It might be very, very important to be able to write a letter in invisible ink, said Bets. Oh, Fatty, do teach us something now.
But Bets mother just then put her head in at the playroom.
Ive got tea ready for you downstairs. Wash your hands and come along, will you? Dont be too long, because the scones are nice and hot.
Five hungry children and an equally hungry dog shot off downstairs, forgetting everything for the moment but hot scones, strawberry jam, and cake. But they wouldnt forget for long - things sounded too exciting!
Fatty has some Ideas
Christmas came so quickly, and there was so much to do that Fatty had no time to teach the Find-Outers any of the things he had learnt. The postman came continually to the three homes, and cards soon stood everywhere. Parcels were hidden away, Mince-pies were made. Large turkeys hung in the larders.
I do love Christmas, said Bets a hundred times a day. I wonder what I shall get on Christmas morning. I do hope I get a new doll. Id like one that opens and shuts its eyes properly. Ive only got one doll that does that, and her eyes always stick shut. Then I have to shake her hard, and Im sure she thinks Im cross with her.
Baby! said Pip. Fancy still wanting dolls! I bet you wont get one.
To Bets great disappointment there was no doll for her in her Christmas parcels. Everyone thought that as she was now nine, and liked to say she was getting big, she wouldnt want a doll. So her mother had given her a work-basket and her father a difficult jigsaw which she knew Pip would like much better than she would!
She was rather sad - but Fatty put everything right by coming round on Christmas morning with a big box for Bets - and inside was the doll she had wanted! It opened and shut its eyes without any shaking at all, and had such a smiling face that Bets lost her heart to it at once. She flung herself on Fatty and hugged him like a small bear.
He was pleased. He liked Bets. Mrs. Hilton was surprised at the beautiful doll.
That is very kind of you, Frederick, she said. You shouldnt have spent so much money on Bets, though.
I shall have plenty for my birthday, said Fatty politely, and Ive heaps for Christmas, Mrs. Hilton. I asked for money this Christmas instead of toys or books.
I should have thought you had plenty without asking for any more, said Mrs. Hilton, who privately thought that Fatty always had far too much money to spend. Why did you want so much money?
Well - to spend on something I didnt think people would give me, said Fatty, looking rather uncomfortable. Its a bit of a secret, really, Mrs. Hilton.
Oh, said Bets mother. Well, I hope its nothing that will get you into trouble. I dont want Mr. Goon, the policeman, round here complaining about you children any more.
Oh no, Mrs. Hilton, Fatty assured her. Mr. Goon doesnt come into this at all.
As soon as her mother had gone Bets turned to Fatty with sparkling eyes. Whats the secret?
What are you going to buy?
Disguises! said Fatty, dropping his voice to a whisper. Wigs! Eyebrows! Teeth!
Oooh - teeth! said Bets, in wonder. But how can you wear false teeth without having your real teeth out, Fatty?
You wait and see, said Fatty mysteriously.
Do come after Christmas as soon as you can and teach us how to write invisibly and how to get out of locked rooms, begged Bets. I say - I wonder if old Clear-Orf knows those things?
Course not! said Fatty scornfully. And if Clear-Orf tried to disguise himself it wouldnt be a bit of good. Wed always know his frogs eyes and big fat nose.
Bets giggled. She hugged her doll, and thought how clever and kind Fatty was. She said so.
Oh, well, said Fatty, swelling up a little, prepared to boast to his hearts content, Im -
But just then Pip came into the room and Fatty stopped. Pip didnt take kindly to Fattys boasting. Fatty had a few words with Pip and then went.
Ill come along after Christmas and give you all some Find-Outers lessons, he promised. Give my love to Daisy and Larry if you see them today. Ive got to go over to my grandmothers for Christmas with my mother and father.
Bets told Pip what Fatty had said about spending his money on disguises. He said he would buy wigs - and eyebrows - and teeth! said Bets. Oh, Pip, do you think he will? What shop sells things like that? Ive never seen any.
Oh, I suppose they are shops that actors go to, said Pip. They have to buy things like that. Well, well see what Fatty gets. We ought to have some fun.
When the excitement of Christmas was over, the Christmas trees taken down and re-planted in the garden, and the cards sent away to a childrens hospital, the children felt rather flat. Fatty apparently was staying at his grand-mothers, for they saw nothing of him, and had a post-card saying, Back soon. Fatty.
I wish hed come back, said Bets. Suppose a mystery cropped up? Wed have to be Find-Outers again - and our chief wouldnt be here.
Well, there isnt any mystery, said Pip.
How do you know? said Bets. Old Clear-Orf might be trying to solve one we dont know about.