"Don't be silly!" said Daisy. "It's just an accident that some of the things are the same."
"All right," said Fatty. "But look here, if I do find one of Luke's whistles in the cage, we've got to realize that that won't be an accident. That will be put there on purpose! Well — I'll go and see."
Everyone wanted to come, of course. So they all clambered over the wall, Luke too. Only Buster was left on the wrong side of the wall, tied up to a tree.
The five children came to the cat-house. No one was mere. Tupping and Miss Harmer had gone to report the matter to Lady Candling. Only the cats looked at the children, their blue eyes gleaming. Bets counted them. There were seven.
"Look," said Fatty, pointing into the cage. "One of Luke's whistles again!"
Luke stared at it in amazement. Then he went to feel in his coat, which was hanging on a tree nearby.
"It must have been taken from my pocket," he said. "I had it in there, ready to finish. It was for Pip. And someone must have taken it."
"And put it on the floor of the cage so that you'd be suspected again!" said Fatty grimly. He stared at the whistle on the floor.
"Can't we get it out again," said Daisy. "Like we did last time?"
"I don't expect there would be time," said Fatty. "Look around for some other clues — quick."