"It is the same place where the stones fell on Mr. Johnson," said Fiona.
"That is strange," said the Student.
And then Fiona told about the hand she had seen.
"Of course, of course," said the Student. "That explains the whole thing. They threw the stone down on me too. They did not wish me to know that the wall was hollow just there. They must use it as a doorway. They will have carried the boy through at the moment that you turned your back, of course. I suppose he invited them in some way; they could have no power otherwise."
"He said he would go anywhere to find his treasure," said Fiona.
"That would be quite sufficient for them to act on," said the Student.
"Then the stories about the cruelty of the Little People are true," asked Fiona.
"Only in part," said the Student. "I take it that they are all sorts, like ourselves. They are, as you know, the vanished débris of all the peoples that have helped to make this planet what it is. Good people, many of them. But they cannot altogether love those who have driven them under the ground."
"And who is the old hawker, daddy," she asked, "and what has he to do with it all?"
"I can't talk about anything except what you already know," said the Student. "Have you found out yet how to start?"