‘You keep strange company,’ came the woman’s strident voice from the other side of the door. ‘A man that creeps down a chimney upon a body isn’t one that I’d put up with.’
Abbershaw and Meggie exchanged glances. Apparently Mr Campion had descended from the skies.
Then the absurd voice came out to them again, raised a little in indignation.
‘But even if your son is coming, my dear old bird,’ he was saying, ‘there’s really no reason why my friends and I should not meet before that happy moment. After all, I too have a mother.’ The exact significance of his last remark was not apparent, but it seemed to work like a charm upon the old woman, and with a few mumbled words she opened the door, and Albert Campion stood upon the threshold, beaming at them.
‘I don’t think I’ll come in,’ he said cheerfully. ‘This lady seems crazy for me to meet her son and I’m afraid that she may compel me to do so by locking me in with you if I get far enough out of the room for her to shut this door. And as the laddie is not expected to call till Wednesday, I don’t want him to get his diploma from me in person. I think if you’re both ready, we’ll all go back the way I came.’
‘Down the chimney?’ said Meggie, in some trepidation.
‘Through the chimney,’ corrected Campion, with pride. ‘I’ve been fooling about all day trying to find the “money-back” handle – and now I’ve got the two coppers,’ he added brightly, grinning at the two red-headed young people before him. ‘You can’t possibly dislike puns more than I do,’ he went on hastily. ‘Let’s get back, shall we? This is an unhealthy spot.’
They followed him into the old woman’s room. She stood glaring at them suspiciously with her little bright eyes.
‘Where are you going?’ she demanded. ‘I don’t know as ’ow I ought to let ye go.’
‘Aren’t you coming with us?’ said Meggie quickly. ‘Surely you want to get away from those dreadful men at once? You’ll be much safer with us.’