threshold he had quitted the moment before. On this the
door banged with a great crash. It had fallen just in time to prevent
the door shutting. The whole building seemed to shake with the shock of
the banging door. Alan turned, to see Thomas, white and staring, behind
him. The expression on his face recalled to the boy's mind the
conversation in the hollow. For the moment, however, anger prevented any
other thoughts.

'It might have killed me!' he exclaimed, angrily. 'What on earth did you
do that for?'

'I meant no harm, sir,' returned Thomas, hurriedly. 'The truth is, sir,
I--I want to get into that place for a bit. I--I have left something
behind. It's most important. The noise may bring Mr. Peet up here,
and--and--I must get in afore he comes. What's there was left by--by
mistake, sir--only a mistake.'

Thomas spoke in a confused, anxious manner, all the time edging nearer
to the door. 'It would have slammed if I hadn't thrown in the bit of
wood,' he continued, as he pushed back the door to its widest extent.

Sure as he felt that Thomas was deceiving him, Alan was puzzled how to
connect the gardener's anxiety to enter the summer-house with the
conversation he had overheard; but that it _had_ some connection he felt
certain. What could the man want in that dark, uninviting hole? Had he
stolen any valuables and hidden them in there? If so, why did he want
information about them when he must know all about where they were to be
found? Yet the stranger had told Thomas to obtain information, without
which their bargain was useless.

His thoughts were interrupted by the gardeners, who now came running up,
headed by Peet. They were amazed to see the four children staring in
wonder at the strength displayed by Thomas as he set the massive door
open.

'What are you doing with that 'ere door?' shouted the angry head
gardener. 'Who opened it? It isn't anybody's business to go nigh it at
all.'

'The door nearly slammed on the young ladies and gentlemen,' replied
Thomas, sullenly, his tone proving to Alan how keen was his
disappointment. 'I just threw the wood in time to stop it.'

'Who opened it?' demanded Peet, sternly, his eyes wandering round the
group of children and gardeners.

No one answering, Alan said they had found the door open on their return
from boating, and had looked in. 'And if we ever get the chance again
we will go right in,' he added, sulkily, walking away with his head in
the air. His disappo