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

"Good-bye, my boy. We've had a most interesting conversation — and take my advice, go to . . ."

But his words were lost in the whistling of the engine and the slamming of the door. Snubby was gone and so was Loony. The old man sank back in his seat. Well, well, well — what was the world coming to? To think that even a young boy could be mixed up in such extraordinary plots. Most alarming.

"Nobody's safe these days!" thought the old man gloomily. "It's all most alarming."





CHAPTER 3

AN UNEXPECTED MEETING



SNUBBY arrived on the platform very hurriedly, fell over Loony and sat down with a bump. A squeal of laughter greeted him.

"Oh, Snubby!" cried Diana's voice. "You always fall out of a train! Hallo, Loony!"

Loony flung himself on Diana in a mad bound, almost knocking her over. He barked and yelped, pawing her ecstatically. She had to push him off at last.

"No, Loony, no more. Get down. Snubby, tell him. He's just as loony as ever, isn't he? I say, Roger's sorry he couldn't come and meet you, but he's gone to the next station to meet Great-uncle Robert. Why you couldn't both come to the same station, I don't know! I suppose Great-uncle thought the next one was nearer to us."

"Who's Great-uncle?" asked Snubby in surprise. "I've never heard of him before. Surely he's not coming to stay?"

"Yes, he is. Maddening, isn't it, considering it's our hols," said Diana as they walked out of the station. "He's not a bad old thing, only awfully pompous and polite. Mother didn't know till yesterday that he was coming. We've had to put you in Roger's room."

"Oooh, good," said Snubby. "Loony will like that."

"Does he still take every brush he can find?" asked Diana. "He was awful last summer hols."

"Yes, he's still pretty bad about brushes," said Snubby. "And mats. And cats too. I say — you've got a cat now, haven't you?"

"Yes. A big black one called Sardine," said Diana. "She's almost a year old, so she's still pretty idiotic at times. I don't know how she'll get on with Loony."

"It'll be a lively household," said Snubby, pleased. "Cats and dogs flying all over the place, and us three, and your old Great-great-uncle."

"Only one Great," said Diana. "He's Daddy's uncle. Well, there's our house. Loony remembers it, look! He's rushing in at the gate. My word, he'll startle old Sardine — she's basking on the wall!"

Snubby ran after Loony. Loony had already discovered Sardine, and was chasing her madly round the front garden, yelping in excitement. Sardine flew into the house, Loony raced after her, and Snubby tore after them both.

Mrs. Lynton was amazed to see Sardine flash past her head and land on top of the bookcase. She was even more amazed to see Loony coming in like a streak of black lightning, followed by a shouting Snubby.

"Oh! It's you arriving, Snubby. I might have guessed," she said. "There's really not much difference between you and a tornado. How are you, dear?"

"Hallo, Aunt Susan!" said Snubby. "Come here, Loony. Oh, good — Sardine's gone out of the window now. Gosh, so has Loony."

He disappeared at top speed, and Mrs. Lynton sat down again with a sigh. Peace always vanished when Snubby arrived. There were loud cries from the garden, and finally a scream from Diana.