“Oh - here’s Pip!” said Bets, pleased, and Buster went to greet him as if he had not seen him for weeks. “Did you do anything exciting, Pip?”
“I should jolly well think I did!” said Pip, his eyes shining. He got as close to the fire as he could. “And what’s more, Find-Outers - I believe I’ve got our third mystery for you!”
They all stared at him in delight and surprise. Bets jumped up. “Tell us, quick! What do you mean? What is the mystery?”
“I’ll tell you it all from the beginning,” said Pip. “Golly, I’m cold!”
“Where’s your coat?” said Daisy, seeing how cold Pip was.
“Old Clear-Orf has got it!” said Pip. “Sickening, isn’t it?”
“Clear-Orf! But how did he get it?” said Fatty. “Was your name in it?”
“Do you remember if it was, Bets?” asked Pip, turning to his little sister.
“No, it wasn’t,” said Bets. “So Clear-Orf won’t know whose it was - unless he goes round asking our parents if one of us has lost a mack!”
“Don’t worry,” said Fatty. “My old mack is almost exactly like Pip’s. I’ve got a new one. Pip can take mine, then if Clear-Orf goes round asking our parents if we’ve lost one, Pip can produce mine.”