The point was hotly disputed. One party argued that for a champion sleeper like Gerry Wade the combined ringing of eight alarm clocks was necessary. The other party argued in favour of steady and sustained effort.

In the end the latter won the day. The clocks were set to go off one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m.

“And I hope,” said Bill virtuously, “that this will be a lesson to him.”

“Hear, hear,” said Socks.

The business of hiding the clocks was just being begun when there was a sudden alarm.

“Hist,” cried Jimmy. “Somebody’s coming up the stairs.”

There was a panic.

“It’s all right,” said Jimmy. “It’s only Pongo.”