the enchanted castle-第10部分

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space。

〃Halloa！〃　it　said　gloomily。

〃How　horrid！〃　cried　Mabel；　〃you　did　make　me　jump！　Take　the　ring
off；　it　makes　me　feel　quite　creepy；　you　being　nothing　but　a　voice。〃　

〃So　did　you　us；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Don't　take　it　off　yet；〃　said　Kathleen；　who　was　really　rather
thoughtful　for　her　age；　〃because　you're　still　blackleaded；　I　suppose；
and　you　might　be　recognized；　and　eloped　with　by　gypsies；　so　that
you　should　go　on　doing　conjuring　for　ever　and　ever。〃　

〃I　should　take　it　off；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃it's　no　use　going　about
invisible；　and　people　seeing　us　with　Mabel　and　saying　we've
eloped　with　her。〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Mabel　impatiently；　〃that　would　be　simply　silly。　And；
besides；　I　want　my　ring。〃　

〃It's　not　yours　any　more　than　ours；　anyhow；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Yes；　it　is；〃　said　Mabel。

〃Oh；　stow　it！〃　said　the　weary　voice　of　Gerald　beside　her。　〃What's
the　use　of　jawing？〃

〃I　want　the　ring；〃　said　Mabel；　rather　mulishly。

〃Want〃　the　words　came　out　of　the　still　evening　air　　〃want　must　be
your　master。　You　can't　have　the　ring。　I　can't　get　it　off！〃　

The　difficulty　was　not　only　that　Gerald　had　got　the　ring　on　and
couldn't　get　it　off；　and　was　therefore　invisible；　but　that　Mabel；　who
had　been　invisible　and　therefore　possible　to　be　smuggled　into　the
house；　was　now　plain　to　be　seen　and　impossible　for　smuggling
purposes。

The　children　would　have　not　only　to　account　for　the　apparent
absence　of　one　of　themselves；　but　for　the　obvious　presence　of　a
perfect　stranger。

〃I　can't　go　back　to　aunt。　I　can't　and　I　won't；〃　said　Mabel　firmly；　〃not
if　I　was　visible　twenty　times　over。〃　

〃She'd　smell　a　rat　if　you　did；〃　Gerald　owned　〃about　the　motor…car；
I　mean；　and　the　adopting　lady。　And　what　we're　to　say　to
Mademoiselle　about　you　！〃　He　tugged　at　the　ring。

〃Suppose　you　told　the　truth；〃　said　Mabel　meaningly。

〃She　wouldn't　believe　it；〃　said　Cathy；　〃or；　if　she　did；　she'd　go　stark；
staring；　raving　mad。〃　

〃No；〃　said　Gerald's　voice；　〃we　daren't　tell　her。　But　she's　really
rather　decent。　Let's　ask　her　to　let　you　stay　the　night　because　it's　too
late　for　you　to　get　home。〃　

〃That's　all　right；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃but　what　about　you？〃

〃I　shall　go　to　bed；〃　said　Gerald；　〃with　a　bad　headache。　Oh；　that's
not　a　lie！　I've　got　one　right　enough。　It's　the　sun；　I　think。　I　know
blacklead　attracts　the　concentration　of　the　sun。〃　

〃More　likely　the　pears　and　the　gingerbread；〃　said　Jimmy　unkindly。
〃Well；　let's　get　along。　I　wish　it　was　me　was　invisible。　I'd　do
something　different　from　going　to　bed　with　a　silly　headache；　I
know　that。〃　

〃What　would　you　do？〃　asked　the　voice　of　Gerald　just　behind　him。

〃Do　keep　in　one　place；　you　silly　cuckoo！〃　said　Jimmy。　〃You　make
me　feel　all　jumpy。　He　had　indeed　jumped　rather　violently。　〃Here；
walk　between　Cathy　and　me。　

〃What　would　you　do？〃　repeated　Gerald；　from　that　apparently
unoccupied　position。

〃I'd　be　a　burglar；〃　said　Jimmy。

Cathy　and　Mabel　in　one　breath　reminded　him　how　wrong　burgling
was；　and　Jimmy　replied：

〃Well；　then　a　detective。〃　

〃There's　got　to　be　something　to　detect　before　you　can　begin
detectiving；〃　said　Mabel。

〃Detectives　don't　always　detect　things；〃　said　Jimmy；　very　truly。　〃If
I　couldn't　be　any　other　kind　I'd　be　a　baffled　detective。　You　could　be
one　all　right；　and　have　no　end　of　larks　just　the　same。　Why　don't　you
do　it？〃

〃It's　exactly　what　I　am　going　to　do；〃　said　Gerald。　〃We'll　go　round
by　the　police…station　and　see　what　they've　got　in　the　way　of
crimes。〃　

They　did；　and　read　the　notices　on　the　board　outside。　Two　dogs　had
been　lost；　a　purse；　and　a　portfolio　of　papers　〃of　no　value　to　any　but
the　owner。〃　Also　Houghton　Grange　had　been　broken　into　and　a
quantity　of　silver　plate　stolen。　〃Twenty　pounds　reward　offered　for
any　information　that　may　lead　to　the　recovery　of　the　missing
property。〃　

〃That　burglary's　my　lay；〃　said　Gerald；　〃I'll　detect　that。　Here　comes
Johnson；〃　he　added；　〃he's　going　off　duty。　Ask　him　about　it。　The　fell
detective；　being　invisible；　was　unable　to　pump　the　constable；　but
the　young　brother　of　our　hero　made　the　inquiries　in　quite　a
creditable　manner。　Be　creditable；　Jimmy。〃　

Jimmy　hailed　the　constable。

〃Halloa；　Johnson！〃　he　said。

And　Johnson　replied：　〃Halloa；　young　shaver！〃　

〃Shaver　yourself！〃　said　Jimmy；　but　without　malice。

〃What　are　you　doing　this　time　of　night？〃　the　constable　asked
jocosely。　〃All　the　dicky　birds　is　gone　to　their　little　nesteses。〃　

〃We've　been　to　the　fair；〃　said　Kathleen。　〃There　was　a　conjurer
there。　I　wish　you　could　have　seen　him。〃　

〃Heard　about　him；〃　said　Johnson；　〃all　fake；　you　know。　The
quickness　of　the　'and　deceives　the　hi。〃　

Such　is　fame。　Gerald；　standing　in　the　shadow；　jingled　the　loose
money　in　his　pocket　to　console　himself。

〃What's　that？〃　the　policeman　asked　quickly。

〃Our　money　jingling；〃　said　Jimmy；　with　perfect　truth。

〃It's　well　to　be　some　people；〃　Johnson　remarked；　〃wish　I'd　got　my
pockets　full　to　jingle　with。〃　

〃Well；　why　haven't　you？〃　asked　Mabel。　〃Why　don't　you　get　that
twenty　pounds　reward？〃

〃I'll　tell　you　why　I　don't。　Because　in　this　〃ere　realm　of　liberty；　and
Britannia　ruling　the　waves；　you　ain't　allowed　to　arrest　a　chap　on
suspicion；　even　if　you　know　puffickly　well　who　done　the　job。〃　

〃What　a　shame！〃　said　Jimmy　warmly。　〃And　who　do　you　think　did
it？〃

〃I　don't　think　I　know。〃　Johnson's　voice　was　ponderous　as　his　boots。
〃It's　a　man　what's　known　to　the　police　on　account　of　a　heap　o
crimes　he's　done；　but　we　never　can't　bring　it　〃ome　to　〃im；　nor　yet
get　sufficient　evidence　to　convict。〃　

〃Well；　said　Jimmy；　〃when　I've　left　school　I'll　come　to　you　and　be
apprenticed；　and　be　a　detective。　Just　now　I　think　we'd　better　get
home　and　detect　our　supper。　Good　night！〃　

They　watched　the　policeman's　broad　form　disappear　through　the
swing　door　of　the　police…station；　and　as　it　settled　itself　into　quiet
again　the　voice　of　Gerald　was　heard　complaining　bitterly。

〃You've　no　more　brains　than　a　halfpenny　bun；〃　he　said；　〃no　details
about　how　and　when　the　silver　was　taken。〃　

〃But　he　told　us　he　knew；〃　Jimmy　urged。

〃Yes；　that's　all　you've　got　out　of　him。　A　silly　policeman's　silly　idea。
Go　home　and　detect　your　precious　supper！　It's　all　you're　fit　for。〃　

〃What'll　you　do　about　supper？〃　Mabel　asked。

〃Buns！〃　said　Gerald；　〃halfpenny　buns。　They'll　make　me　think　of
my　dear　little　brother　and　sister。　Perhaps　you've　got　enough　sense
to　buy　buns？　I　can't　go　into　a　shop　in　this　state。〃　

〃Don't　you　be　so　disagreeable；〃　said　Mabel　with　spirit。

〃We　did　our　best。　If　I　were　Cathy　you　should　whistle　for　your　nasty
buns。〃

〃If　you　were　Cathy　the　gallant　young　detective　would　have　left
home　long　ago。　Better　the　cabin　of　a　tramp　steamer　than　the　best
family　mansion　that's　got　a　brawling　sister　in　it；〃　said　Gerald。　〃You
are　a　bit　of　an　outsider　at　present；　my　gentle　maiden。　Jimmy　and
Cathy　know　well　enough　when　their　bold　leader　is　chaffing　and
when　he　isn't。　

〃Not　when　we　can't　see　your　face　we　don't；〃　said　Cathy；　in　tones　of
relief。　〃I　really　thought　you　were　in　a　flaring　wax；　and　so　did
Jimmy；　didn't　you？〃

〃Oh；　rot！〃　said　Gerald。　〃Come　on！　This　way　to　the　bun　shop。〃　

They　went；　And　it　was　while　Cathy　and　Jimmy　were　in　the　shop
and　the　others　were　gazing　through　the　glass　at　the　jam　tarts　and
Swiss　rolls　and　Victoria　sandwiches　and　Bath　buns　under　the
spread　yellow　muslin　in　the　window；　that　Gerald　discoursed　in
Mabel's　ear　of　the　plans　and　hopes　of　one　entering　on　a　detective
career。

〃I　shall　keep　my　eyes　open　tonight；　I　can　tell　you；〃　he　began。　〃I
shall　keep　my　eyes　skinned；　and　no　jolly　error。　The　invisible
detective　may　not　only　find　out　about　the　purse　and　the　silver；　but
detect　some　crime　that　isn't　even　done　yet。　And　I　shall　hang　about
until　I　see　some　suspicious…looking　characters　leave　the　town；　and
follow　them　furtively　and　catch　them　red…handed；　with　their　hands
full　of　priceless　jewels；　and　hand　them　over。〃　

〃Oh！〃　cried　Mabel；　so　sharply　and　suddenly　that　Gerald　was　roused
from　his　dream　to　express　sympathy。

〃Pain？〃　he　said　quite　kindly。　〃It's　the　apples　they　were　rather　hard。〃　

〃Oh；　it's　not　that；〃　said　Mabel　very　earnestly。　〃Oh；　how　awful！　I
never　thought　of　that　before。〃　

〃Never　thought　of　what？〃　Gerald　asked　impatiently。

〃The　window。〃　

〃What　window？〃

〃The　panelled…room　window。　At　home；　you　know　at　the　castle。
That　settles　it　I　must　go　home。　We　left　it　open　and　the　shutters　as
well；　and　all　the　jewels　and　things　there。　Auntie'll　never　go　in；　she
never　does。　That　settles　it；　I　must　go　home　now　this　minute。〃　

Here　the　others　issued　from　the　shop；　bun…bearing；　and　the
situation　was　hastily　explained　to　them。

〃So　you　see　I　must　go；〃　Mabel　ended。

And　Kathleen　agreed　that　she　must。

But　Jimmy　said　he　didn't　see　what　good　it　would　do。　〃Because　the
key's　inside　the　door；　anyhow。〃　

〃She　will　be　cross；〃　said　Mabel　sadly。　〃She'll　have　to　get　the
gardeners　to　get　a　ladder　and　〃

〃Hooray！〃　said　Gerald。　〃Here's　me！　Nobler　and　more　secret　than
gardeners　or　ladders　was　the　invisible　Jerry。　I'll　climb　in　at　the
window　it's　all　ivy；　I　know　I　could　and　shut　the　window　and　the
shutters　all　sereno；　put　the　key　back　on　the　nail；　and　slip　out
unperceived　the　back　way；　threading　my　way　through　the　maze　of
unconscious　retainers。　There'll　be　plenty　of　time。　I　don't　suppose
burglars　begin　their　fell　work　until　the　night　is　far　advanced。〃　

〃Won't　you　be　afraid？〃　Mabel　asked。　〃Will　it　be　safe　　suppose　you
were　caught？〃

〃As　houses。　I　can't　be；〃　Gerald　answered；　and　wondered　that　the
question　came　from　Mabel　and　not　from　Kathleen；　who　was
usually　inclined　to　fuss　a　little　annoyingly　about　the　danger　and
folly　of　adventures。

But　all　Kathleen　said　was；　〃Well；　good…bye；　we'll　come　and　see
you　tomorrow；　Mabel。　The　floral　temple　at　half…past　ten。　I　hope
you　won't　get　into　an　awful　row　about　the　motor…car　lady。〃　

〃Let's　detect　our　supper　now；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃All　right；〃　said　Gerald　a　little　bitterly。　It　is　hard　to　enter　on　an
adventure　like　this　and　to　find　the　sympathetic　interest　of　years
suddenly　cut　off　at　the　meter；　as　it　were。　Gerald　felt　that　he　ought；
at　a　time　like　this；　to　have　been　the　centre　of　interest。　And　he
wasn't。　They　could　actually　talk　about　supper。　Well；　let　them。　He