Ted's face fell. Dolly's, too, for she began to see what Ted had in mind. But if Polly never left the Mortimer house, surely he didn't fly over and steal the earring.
"Could I go up to the room where the bird is?" said Ted, trying to conceal his disappointment at the collapse of his theory.
"Yes, sir, if you like, or I'll bring the bird down here."
"We'll go up, please," and Dolly and Ted followed the old man to the room on the second floor, which was opposite Mrs. Berry's.
They looked in and saw the bird in his cage, hanging from a bracket near the window.
"Pretty Polly," said Ted, walking toward the cage. "Nice Polly. Polly want a cracker?"
The bird cocked his head on one side, but said nothing.
"And you're sure he never leaves his cage?" said Ted, examining the fastening on the cage door.
"Well, sir, he does leave his cage. I said he doesn't leave this house.
That is,—not often. So seldom as to call it never."
"What do you mean by that?"