"Oh," thought Pip, "he's going to hunt for clues to help him to put the blame on Luke. We'd better go hunting for clues first. I'll go and tell the others."
So, with a last hearty yell to Luke, Pip ran for the wall, climbed it, and rushed to tell the others all that he had heard. Things were getting really exciting!
All About Clues
"What happened, Pip? You've been simply ages and ages!" said Larry, as Pip flung himself down beside the four children and Buster.
"Oh, Clear-Orf and Tupping have quite made up their minds that Luke Did the Deed," said Pip.
"It's funny, isn't it?" said Bets, puzzled. "We know quite well that Luke didn't do it — and yet it seems as if he simply must have! It's a real, proper mystery."
"I wonder where Dark Queen is," said Bets.
"Yes. If we could find her, we should have a better idea of who stole her," said Larry. "I mean, whoever has her now must be a friend of the thief. Golly! this is a puzzle, isn't it?"
"Can't we look for clues?" asked Bets, thinking that perhaps this might help to clear Luke.
"Oh, that reminds me," said Pip at once. "Old Clear-Orf said he was coming back tonight to have a look round the cat-house. I expect he wants to find some clues himself — clues that will point to poor old Luke, I suppose!"