"We didn't see any one," said Bets3 feeling sorry for Fatty. She had so often been left out of things because she was younger than the others, and she knew how horrid it was to feel left-out. "We only went for a bike-ride."
But Fatty was really offended and hurt. "I don't think I want to belong to the Find-Outers any more," he said. "I'll take my drawing of the footprints and go. I can see you don't want me. Come on, Buster."
Nobody wanted Buster to leave the Find-Outers - and they didn't really want Fatty to, either. He wasn't so bad once you got used to him.
Daisy went after him. "Come back, silly," she said. "We do want you. We want to discuss what to do tonight about Mr. Smellie's shoes. You come and say what we ought to do, too. I want to go into Mr. Smellie's house and keep guard for Larry, whilst he is hunting for the shoes we think Mr. Smellie has hidden. But he won't let me."
Fatty went back to the others, still looking rather sulky.
"Larry, I do wish you'd let me creep into Mr. Smellie's house with you," said Daisy. "Fatty, don't you think I really ought to keep guard for him?"
"No, I don't," said Fatty. "I think a boy ought to go with Larry. I'll go, Larry. You shall do the hunting and I'll watch out that nobody discovers you."
"No, I'll go," said Pip, at once.
"You wouldn't be able to slip out without being seen," said Larry. "Fatty could. His parents don't seem to bother about him much. All right, Fatty - you come and help me then. I thought I'd wait till about half-past nine, and then scout about and see if old Smellie is still in His study. It's no use trying anything till he's gone to bed. He may be one of these people that stays up until about three o'clock in the morning,, of course. We'll have to see."
"Well, I'll be along about half-past nine," said Fatty. "Where's the shoe? In the summer-house? I'll bring it