‘Let’s go out, even if it is raining,’ said Pip. ‘Let’s go and snoop about. Don’t you remember how last hols I snooped round an empty house and found that secret room at the top of it? Well, let’s go and snoop again. We might hit on something!’
So they all put on macks and sou’-westers and went for a snoop. ‘We might find some clues,’ said Bets hopefully.
‘Clues to what!’ said Pip scornfully. ‘You have to have a mystery before you can find clues, silly!’
They snooped round a few empty houses, but there didn’t seem anything extraordinary about them at all. They peered into an empty shed, and were scared almost out of their wits when a tall tramp rose up from the dark corners and yelled at them.
They tramped over a deserted allotment and examined a tumble-down cottage at one end very thoroughly. But there was absolutely nothing queer or strange or mysterious to find.
‘It’s tea-time,’ said Fatty. ‘We’d better go home. I’ve got an aunt coming. See you tomorrow!’
Larry and Daisy drifted off home too. Pip and Bets splashed their way down their wet lane and went gloomily indoors.
‘Dull and boring!’ said Pip, flinging his mack down on the hall-cupboard floor. ‘Nothing but rain! Nothing to do!’
‘You’ll get into a row if you leave your wet mack on the ground,’ said Bets, hanging hers up.
‘Pick it up then,’ said Pip, in a bad temper. He hadn’t even an exciting book to read. His mother had gone out to tea. He and Bets were alone in the house with Gladys.