‘Oooh!’ said Bets, delighted.
‘Woof,’ said Buster, pleased.
‘Oh thanks!’ said the others.
Mrs. Moon went out, weeping. The Inspector shook hands with Mrs. Hilton and went out to his car. ‘See you this afternoon!’ he said, to the delighted children.
Mrs. Hilton went out to see that Mrs. Moon did what she was told. The children followed the Inspector to his big black car. Mr. Goon was left behind in the drawing-room, looking gloomily at the carpet. He was alone with his thoughts.
No - he wasn’t alone! Buster was there too, regarding his old enemy with a bright eye. No one was there to say, ‘Come here, Buster!’ What a chance!
With a joyful yelp he flung himself at Mr. Goon’s ankles, and pulled at his blue trousers. Mr. Goon rose up in alarm.
‘Clear-orf!’ he yelled. ‘Clear-orf, you! Leave my trousers alone! You want reporting, you do. Clear-orf!’
The children heard the shouting and laughed at the familiar words. ‘Poor old Clear-Orf,’ said Bets. ‘Always in trouble. Fatty, go and rescue him.’
Fatty went. Mr. Goon came out, frowning, trying to see if his trouser-ankles had been torn. Buster struggled in Fatty’s arms.