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

"The letter of Lord Macaulay, of maps of the county of Lincolnshire, and the correspondence between Lady Eleanor Ritchie and her sister," said the old man, shaking his head solemnly. "And the old recipes of the Dowager Lady Lucy, and . . ."

This was all Greek to Snubby. He began to think the old man was pulling his leg. All right, he could do some of that too!

"And I suppose the pedigree tables of all the dogs went too, and the letters written by Lord Popoffski," he said, solemnly and sympathetically.

Now it was the old man's turn to stare. "Ah — I see you don't believe me," he said with dignity. "Well, let me tell you this, young man. The thief got into a locked room without unlocking it He got into a room with every window fastened and didn't unfasten one. He left no fingerprints, he made no noise."

Snubby didn't believe a word. He looked disbelievingly at the old man.

"Well," said the old fellow, "that's a queer story, isn't it? Too queer for me. I've left the house where it all happened, and I'm not going back there. I don't like thieves who go through locked doors. Do you?"

Snubby put down his book. If there was to be a bit of story-telling, well he would do some too.

"Funny you should tell me this, sir," he said earnestly. "I'm running away too. I've unearthed a Plot, sir, a very sinister Plot."

"Good gracious!" said the old man, alarmed. "What kind of a plot?"

"Sort of atom-bomb plot, sir," went on Snubby, enjoying himself. "They tried to get me, sir — and they very nearly did."

"Who tried to get you?" asked the old man, amazed.

"Sh!" said Snubby mysteriously, looking all round the compartment as if he thought "They" were listening. "It's the Green Hands, sir — surely you've heard of that gang?"

"No. No, I can't say I have," said the old man. "Who are they?"

"An international gang, sir," said Snubby, enjoying himself more and more, and marvelling at his powers of invention. "They've got the secret of the atom bomb, sir — and I stumbled on it by accident. They captured me and wanted me to work for them."

"What — a boy like you?" said the old man.

"They can use boys," said Snubby. "For experiments and so on, you know. Well, I didn't want to be blown to bits, did I?"

"Good heavens!" said the old fellow. "This is incredible. You should go to the police."

"I'm running away," said Snubby, sinking his voice to a whisper. "But They're after me, sir — the Green Hands. I know they are. They'll track me down. They'll get me in the end."

"But this is unbelievable!" said the old man, mopping his forehead with a big white silk handkerchief. "First I stay in a house where thieves go through locked doors and fastened windows — and now I travel with a boy hunted by — by what, did you say — the Green Hands. Do they — do they have green hands?"

"They wear green gloves," invented Snubby wildly. "Beware if you ever see anyone wearing green gloves, won't you? Man or woman."

"Yes. Yes, I certainly will," said the old man. "My poor boy — have you no parents to look after you?"

"No," said Snubby, telling the truth for the first time in five minutes. "I haven't. I'm fleeing to the country to stay with my cousins. I hope the Green Hands don't track me there. I don't want the whole lot of us blown up."

"Good heavens! Incredible! The things that happen these days!" said the old man. "Take my advice, my boy, and go to the police."

The train drew to a stop. Snubby looked out casually, and then leapt to his feet suddenly, startling the old man considerably.

"Golly! This is my station! Here, Loony, wake up! Stir yourself. Good-bye, sir — and I hope you catch your locked-door thief."