Gerald understood, and I'm sure I hope you do.
"I shouldn't wonder if you're right," he said. "The castle garden's enchanted right enough; but what I should like to know is _how_ and why. I say, come on, I've got to catch Johnson before twelve. We'll walk as far as the market and then we'll have to run for it."
"But go on with the adventure," said Mabel. "You can talk as we go. Oh, do--it is so awfully thrilling!"
"Well, I just followed, you know, like in a dream, and they got out the cavy way--you know, where we got in--and I jolly well thought I'd lost them; I had to wait till they'd moved off down the road so that they shouldn't hear me rattling the stones, and I had to tear to catch them up. I took my shoes off--I expect my stockings are done for. And I followed and followed and followed and they went through the place where the poor people live, and right down to the river. And---- I say, we must run for it."
So the story stopped and the running began.
They caught Johnson in his own back-yard washing at a bench against his own back-door.
"Look here, Johnson," Gerald said, "what'll you give me if I put you up to winning that fifty pounds reward?"
"Halves," said Johnson promptly, "and a clout 'longside your head if you was coming any of your nonsense over me."
"It's _not_ nonsense," said Gerald very impressively. "If you'll let us in I'll tell you all about it. And when you've caught the burglars and got the swag back you just give me a quid for luck. I won't ask for more."
"Come along in, then," said Johnson, "if the young ladies'll excuse the towel. But I bet you _do_ want something more off of me. Else why not claim the reward yourself?"
"Great is the wisdom of Johnson--he speaks winged words." The children were all in the cottage now, and the door was shut. "I want you never to let on who told you. Let them think it was your own unaided pluck and farsightedness."
"Sit you down," said Johnson, "and if you're kidding you'd best send the little gells home afore I begin on you."
[Illustration: "LOOK HERE, JOHNSON," GERALD SAID, "WHAT'LL YOU GIVE ME IF I PUT YOU UP TO WINNING THAT FIFTY POUNDS REWARD?"]
"I am not kidding," replied Gerald loftily, "never less. And any one but a policeman would see why I don't want any one to know it was me. I found it out at dead of night, in a place where I wasn't supposed to be; and there'd be a beastly row if they found out at home about me being out nearly all night. _Now_ do you see, my bright-eyed daisy?"