The Enchanted Castle

as therefore invisible, but that Mabel, who had been invisible and therefore possible to b

the apparent absence of one of themselves, but

d I won't," said Mabel firmly, "not

otor-car, I mean, and the adopting lady. And what we're t

the truth," said

Cathy; "or, if she did, she'd

he's really rather decent. Let's ask her to let you st

," said Jimmy, "b

hat's not a lie! I've got one right enough. It's the sun, I t

Well, let's get along. I wish it was me was invisible. I'd do somet

asked the voice of Ge

. "You make me feel all jumpy." He had indeed jumped

ted Gerald, from that appa

burglar,"

h reminded him how wrong bur

hen-a de

to detect before you can be

couldn't be any other kind I'd be a baffled detective. You could be one

rald. "We'll go round by the police-station a

"of no value to any but the owner." Also Houghton Grange had been broken into and a quantity of silver plate s

ff duty. Ask him about it." The fell detective, being invisible, was unable to pump the constable, but

led the c

Johnson!"

plied: "Halloa

!" said Jimmy, b

he constable asked jocosely. "All the dick

hleen. "There was a conjurer there

"all fake, you know. The quickn

the shadow, jingled the loose mone

the policeman

THE POLICEMAN

ng," said Jimmy,

Johnson remarked; "wish I'd got

ed Mabel. "Why don't you get

, and Britannia ruling the waves, you aint allowed to arrest a ch

Jimmy warmly. "And wh

n what's known to the police on account of a heap o' crimes he's done, but we

ou and be apprenticed, and be a detective. Just now I thi

wing door of the police-station; and as it settled itself into

nny bun," he said: "no details about

us he knew,

y policeman's silly idea. Go home and detect y

o about supper

of my dear little brother and sister. Perhaps you've got eno

with spirit. "We did our best. If I were Ca

than the best family mansion that's got a brawling sister in it," said Gerald. "You're a bit of an outsider at p

athy, in tones of relief. "I really thought you we

ld. "Come on! This w

t the jam tarts and Swiss rolls and Victoria sandwiches and Bath buns under the spread yellow muslin in the

only find out about the purse and the silver, but detect some crime that isn't even done yet. And I shall hang about until I see some suspicious-lo

suddenly that Gerald was roused

indly. "It's the apples

very earnestly. "Oh, how awful!

f what?" Gerald

win

t wi

home. We left it open and the shutters as well, and all the jewels and things there. A

hop, bun-bearing, and the situati

HOME-NOW-TH

I must go,"

n agreed th

t good it would do. "Because the

sadly. "She'll have to get the

I know I could-and shut the window and the shutters all sereno, put the key back on the nail, and slip out unperceived the back way, threading my way

el asked. "Will it be safe

tion came from Mabel and not from Kathleen, who was usually inclined

you to-morrow, Mabel. The floral temple at half-past ten. I

our supper now

entre of interest. And he wasn't. They could actually talk about supper. Well, let them. He didn't care! He spoke with sharp sternness: "Leave the pantry window undone for me to get in by when I've done my detecting. Come on, Mabel." He caught h

om. She was sitting by the window

lligibly. "You are again late; an

had not included any answer to this inevitable qu

because he had a headache." A

demoiselle. "Is it that I s

got one of his headaches," Kathlee

about their brother, and Mademoiselle pulled out the bundle

te like this," said Gerald

figure plodding along the high-road. "

ted Gerald kindly, and a s

inted for the entrances and exits of the domestic staff at Yalding Towers. She looked over M

un

ack, then made a s

to keep you in bed for a week for this, miss. Oh, Mabel, thank Heaven you're safe!" And with that the

Mabel, when she had realised that her aunt really had b

o you

tening. Don't be

ry with you again, now I've got yo

as it?" Ma

bout half-past three, I was talking about you to Mr. Lewson, at the fair, and quite suddenly I felt as if you didn't matter at all. And I felt the same when I got your letter and when

feebly. And then the two w

ic to me. I don't feel as if we'd got to the bottom of this yet, by an

ds of it to look for the open window of the panelled room. He knew that night no more than I have told you; but as he went along the dewy lawns and through the groups of shrubs and trees, where pools lay

r make fire, surprising as legerdemain, thrilling as a juggler's display, but nothing more. Only now a new feeling came to him as he walked through those gardens; by day those gardens were like dreams, at night they were like visions. He could not see his feet as he walked, but he saw the movement of the dewy grass-blades that his feet displaced. And he had that e

it some day. There are still some places in the worl

nt of the gar

nd perhaps I shall never be here at night again. I suppos

s of a boy. And Gerald was not afraid. That was the most wonderful thing of all, though he would never have owned it. The white thing stretched its limbs, rolled on the grass,

hape came out of the Temple of Flora and disapp

ING STO

him, slowly, heavily. The moon came out just in time to show its shape. It was one of those great lizards that you see at the Crystal P

Gerald. "I am not afraid

ed, but was alive in its stone. It turned, however, at the touch; but Gerald also had turned, and was running with all his speed towards the hous

t clung to the wall, he looked back over the grey slope-there was a splashing at the fish-pool that had

the moon. Through a gap in the drooping willow the moonlight fell on a statue that stood calm and m

houldn't have thought you could go to sleep

y on its usual nail, and crept to the end of the passage. Here he waited, safe in his invisibility, till the dazzle of the matches should have gone from his

ll the others about that extraordinarily odd dream that he had had in the gardens. "I suppose it doesn't matter what doors I open.

hose walls were deadened with rows on rows of old books, state bedrooms in whose great plumed four-posters Queen Elizabeth had no doubt slept. (That Queen, by the way, must have been very little at home, for she seems to have slept in every old house in

elf; "don't be an ass! Are y

some one inside said someth

e wall, as a man sprang to the doorway

a sob of relief. "It was only the door

ling voice; "blessed if I didn't t

wanted to see. He had seen that he had been right about the gang. By wonderful luck-beginner's luck, a card-player would have told him-he had discovered a burglary on the very first night of his detective career. The men were taking silver out of two great chests, wrapping i

ard. "You needn't tak

a most curious thing that, though he couldn't find the way to the servants' wing when he had nothing else to think of, yet now, with his mind full, so to speak, of silver forks and silv

appenings took w

having succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, h

y invisible to carry any weight with strangers. The assistance of Mabel would not be of much value. The police? Before they

NG SILVER OUT OF

nds to do it. You know the way-the same as you sometimes do fo

ow-ledge, and all the cleverness he

t, the thick door is picked. Send a man for police. I will foll

d a moment,

end-this is

of the room where Mabel and her aunt, in the ardour of reunion, were enjoying a supper of unus

er before he threw the stone. He waited till the shrieks had

growing calmer. "How wick

e police, like he s

ays?" snapp

t is," Mab

" said Gerald, outside, in th

self if you don't. I ca

dogs on you!"

cing with agitation. "It's true-I

he was awakened. But when he had seen the paper, and had to choose whether he'd go to the strong-room and se

oor stood ajar, and the silver, or as muc

later on that night. It was five in the morning bef

cats alive!" she screamed, as she drew up the blind and turned towards the bed; "look at his bed, all crocked with black, and him n

s it?" Kath

looks again he is in it all the time. I must be going silly. I thought as much when I heard them haunting angel voices yesterday morning. But I'll tell Mam'selle of you, my la

ld slowly; "I'm going

rude of her; but then, she had ha

ald, very earnest through the grey

said

and I'll giv

s you going

b and the secret. And y

ng out her hand eagerly. "Now you get up, and

e safe," said Kathleen

care much last night

didn't care last night. But when

f on you," said Gerald through t

get visible?"

when she called me

out everything,

aid Gerald m

asked after breakfast. "

Gerald; "I expect it's

t. Eliza had

there," she said. "I should 'a'