But it was another twenty minutes before they agreed on a plan, and then it was really three separate plans.

"It's no use us trying to do everything together," David said. "We've got too many things to do and too many people to watch. I'm sure Peter is right and that Mr Cantor should be shadowed every minute. Everything about him is suspicious, and he behaved disgustingly this morning when he tried, first of all, to blame Reuben and Miranda for something he knew nothing about..."

"Or pretended he knew nothing about," Penny put in.

"... Yes, that's true enough. Maybe he knew more than we think. Then there was that business of getting the policeman away from us so that we shouldn't tell him any more."

"P'raps we should go back and tell him some more," Jenny suggested.

"Alan told us not to go to the police," Jon said, "and now I've seen the policeman I'm not surprised! David and Peter are right when they say Cantor has got to be watched, and I know who ought to watch him."

"Not me," Penny said promptly. "I'm sick of him."

"Not you," Jon agreed. "We want somebody with more guile than you've got. No, this is a job for the twins."

And so it was agreed.

"Shall we go at once?" Mary said. "Suppose he's escaped us already? And what are you others going to do, and how shall we know where you are?"

"Whatever we do we shall have to go back to the house," David said, "because if we go out on the hills again, which I think we should, we must tell Agnes we'll be out all day and get some food... I'm not very keen to be the one to tell Agnes, by the way."

"The only ones she likes are the twins," Peter said. "They're the favourites; they always were. I suggest they and Mackie go back at once. If Mr Cantor has gone out they'll soon know, and it will be up to them to try and follow him. It's an important job, Dickie. Can you manage it? All right, we know you can! Whatever we all do, let's arrange to meet here, at H.Q,. Three, at sunset. If Cantor is in, twins, when we get back we shall understand if you don't leave him and we won't come into the room and interfere if we can help it."

Dickie cocked his head and spoke gruffly out of the side of his mouth. "O.K., pards. Leave it to us! The ruins at sunset," and set off down the hill. Mary turned and waved as she followed him.

"Try and let us know what you're all going to do," she called.

After a little more discussion it was agreed that the three girls should go over to Bury Fields and see if they could do anything to help the Dentons.