"Blyton, Enid - The Five Find-Outers 15 - The Mystery of Banshee Towers 1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

"They can stay in that shed over there," said the man. "But they can't go indoors. See? "

"Right," said Fatty, paying out two shillings. "I say, tell me one thing - does the old banshee wail on one special day each week - and if so, why? "

"The legend says that it was on a Thursday that calamity came to the Lord of Banshee Towers," said the man. "And so the banshee wails that same day."

"Oh - so Thursday is always the banshee's great day?" said Fatty. "Very interesting. Have you any idea where your banshee lives?"

"Don't ask daft questions," said the turnstile man, losing his temper. "Go on in and don't come bothering me."

"Just _one_ more question," said Fatty. "Tell me - when did the banshee first begin to wail in modern times? It says in the catalogue that she used to wail a hundred years ago - or so the legend went - but hadn't been known to wail since. I saw that the catalogue was printed six years ago. What made the banshee begin to wail again - did she conveniently find her voice six years ago, when the catalogue was printed, and this place was thrown open to the public? "

"Are you trying to say that the banshee isn't real - that she's a fraud?" said the man, angrily. "Well, you ask the tall, dark man you'll see in the Armour Room today - _he'll_ soon put you right. He owns this place, see - and _he_ ought to know about the banshee, didn't he?"

"Ah, now that's information worth having," said Fatty, looking pleased. "I'll certainly have a chat with the man who owns the place _and_ the banshee too. Thanks a lot. What's his name?"

"He's an Austrian," said the man, still very cross. "Name of Engler. And I hope he wipes the floor with you, you fat nuisance!"

"Now, now!" said Fatty, raising a finger in reproof, just as if he were a nurse addressing a child. "Now, now - mustn't be rude. Mustn't lose tempers! Don't want to put you into a corner!"

And with that Fatty marched off to put the dogs into the shed, leaving a most irritated man behind him, and accompanied by a rather scared but most admiring Ern.

"I don't know how you can hold your own like that, Fatty," he said. "Straight I don't. Look - there's the Frenchman we saw yesterday. Wonder how he's got on with the picture he was copying."

"_Bonjour,_" said Fatty politely to the Frenchman, who was hurrying down the great hall, carrying a rolled-up canvas. "Finished your picture?"

"Ah, _bonjour, mon ami_!" said the Frenchman. "You come back so soon?"

"Well, my friend here loves the sea-pictures," said Fatty. "You see, he wants to go into the Navy, so anything to do with the sea attracts him, even if it's only pictures. Won't you show us the copy you made of that grand picture? Is that it you are carrying?"

"Yes, yes, but I must hurry, or I would show it to you," said the Frenchman, giving a polite little bow. "Someone awaits me outside. _Au revoir!_ We shall meet again if you come often to this place. I am always here!"

He scurried off. Fatty looked after him thoughtfully. Funny little man! He looked round for the owner of the place, the Austrian called - what was it now - oh yes, Engler. That must be the man over there, in the Armour Room. Tall. Dark. Foreign-looking. He looked a hard sort of man. Better be careful of him!

"You go and have a look at your magnificent sea-picture, Ern," said Fatty. "I'll go and talk to the Austrian owner. I want to ask him a few questions about banshees."

"Right," said Ern, and wandered off happily round the big room, looking at this picture and that, saving his favourite picture to the last.

He came to it eventually, and stood in front of it, gazing at the great high cliff, the swirling waves, the grim rocks. He stared at the sea-gulls tossed by the tempestuous wind, and imagined himself in a boat on that angry sea, swept by foaming waves, the wind howling in his ears. Ha - if only _he_ could paint a picture like that! It would be almost better than going into the Navy. No - on second thoughts he'd _rather_ go to sea.

Ern stood for some time opposite the picture. Then suddenly a puzzled look came over his face. He stood closer to the picture and peered at the sea from this side and that. He scratched his head. He stood further back. Then he went to one side and stood there, and then to the other side, screwing up his eyes as if he were trying to see something. He shook his head and frowned.

"I'll have to find Fatty," he said at last. "It's a puzzle, this is. Can't make it out! Where _is_ Fatty? Oh, there he is, talking to that man, Fatty! FATTY! Here, I've got something to ask you!"



11 - ERN'S QUEER DISCOVERY


Fatty had studied the Austrian owner of Banshee Towers, and had decided that he didn't look to be the type that usually bought old places just because they were beautiful! "He's a sharp business man, if I ever saw one!" thought Fatty. "It beats me why he bought this out-of-the-way place. He can't make much money out of visitors, except for a month or two in the summer. I wonder if he owns the pictures as well."