he right
clue when they were puzzled over things, and he felt that, even if she
could not do so in the present case, it would be a great comfort to be
able to talk over each new discovery with her, and have her help when he
needed it.

'One thing struck me,' said Marjorie at last. 'When there was that fuss
about the summer-house door being open, do you remember how anxious
Thomas was to get in? Did you see what a cross look he had all the time
Peet was speaking? It was just as if he hated Peet. I wonder if he wants
to do him some injury?'

'Hu-um,' pondered Alan, taking in the new idea slowly; 'no one can like
that surly old Peet, but doing him an injury is another thing. I expect
you have the right end of the thread, but what is it going to lead to?
Has Peet anything valuable in the ruin? And if he has--and it seems as
if he must have--how can I find out what it is, or where it is? I
dislike him, in spite of Aunt Betty calling him a rough diamond; but of
course I wouldn't see him robbed or cheated.'

'I should think not, nor anybody else either. But what do you think we
ought to do? Why not tell Father about it, and ask him to keep the
secret till something turns up? He would find out at once what Peet has
in the summer-house.'

But Alan, always inclined to be rather selfish and wilful, thought this
would spoil the fun of discovering it themselves, and would not listen
to the proposal for an instant.

'We will make a thorough examination of the ruin outside first,' he
began; 'that is, as soon as this weather will let us. The whole place
will be dripping for a day or two, but I don't mind that.'

A sudden outburst of barks and yelps, accompanied by a clamour of
voices, came up from below. Running to the window, they caught sight of
the cause of the shouts and howls. The dogs were being led back to their
kennels, and as they were in a savage mood, the men were persuading or
forcing them on. To the amazement of the brother and sister, Thomas was
with the party, apparently as completely at home as if he had never fled
from the hounds.

'I say!' exclaimed Alan; 'I wonder how he managed that?'

'I know,' said Marjorie; 'he probably told them he was running after the
other man, but could not catch him. You see the other one isn't there. I
expect it was the only way of preventing the servants and dogs going
into the room where they took refuge.'

And this is exactly what had occurred. Alan, much impressed with this