantor riding it this evening?" David said.

"Well, you see," Dickie began a little doubtfully, "we know it was his bike, and after all nobody would want to borrow his bicycle and go riding it in the fog and the dark all over those beastly hills where we got lost, would they? I mean it just doesn't make sense."

"Of course it doesn't make sense," Peter broke in. "I think you're right, Dickie. I've always been suspicious of Mr Cantor and now I'm sure I'm right. He looks too smug - to me, and anyway it's a silly time of year to go looking around the country for old bones and things."

Then the door opened and Agnes came in.

"And what was it made me wonder whether those two little ones had gone to bed? You're both tired out and it's getting late. Be off with you! Goodness gracious me, but you're both yawning while I look at you. Come along and no arguments."

The twins looked at her, then at each other, and decided that Agnes was right and that this was no time for further discussion. At the door Dickie turned and hissed, "Why don't you go and look for yourselves? You know where I mean."

"And another thing," Mary said, "don't any of you dare to plan anything without us. It's only because we're not as big as you that we're driven off to bed in this brutal way. And you're all yawning! Why don't you make them go to bed, Agnes? You just don't know how I wish I was older so that I didn't have to do things like this."

When the door had closed behind them David said, "I've got a brainwave. What Mary said is true about us being tired. I suggest that Jon and Tom and I go out and examine that bicycle and then we all go to bed-"

"I must say that's a futile sort of idea," Penny broke in.