"Oh, penal servitude, I suppose; it's a serious business housebreaking."
"How quiet you boys are!" said Mrs. Vance a short time later.
"I think you must be tired. Wouldn't you like to go to bed?"
The three friends were only too glad to avail themselves of this excuse for getting away into some place where they could indulge in a little private conversation. Diggory and Mugford slept together in the same room; Jack followed them in and closed the door.
"Well," he exclaimed, "we're in a nice mess."
"But we didn't steal the coins," said Mugford.
"Of course we didn't—the safe had been robbed before we went there—but it looks as if we'd done it; and if they find out we got into the house, I don't see how we're going to prove that we're innocent."
There was a short silence; then Diggory spoke.
"Look here, Jack: I was the one who proposed going inside the place; shall I tell your guv'nor?"
"Well, I was thinking of doing that myself, only I don't see what good it can do. If we tell him, he'll be bound to tell the police, to explain about those footmarks; and when it comes out that we got into the house, I should think we are pretty certain to be charged with having stolen the coins. I think the best thing will be to keep it dark: we didn't crib the things, and the thieves are sure to be caught in time."
Even after Jack had retired to his own room, Diggory and Mugford lay awake for hours discussing the situation; and when at length they did fall asleep, it was only to dream of being chased by "The Hermit" and a swarm of long-legged policemen, who forced their way into the Third Form classroom at Ronleigh, and handcuffed the unfortunate trio in the very bosom of "The Happy Family."