"As if you could tell!" said Pip scornfully, "I think we've got the right shoe - and we'll prove it. Get the drawing out of the summer-house. Fatty."
Fatty went to get it. He took it from behind the loose board and brought it out to the others. They unfolded it, fueling very thrilled.
They all gazed at the drawing, and then at the underneath of Mr. Smellie's shoe. They looked very, very hard indeed, and then they sighed in disappointment
"Bets is right.," said Fatty. "The squares in the pattern of ilie rubber sole are not quite so big as in my drawing. And I know my drawing is quite correct, because I measured everything carefully. I'm awfully good at things like that. I never make ..."
"Shut up," said Larry, who always felt cross when Faty began His boasting. "Bets, as you say, is quite right. Good for you, young Bets!"
Bets glowed with pleasure. She really had learnt that drawing off by heart, as she had said she would. But she was as disappointed as the others that Daisy had not found the right shoe after all.
"It's awfully difficult being a Find-Outer, isn't it?" said Bets. "We keep finding out things that aren't much, help, or that make everything even more difficult. Pip, tell Larry and Daisy what the tramp said."
"Oh yes - you must hear about that," said Pip; and he
began to tell Larry and Daisy what had happened with the tramp.
"So now, you see, it's a bigger puzzle than ever," finished Pip. "The tramp saw Peeks all right, hiding in the bushes - but he heard him whispering to some one else! Was it old Mr. Smellie, do you think? You say that he went out for a walk that evening, and we know that Peeks was out at that time too. Do you suppose they planned the fire together?"