Up the garden appeared Pip's mother, and with her was Clear-Orf, looking very smug and also very forbidding.
"Old Clear-Orf!" said Larry, in a low voice. "Whatever does he want?"
It was soon quite clear what he had come for! Pip's mother spoke to the children in a very stern voice.
"Children! Mr. Goon has come to me with a very extraordinary story of your doings in the last few days. I can hardly believe what he says!"
"What's the matter?" asked Pip, scowling at Clear-Orf.
"Pip, don't scowl like that," said his mother sharply. "Apparently all of you have been interfering in matters that concern the police. Even Bets! I simply cannot understand it. Mr. Goon even tells me that you and Frederick, Larry, got into Mr. Smellie's house last night. What will your mothers say? And even little Bets has been following footprints and imagining herself to be a detective!"
"Who told Mr. Goon that?" burst out Bets. "Nobody knows but me - and Mr. Hick!"
"Mr. Hick rang me up, and I have just been to see him," said Mr. Goon, speaking with great dignity. "He told me all your goings-on - interfering little busybodies!"
Bets burst into loud sobs. "Oh, Mr. Hick told me he wouldn't tell any one!" she wailed. "Oh, he did promise me faithfully! He's a wicked, wicked man! He's broken his faithful promise. I hate him!"
"Bets! Behave yourself!" said her mother.