“Thanks, Fatty,” said Pip relieved. “You always come to the rescue. Well - let me tell my story.”
He began, and the children giggled to hear how poor old Miss Frost got such a fright to see the fierce eyebrows, red face, and awful teeth just round the corner - and roared when Pip described what a dance he had led Mr. Goon in the fog.
“Fancy him not looking up into the trees,” said Fatty. “He’ll never make a detective! But you haven’t come to the mystery yet, Pip - what is it?”
“Well,” said Pip importantly, “as you all know, Milton House is empty - has been empty for ages, hasn’t it?”
The others nodded. They all knew the house quite well.
“All right,” said Pip, “well listen to this. One of the rooms at the very top of the house is fully furnished!”
Every one stared in amazement.
“Fully furnished!” said Fatty. “How very extraordinary! Does some one live there after all, then - and if so, why does he live at the top of the house? Pip, this is certainly very queer.”
“It is, isn’t it,” said Pip, pleased at the interest he had caused. “Don’t you think it’s going to be our third mystery? Fm sure there’s something queer about it.”
“Well, it certainly sounds jolly strange,” said Fatty. “Yes, it’s a mystery all right.”