Новые приключения Великолепной Пятерки

[1198] Her father looked most uncomfortable. He felt very guilty for having punished George and Timothy. They had been right about Mr. Roland and he had been wrong.

[1199] 'Poor George,' he said, 'and poor Timmy. I'm sorry about all that.'

[1200] George did not bear malice once anyone had owned themselves to be in the wrong. She smiled at her father.

[1201] 'It's all right,' she said. 'But don't you think that as I was punished unfairly, Mr. Roland might be punished well and truly? He deserves it!'

[1202] 'Oh, he shall be, certainly he shall be,' promised her father. 'He's up in bed with a cold, as you know. I hope he doesn't hear any of this, or he may try to escape.'

[1203] 'He can't,' said George. 'We're snowed up. You could ring up the police, and arrange for them to come here as soon as ever they can manage it, when the snow has cleared. And I rather think those other two men will try to explore the secret way as soon as possible, to get the papers back. Could we catch them when they arrive, do you think?'

[1204] 'Rather!' said Uncle Quentin, though Aunt Fanny looked as if she didn't want any more exciting things to happen! 'Now look here, you seem really frozen all of you, and you must be hungry too, because it's almost dinner-time. Go into the dining-room and sit by the fire, and Joanna shall bring us all a hot lunch. Then we'll talk about what to do.'

[1205] Nobody said a word to Mr. Roland, of course. He lay in bed, coughing now and then. George had slipped up and locked his door. She wasn't going to have him wandering out and overhearing anything!

[1206] They all enjoyed their hot dinner, and became warm and cosy. It was nice to sit there together, talking over their adventure, and planning what to do.

[1207] 'I will telephone to the police, of course,' said Uncle Quentin. 'And tonight we will put Timmy into the study to give the two artists a good welcome if they arrive!'

[1208] Mr. Roland was most annoyed to find his door locked that afternoon when he took it into his head to dress and go downstairs. He banged on it indignantly. George grinned and went upstairs. She had told the other children how she had locked the door.

[1209] 'What's the matter, Mr. Roland?' she asked, in a polite voice.

[1210] 'Oh, it's you, George, is it?' said the tutor. 'Well, see what's the matter with my door, will you? I can't open it.'

[1211] George had pocketed the key when she had locked the door. She answered Mr. Roland in a cheerful voice.

[1212] 'Oh Mr. Roland, there's no key in your door, so I can't unlock it. I'll see if I can find it!'

[1213] Mr. Roland was angry and puzzled. He couldn't understand why his door was locked and the key gone. He did not guess that everyone knew about him now. Uncle Quentin laughed when George went down and told him about the locked door.

[1214] 'He may as well be kept a prisoner,' he said. 'He can't escape now.'

[1215] That night, everyone went to bed early, and Timmy was left in the study, guarding the hole. Mr. Roland had become more and more angry and puzzled when his door was not unlocked. He had shouted for Uncle Quentin, but only George had come. He could not understand it. George, of course, was enjoying herself. She made Timothy bark outside Mr. Roland's door, and this puzzled him too, for he knew that George was not supposed to see Timmy for three days. Wild thoughts raced through his head. Had that fierce, impossible child locked up her father and mother and Joanna, as well as himself? He could not imagine what had happened.

[1216] In the middle of the night Timmy awoke everyone by barking madly. Uncle Quentin and the children hurried downstairs, followed by Aunt Fanny, and the amazed Joanna. A fine sight met their eyes!

[1217] Mr. Wilton and Mr. Thomas were in the study crouching behind the sofa, terrified of Timothy, who was barking for all he was worth! Timmy was standing by the hole in the stone floor, so that the two men could not escape down there. Artful Timmy! He had waited in silence until the men had crept up the hole into the study, and were exploring it, wondering where they were - and then the dog had leapt to the hole to guard it, preventing the men from escaping.

[1218] 'Good evening, Mr. Wilton, good evening, Mr. Thomas', said George, in a polite voice. 'Have you come to see our tutor Mr. Roland?'

[1219] 'So this is where he lives!' said Mr. Wilton. 'Was it you in the passage today?'

[1220] 'Yes - and my cousins,' said George. 'Have you come to look for the papers you stole from my father?'

[1221] The two men were silent. They knew they were caught. Mr. Wilton spoke after a moment.

[1222] 'Where's Roland?'

[1223] 'Shall we take these men to Mr. Roland, Uncle?' asked Julian, winking at George. 'Although it's in the middle of the night I'm sure he would love to see them.'