Mystery #04 — The Mystery of the Spiteful Letters - - (бесплатная библиотека электронных книг .TXT) 📗

‘I don’t want her,’ said Mrs. Hilton, with a shudder. ‘A cruel, underhand, spiteful woman like that in my house! No, never. Poor Gladys. I’ll fetch her back at once. I’m horrified and disgusted, Mrs. Moon. You have caused a great deal of pain and grief to many people, and I hope you will be well punished.’

‘You don’t mind us having investigated the case now, Mother, do you?’ said Pip, thinking this was a good opportunity to get his mother to agree.

‘Well - I didn’t want you mixed up in such an unpleasant business,’ said Mrs. Hilton. ‘And I must say that I thought Mr. Goon could manage it himself. But I do think you worked out things very cleverly - especially Fatty, of course.’

‘Oh, all the Find-Outers did their bit,’ said Fatty loyally. ‘I couldn’t have done without them. And,’ he said, with a glance at Mr. Goon, ‘we did have a lot of fun at times - didn’t we, Pip?’

‘We did!’ said all the others, and grinned at poor Mr. Goon, who did one of his snorts, and scowled heavily at them.

The Inspector got up. ‘Get your outdoor things, Mrs. Moon,’ he said. ‘You must come with me. Goon, I want you too. But perhaps, when I have finished my work here, at about four o’clock this afternoon, Mrs. Hilton, the children could come over to Nutting, where I’m going then, and have tea with me in the big hotel there? I feel I would like to have a little chat with the Five Find-Outers - and Dog - again!’

‘Oooh!’ said Bets, delighted.

‘Woof,’ said Buster, pleased.

‘Oh thanks!’ said the others.

Mrs. Moon went out, weeping. The Inspector shook hands with Mrs. Hilton and went out to his car. ‘See you this afternoon!’ he said, to the delighted children.

Mrs. Hilton went out to see that Mrs. Moon did what she was told. The children followed the Inspector to his big black car. Mr. Goon was left behind in the drawing-room, looking gloomily at the carpet. He was alone with his thoughts.

No - he wasn’t alone! Buster was there too, regarding his old enemy with a bright eye. No one was there to say, ‘Come here, Buster!’ What a chance!

With a joyful yelp he flung himself at Mr. Goon’s ankles, and pulled at his blue trousers. Mr. Goon rose up in alarm.

‘Clear-orf!’ he yelled. ‘Clear-orf, you! Leave my trousers alone! You want reporting, you do. Clear-orf!’

The children heard the shouting and laughed at the familiar words. ‘Poor old Clear-Orf,’ said Bets. ‘Always in trouble. Fatty, go and rescue him.’

Fatty went. Mr. Goon came out, frowning, trying to see if his trouser-ankles had been torn. Buster struggled in Fatty’s arms.

‘Get in, Goon, whilst you’re safe,’ said the Inspector, opening the door of the car. ‘Ah, here is Mrs. Moon. The other side, please, Mrs. Moon. Goodbye, children - and thanks for your help once more. I must say I’m pleased with the Five Find- Outers and Dog!’

‘Oh well - I suppose we ought to thank Mr. Goon for all those clues!’ said Fatty. He winked at the others, and they all opened their mouths together at once and chanted:

‘THANKS, MR. GOON!’

And what did Mr. Goon reply? Exactly what you would expect.

‘GAH!’