"Blyton, Enid - Barney Junior Mystery 02 - The Rilloby Fair Mystery" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

There was a surprised silence, during which Loony could be heard scratching himself vigorously.

"Shut up, Loony," said Snubby, and poked him with his toe. Loony stopped.

"Well, it's the first time I've ever heard you make an intelligent remark," said Mr. Lynton in surprise. "I shouldn't have thought you had ever heard of Lord Macaulay's name."

"Er — Snubby is quite right," said Great-uncle hastily.

"There were some of Macaulay's letters, they were among the stolen articles. Richard, it was the most extraordinary theft. Doors were locked. Windows were fastened tightly. There was no skylight or other way into the room where these papers were kept. And yet one night thieves got in, took the whole lot, and vanished the way they came — through locked doors or fastened windows! What do you think of that?"

"I think it's rather foolish to make a statement like that," said Mr. Lynton. "Thieves can't get through locked doors unless they have a key."

"Well, they hadn't a key," said Great-uncle. "The keys are kept on Sir John's key-ring in his pocket. There are no duplicates in existence. What is more — the doors showed no fingerprints of any sort."

"The thieves wore gloves," said Mrs. Lynton.

"Green gloves," said Snubby before he could stop himself.

Great-uncle looked extremely startled. Mrs. Lynton stared at Snubby, puzzled. First it was Green Hands, now it was Green Gloves. What did he mean?

Mr. Lynton took no notice of Snubby's remark. He just put it down to Snubby's usual silliness.

"Well, Uncle Robert," he said, picking up his paper again, "all I can say is, if that's what you ran away from — the idea of thieves going through locked doors — it wasn't very sensible of you. You should have stayed to try and find out who stole the papers. Why, if your hosts didn't know you well, they might think it was you, as you ran away."

"I hardly think so," said Great-uncle, on his high horse at once. "No, my dear Richard, that is quite unthinkable. Quite."

"I expect it was gypsies or tramps," said Mrs. Lynton soothingly.

Great-uncle gave a most unexpected snort. He looked scornfully at Mrs. Lynton. "My dear Susan! Do you think a gipsy or a tramp would know what papers were valuable and what were not? This thief knew exactly what to take."

"Well, I've no doubt the mystery will be solved sooner or later," said Mr. Lynton, opening his paper again. "I imagine if the thief is as clever as you say, he'll try his hand somewhere else."

"He's already tried it three tunes," said Great-uncle. "Sir John told me. He thinks it must be the same thieves because each tune they apparently passed through locked doors quite easily."

"Well, I'll believe somebody can go through locked doors when I see them," said Mr. Lynton dryly.

"Great-uncle — do you think the thief will steal papers again somewhere?" asked Diana. "I'd like to read about it, if he does. Would it be in the papers?"

"Oh yes," said Great-uncle. "It's always in the paper. I think I've got a report of the last theft in my bag. You can go and get it, if you like."

Roger sped upstairs with Loony at his heels. Loony always went upstairs with everybody if he could, and then tried to get in their way going down again, either by getting between their legs, or hurling himself on top of them as they went down. There was a thunderous noise after a minute or two, and then a crash and a yelp.

"Oh dear," said Mrs. Lynton. "Are you hurt, Roger?"

Roger came limping in, followed by a saddened Loony. "I've smacked him," he explained to Snubby. "He did his cannon-ball act at me and sent me flying down the stairs. He's loonier than ever. I've got the paper. Where's the burglary reported. Great-uncle?"

Great-uncle found the report. It wasn't much more than a few lines. The children read them eagerly.

Then Diana noticed an advertisement nearby and pointed to it.