By this time Glan had finished locking up the gate, and was handing the keys back to the gate-keeper--a large, pompous-looking gentleman with a brown beard, dressed in a green Robin Hood style of suit--who seemed inclined to be sulky.
"I'm sorry I could not wait for your permission to open the gate," they heard Glan say. "The matter was urgent, you see. It was the little lady and her brother who are going to try and help us."
"You'd no right to snatch the keys out of my hand like you did," replied the gate-keeper sullenly. "You might have got me into no end of trouble, if they _had_ been decoys. Where's their pass, anyway?"
"If you wouldn't mind giving up your passes to this gentleman," he said. "Ah, that's right," as Jack and Molly handed their envelopes to the gate-keeper, who proceeded to open them and examine the contents carefully.
Then he slowly nodded his head. "All right this time," he said. "But you be careful in future, young man"; he looked at Glan. "It might have been a very serious matter."
"I will certainly profit by your advice," he said. "I'm extremely sorry I had to snatch the keys, I apologize most humbly, but, of course, you didn't understand who it was outside, and what danger they were in ... and anyway, all's well now, isn't it, sir?"
"Oh, it's all right this time, as I said before."
"Thanks," said Glan. "Well, good-night.... And now," he turned to the two children, "you must be very, very tired after all that. Will you come along with me to my little place? Father and Aunt Janet will be very pleased to welcome you."
Jack and Molly assented willingly, and followed Glan closely as he made his way through the crowd. When they reached the outskirts of the knot of people Molly began to thank Glan for coming to their aid at the gate; but he wouldn't hear of it.
"What else could I do, on my life, little lady?" he said. "I have faith in you both, and the help you are going to give us. I want you to come and have a good rest now, and then in the morning you will be told what part of the country to search, and you can start out at once on your adventures."
"It seems as if we have already started," observed Jack. "It seems as if its been all adventures to-day."