"Yes, sir," said Goon. "Found in the place where the crime was committed, sir. In the cat-house itself."
"Did you really find all these things in the cat-house?" said the Inspector, looking at everything as if he really could not believe they were there. "Was this peppermint drop there, Goon?"
"Yes, sir, everything. Never found so many clues in my life before, sir," said Goon, pleased to see the Inspector's surprise.
"Neither have I," said the Inspector. He glanced round at the five children. They were horrified at seeing Goon show the false dues to Inspector Jenks. A very small twinkle came into the Inspector's eyes.
"Well, Goon," said the Inspector, "you are much to be congratulated on discovering so many dues. Er — I suppose you children haven't discovered any too?"
Fatty pulled out the envelope in which he had put duplicates of the same things that Goon had found. He undid the envelope solemnly and slowly. Bets wanted to giggle, but she didn't dare to.
"I don't know if you'd call these clues, sir," said Fatty. "Probably not. We don't think they are, sir, either."
To Goon's open-mouthed astonishment Fatty proceeded to take from the envelope complete duplicates of the dues that Goon had taken out of his own envelope.
"What's all this? There's something funny about all this," said Goon faintly.
"It is certainly peculiar, to say the least of it," said the Inspector. "I am sure you children all agree with me?"