Back in the hallway they endured the taunts of Adelia Applegate, who cackled jubilantly when she saw that the searching party had returned empty-handed.

“There now!” she crowed. “Who’s right now? Didn’t I tell you it was all nonsense? Hurd Applegate, you’ve simply been made a fool of by these two boys.”

“Now, Adelia, I think they meant well⁠—”

“Meant well! Of course they meant well! And what did it gain you? They have prowled through the place all morning and all the good that’s come of it is that perhaps you won’t be so ready to believe the next cock-and-bull story someone tells you. Go back to your stamps, Hurd Applegate, and let it be a lesson to you. As for you boys, you should be ashamed of yourselves, disturbing folks like this!”

Whereupon she escorted the Hardy boys to the door, while Hurd Applegate, muttering sadly, went back to his study with a puzzled air.